2022 Class AAA Girls Basketball Section Preview

 Following the preview of the eight Class AAAA sections is a preview of the eight Class AAA sections.  

In Section 1, the top seeded Austin Packers are three wins away from a return trip to Minneapolis.  But can the second seeded Stewartville Trojans earn their first state tournament trip.  

It could be The Battle of Highway 169 in Section 2 as the top seeded Mankato East Cougars and the second seeded Mankato West Scarlets are the top two seeds.  The third seeded Marshall Tigers enter section play with nine wins in their last ten games and the fourth seeded St. Peter Saints could lock up the two Key City teams.  

Good news for girls basketball fans in St. Paul.  the Como Park Cougars are the top seed in Section 3.  Led by 5"2" Ronnie Porter,  she could make history by being the shortest player in state tournament history.  But it won't be easy for the Cougars in this tough section with the second seeded DeLaSalle Islanders, the third seeded Simley Spartans and the fourth seeded Visitation Blazers all in contention.  

Another tough section is Section 4 with the top three seeds the Totino-Grace Eagles, the Mahtomedi Zephyrs and the Hill-Murray Pioneers.  

The defending Class AAA champion Becker Bulldogs are the top seed in Section 5 and have won 15 straight games.  They have not lost since January 4 when they lost 74-64 to the Willmar Cardinals.  Before Dan Baird's bunch heads down Highway 10 to The Barn, they have to get past the second seeded Chisago Lakes Wildcats.  

Section 6 has the makings of another tough section with the Holy Angels Stars the top seed.  But look out for the second seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights, led by sophomore sensation Olivia Olson, the third seeded Orono Spartans and the fourth seeded Hutchinson Tigers.  Who will come out of this section?  It's a difficult answer.  

There are only two teams with winning records in Section 7.  They are the top seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks and the second seeded Cloquet Lumberjacks.  The two teams played each other twice in the regular season with Grand Rapids sweeping the series.  Is a third meeting possible for a state tournament berth?  

There could be a lot of red and white in the Section 8 final as the Willmar and Alexandria Cardinals are the only two teams with winning records.  

Who' left in Class AA?  That's coming up.