2023 Class AAA State Girls Basketball Tournament Preview

 2023 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS AAA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                             (Games played Wednesday, March 15 at Maturi Pavilion on University of Minnesota campus)

10:00:  Marshall vs. Becker (Seed 1)

12:00:  Grand Rapids (Seed 5) vs. Stewartville (Seed 4)

  2:00:   DeLaSalle vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (Seed 2)

  4:00:   Hill-Murray vs. Alexandria (Seed 3)

                                    EXAMINING THE FIELD

The first game in Class AAA should be a dandy as two powerhouses coaches by men named Dan as the Marshall Tigers, led by Dan Westby face the top seeded Becker Bulldogs under the veteran leadership of Dan Baird.  The Tigers, in their 12th strip to Minneapolis, were the fourth seed in a very tough Section 2 and beat the top seeded Jordan Jaguars in the semifinals and the St. Peter Saints in the finals.  The top seeded Bulldogs, in their seventh trip to state and fifth in a row have gone 20-1 since losing to Class AA power Providence Academy.  Can the Bulldogs return to Saturday's finals after winning the Battle of the Dans?  

It's been a great season so far for the fifth seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks, who have not lost a game since starting the season 0-2.  Things get tougher for the Thunderhawks in their 10th trip to state as they face the fourth seeded Stewartville Tigers, who make their first trip up Highway 52 to The Barn.  They have not lost a game sing they fell to Byron 68-60 December 3.  This should be great way to spend your lunch hour if you are in this neck of the woods.  

Two private school rivals take the court in the third quarterfinal game as the DeLaSalle Islanders, in their 12th state tournament face the second seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights, in their eighth state tournament.  The two teams met December 20 with the Red Knights victorious 80-67.  BSM is led by Olivia Olson, who committed to Michigan and could get the chance to play on The Barn's elevated floor against the Gophers in 2024. Can they make it two straight against the Islanders.  

The Class AAA portion concludes with two veteran coaches leading their teams to numerous state tournament appearances.  The Hill-Murray Pioneers, led by Erin Herman are in their 15th stte tournament and the Alexandria Cardinals, under Wendy Kohler have made their 12th trip down I-94 to Minneapolis.  It's been a great year for Alexandria with both boys and girls hockey and girls basketball in state tournaments but they haven't won the gold?  Can the Cardinals bring home a trophy to central Minnesota?  

Next:  The Class AA preview