2022 Class A State Girls Basketball Tournament Preview

 2022 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS A GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE 

                     (Games Played Thursday, March 17 at Maturi Pavilion on University of Minnesota campus)

11:00:  Minneota vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl (Seed 1)

 1:00:  Hayfield (Seed 5) vs. Cass Lake-Bena (Seed 4)

 3:00:  United Christian Academy vs. Mayer Lutheran (Seed 2)

 5:00:  Nevis vs. Hancock (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  This could finally be the year that Jeff Buffetta leads the Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers to their first state Class A title.  The Rangers have been to Minneapolis 12 times and have never taken home a championship trophy.  It won't be easy since they will face the defending Class A champion Minneota Vikings.  Minneota is playing in its 11th state tournament and fifth in a row.  Veteran head coach Chad Johnston has also had success in football.  Can the Vikings repeat as state champs or will the Rangers finally earn the gold medals?  

The unbeaten Hayfield Vikings make their third trip to state and first since 2008.  If you're wondering why they are not the number one seed with an unblemished record it's probably because they haven't played a tougher schedule than Mountain Iron-Buhl.  They have not played any of the top metro area teams such as Becker and Providence Academy.  Hayfield takes on the Cass Lake-Bena Panthers, in their fifth state tournament.  One of their two losses was to Mountain Iron-Buhl.  Can Hayfield prove they are one of the top Class A teams or with Cass Lake-Bena forge ahead to the school's first state title?  \

The third game pits one of two first time teams in the field, the United Christian Academy Thunder.  The Bloomington based school was formerly known as Bethany Academy and has entered the tournament on an 11 game winning streak.  Their opponent, the Mayer Lutheran Crusaders is making their fifth trip down Highway 7 to Minneapolis.  One of the Crusaders is a familiar name to volleyball fans, Lilly Wachholz.  Three of their four losses were to teams in the state tournament, Providence Academy, Minnehaha Academy and Mountain Iron-Buhl.  Will the Crusaders also succeed on the basketball court or will the Thunder go for their first state title?  

Closing out the quarterfinal session is the other first time team, the Nevis Tigers.  The Tigers were the third seed in Section 5 and beat Browerville-Eagle Valley and top seed Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa to take home the section title trophy.  The Tigers take on the Hancock Owls, playing in their eighth state tournament and first since 2011.  Hancock is a young team with five freshman and five sophomores.  Their only loss this season was to West Central Area.  Can these young players help Hancock to their first title game since 2007 and build a solid future for the program?  

Plenty of action coming up this weekend.