In the Class AA Preview, there were some sections already underway. That's also true in Class A as the eight sections are previewed.
Section 1 has the only unbeaten team in Minnesota, the top seeded Hayfield Vikings. They are 29-0 and two wins away from their first trip to Minneapolis since 2008. Looking to derail the Vikings title hopes are the second seeded Kingsland Knights and the third seeded Grand Meadow Superlarks.
The Mayer Lutheran Crusaders are the top seed in the North Subsection of Section 2 and they will likely face a team from Sleepy Eye in the section final. The South Subsection's top two seeds are the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Saints and the Sleepy Eye Indians. One team that could keep the Sleepy Eye teams from heading down Highway 14 to Mankato for the section final is the third seeded Nicollet Raiders.
In Section 3, the defending Class A state champion Minneota Vikings are the top seed in the North Subsection but Chad Johnston's bunch has some serious competition out to end the Vikings title hopes in the South Subsection, the top seeded Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Panthers and the third seeded Southwest Minnesota Christian Eagles. The Panthers are on a 17 game winning streak that includes a 50-46 win over Minneota February 10. Could their be a rematch in the section final.
Here's a school you likely haven't heard of. United Christian Academy. The Bloomington based school that's was formerly Bethany Academy is the top seed in Section 4 and finished the regular season with an eight game winning streak. Can they continue their momentum against the second seeded New Life Academy Eagles and the third seeded Legacy Christian Lions?
Section 5 looks like a wide open section with the Braham Bombers and the Ogilvie Lions the top two seeds in the East Subsection and the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars and the Browerville-Eagle Valley Tigers are the top two seeds in the West Subsection. Who will win the title trophy? Head to Fergus Falls March 11 to find out.
Over in Section 6, the Underwood Rockets are the top seed in the North Subsection and are on a seven game winning streak. They will have to contend with a couple of red hot teams in the South Subsection, the top seeded Hancock Owls and the second seeded Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors. The Owls beat the Warriors twice in the regular season and could make it three in a row to set up a section showdown with the Rockets.
The top seed in Section 7 is once again the Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers. Head coach Jeff Buffeta could lead the Rangers to their 11th state tournament berth in 12 years. Before Rangers fans can head down Highway 169 to The Barn, they have to see them get past the second seeded Cromwell-Wright Cardinals, the third seeded South Ridge Panthers and the fourth seeded Chisholm Bluestreaks. It looks like a tough section and plenty of excitement for Iron Range girls basketball fans.
The final section preview is Section 8 where the Cass Lake-Bena Panthers are the top seed in the East Subsection, losing to Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and Mountain Iron-Buhl. Who will come out of the West Subsection? Will it be the top seeded Stephen-Argyle Storm, second seeded Badger/Greenbush-Middle River, third seeded Goodridge/Grygla and fourth seeded Warren-Alvarado-Oslo? No matter how many towns are represented in the section final in Thief River Falls, there's plenty of exciting girls basketball coming up in the northwestern part of the state.
Take your pick of any of the 32 sections around Minnesota. It's a wonderful time of the year for Minnesota high school girls basketball.
No comments:
Post a Comment