2022 State Class AA Girls Basketball Tournament Preview

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

 GAMES PLAYED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 AT WILLIAMS ARENA ON UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CAMPUS

6:00:  Montevideo vs. Providence Academy (Seed 1)

8:00:  Rochester Lourdes (Seed 5) vs. Albany (Seed 4)

GAMES PLAYED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 AT MATURI PAVILION ON UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CAMPUS

6:00:  Pequot Lakes vs. Fergus Falls (Seed 2)

8:00:  Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial vs. Minnehaha Academy (Seed 2)

Examining the Field:  There are two first time teams in the Class AA field and the first is the Montevideo Thunderhawks.  The Thunderhawks have won eight of their last nine games and go up against the top seeded Providence Academy Lions.  The Lions have one of the best young girls basketball players in the state in eighth grader Maddyn Greenway, daughter of former Viking Chad Greenway.  There's also the Providence Academy version of the Chekov play Three Sisters, starring Grace, Maria and Hope Counts.  They have played a tough nonconference schedule which includes wins over Benilde-St. Margaret's and Albany.  The Lions split their season series with conference rival Minnehaha Academy.  Is a third meeting possible in the Class AA finals?  

The final game of the day at The Barn is a match up of two perennial powers as the Rochester Lourdes Eagles square off with the defending Class AA champion Albany Huskies.  The Eagles head up Highway 52 for the 21st time and the Huskies make their 15th trip to state.  Rochester Lourdes coasted through their first three Section 1 games and earned their state tournament berth with a 62-57 win over the Lake City Tigers.  Albany has only lost one game since they were blown out by the Minnetonka Skippers December 30 in the Granite City Classic.  Can the Huskies continue their quest for a second consecutive state title or will the Eagles end their reign?  

Next door at the Maturi Pavilion is the Pequot Lakes Patriots, in their eighth trip to Minneapolis and the second seeded Fergus Falls Otters, heading down I-94 for their sixth state tournament trip.  If there's one team that could be considered a favorite, it's the Patriots.  Their only defeat was against the Albany Huskies 59-54 December 17.  The red hot Otters enter the tournament winning 15 of their last 16 games.  Which one of these teams will continue their quest for their first state title?  

Roll out the welcome mat Knights fans!  Your Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Knights are headed to their first state tournament.  The Knights are on a five game winning streak and have a difficult task ahead as they face one of the top Class AA teams in the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks.  The Redhawks overcame a three game losing streak that included defeats to St. Paul Como Park and Providence Academy.  Minnehaha Academy has a high powered offense that has broken the 100 point mark five times this season.  Is a rematch with the Lions in the works for the Class AA finals?  

Next, the Class A preview.