2022 Class A State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

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

                         (Games played Wednesday, March 23 at Williams Arena on University of Minnesota campus)

11:00:  Russell-Tyler-Ruthton vs. Hayfield (Seed 1)

 1:00:   Cherry (Seed 5) vs. Nevis (Seed 4)

 3:00:   Sleepy Eye St. Mary's vs. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (Seed 2)

 5:00:   Sacred Heart vs. New Life Academy (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  There's some top notch boys basketball Wednesday at The Barn and it starts with the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights in their seventh trip to state facing the top seed and defending state champion Hayfield Vikings.  The Knights shined in the spotlight in the Section 3 final as they beat the Central Minnesota Christian Blue Jays in overtime.  They don't have a lot of height as they face the defending Class A champion Vikings who are making their sixth trip to Minneapolis.  Their only losses this season were to the Rushford-Peterson Trojans and the Maple River Eagles.  Can the Vikings make it back to back Class A titles this season.  

For the first time since 1997, the Cherry Tigers have qualified for the state tournament.  They played their opponent the Nevis Tigers on January 18 and lost 67-45.  They also faced the Hayfield Vikings on February 5 and lost 78-65.  The Nevis Tigers, in their fifth state tournament, overcame a two game losing streak and have gone 19-1 since the calendar page changed to 2022.  Their only loss since then was on March 4 to he Cass Lake-Bena Panthers.  It will be a Battle of the Tigers in the day's second quarterfinal game.  Can Nevis continue their winning streak and set up a possible rematch with Hayfield?  

Another hot team in the field is the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Saints, making the trip to Minneapolis for the fifth time.  The Saints have not lost a game since they were defeated by Minnesota Valley Lutheran on January 25 70-62.  They will face the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars, playing in their fourth state tournament and their first since 2014.  They had some great teams back then under the leadership of a former Bloomington Jefferson Jaguar Dave Montbriand.  Now Chris Anderson is guiding the Jaguars and they have gone 19-1 since they lost to the New London-Spicer Wildcats 58-56 on January 7.  Can Anderson lead the Jaguars to a title game berth?  

Wrapping up the quarterfinal session is the only first time team in the tournament. the Sacred Heart Eagles as they take on the New Life Academy Eagles, playing in their fourth state tournament and making their first trip down I-94 since 2004.  Sacred Heart took home the Section 8 title trophy with a double overtime win over the Cass Lake-Bena Panthers.  There is joy for basketball fans in the Woodbury area after the East Ridge Raptors were beat by the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders in the Section 4AAAA final.  New Life Academy is a young team with only one senior, Kollin Kaemingk and a 6'8" junior Erick Reader.  New Life has won 16 straight games since losing on December 22 to Plainview-Elgin-Millville.  Who will win the Battle of the Birds?  

There's some great basketball action coming up this week.  

2022 Class AA State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

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

                               (Games played Tuesday, March 22 at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus)

6:00:  Glencoe-Silver Lake vs. Minneapolis North (Seed 1)

8:00:  Morris Area/Chokio Alberta (Seed 5) vs. Minnehaha Academy (Seed 4)

                              (Games played Tuesday, March 22 at Target Center. Minneapolis. )

Examining the Field:  The Class AA portion at Williams Arena opens with the Glencoe-Silver Lake Panthers in their third trip down Highway 212 to Minneapolis but their first since 2001.  The Panthers bounced back after ending the regular season with two straight losses to beat the Maple River Eagles in the Section 2 finals.  They will face the top seeded Minneapolis North Polars, playing in their 25th state tournament.  The Polars have been one of the top Class AA teams in Minnesota this season and have won seven straight games.  They did play the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks in the season opener December 11 and beat them 84-81.  Is a semifinal rematch possible?  

Closing the day at Williams Arena a team with a long name but playing outstanding basketball, the Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Tigers.  The Tigers, playing in their sixth state tournament held on to beat the Redwood Valley Cardinals in the Section 3 final.  The Redhawks have dropped from Class AAA to AA and are three wins away from the south Minneapolis school's fifth straight state title.  Minnehaha have rebounded from a 1-4 start to finish the season 16-6.  Can the Redhawks run continue?  

Over at Target Center. the Perham Yellowjackets head down Highway 10 for the sixth time.  The Yellowjackets were seeded third in Section 8, and beat top seeds Pelican Rapids and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.  The Warriors are unbeaten against instate teams with their only loss to DeForest from Wisconsin.  The Section 1 final at Mayo Civic Auditorium in Rochester turned out to be a dandy with Caledonia coming through a tough section with a triple overtime win over the Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs.  The Warriors have been successful in football with five straight Class AA titles.  Can they add one in basketball?  

Ending the day is the Pequot Lakes Patriots and the Annandale Cardinals.  The Patriots are in their fourth state tournament and first since 2007.  They have won five straight games and beat the perennial Section 7 power the Esko Eskomos 58-50 in the section final.  The Cardinals, in their 8th trip down Highway 55 to Minneapolis have not lost a game since December 16 when they lost 63-58 to the Albany Huskies.  One of the favorites to watch in Class AA.  

Next the Class A preview.  

2022 Class AAA State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

 2022 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS AAA BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

             (Games played Tuesday, March 22 at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus)

10:00:  Hermantown vs. Totino-Grace (Seed 1)

12:00:  Mound-Westonka (Seed 5) vs. Mankato East (Seed 4)

  2:00:  Austin vs. Princeton (Seed 2)

  4:00:  St. Cloud Tech vs. DeLaSalle (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  Opening up the Williams Arena portion of the state tournament is the Hermantown Hawks, in their third trip to state facing the top seeded Totino-Grace Eagles.  Hermantown is best known for its success in boys hockey where the Hawks wrapped up the Class A title two weeks ago.  But the Hawks, seeded third in Section 7 have a tough task ahead in the top seeded Totino-Grace Eagles.  The Eagles are in their sixth state tournament and they have been the top Class AAA team most of the season and have won seven straight games, including the Section 4 final against the unbeaten Columbia Heights Hylanders.  Can the Eagles add another trophy to their case after the girls basketball team won the state Class AAA title over Becker or will the Hawks pull the upset.  

For the first time since 1974, the Mound-Westonka Whitehawks are back in the state tournament.  They made it to the Class A title game and fell to the Melrose Dutchmen, led by Mark Olberding 38-32.  The Whitehawks were the number three seed in Section 6 and beat Orono in the section final.  The Mankato East bus drivers seem to be getting paid overtime for frequent trips down Highway 169 to the Twin Cities since the boys and girls hockey and girls basketball teams have qualified for the state tournament.  Thr Cougars are playing in their 10th state tournament and beat the New Ulm Eagles in the Section 2 final.  Will the Whitehawks play for their first state title in almost 50 years or will the Cougars finally bring home a title trophy to the Key City?  

The third quarterfinal game might be the last game for veteran Austin Packer head coach Kris Fadness.  He will be retiring after this season and he leads the Packers to their 34th trip to Minneapolis.  They did beat Mankato East in the regular season 73-71 in overtime and have gone 8-2 since losing three straight games in February.  The Princeton Tigers are on a 16 game winning streak since they lost to Orono on January 15 76-74.  An interesting out state match up to watch.  

Concluding the Class AAA quarterfinals is the St. Cloud Tech Tigers and a perennia power, the third seeded DeLaSalle Islanders.  The Tigers, in their new building in the Granite City are in their 11th state tournament and have won five consecutive games, including a 71-69 win over the Alexandria Cardinals in the Section 8 final.  The Islanders in their 27th state tournament and defeated the undefeated South St. Paul Packers in the Section 4 final.  Can DeLaSalle add another trophy to its bulging trophy case?  

Next, the Class AA preview

2022 Class AAAA State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

 2022 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                           (Games played Tuesday, March 22 at Target Center in Minneapolis)

10:00:  Andover vs. Park Center (Seed 1)

12:00:  Eden Prairie (Seed 5) vs. Eastview (Seed 4)

 2:00:  Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Owatonna (Seed 2)

 4:00:  Moorhead vs. Wayzata (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  It will be a Northwest Suburban Conference showdown to open the 2022 State Boys Basketball Tournament as the Andover Huskies, playing in their sixth state tournament face the top seeded Park Center Pirates.  The two teams met on March 1 with the Pirates prevailing 77-62.  Park Center, led by Gopher signee Braeden Carrington won three games against tournament teams DeLaSalle, Minneapolis North and Minnehaha Academy.  They have been the top Class AAAA team in Minnesota most of the season.  Can they bring home a championship trophy up Brooklyn Blvd.?  

The fifth seeded Eden Prairie Eagles are in Minneapolis for the 14th time and beat the top seeded Shakopee Sabers in the Section 2 final.  They are on a five game winning streak and face the fourth seeded Eastview Lightning, who make the trip from Apple Valley for the sixth time.  The Lightning came off losses to Shakopee and Farmington and won four of their last six games.  Who will emerge victorious?  This should be a good game to go to on your lunch break if you work downtown.  

Another team making its 14th trip to state is the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders.  The Raiders are led by Michigan St. bound Tre Holloman, who has been a part of two successful state tournament teams.  The Owatonna Huskies head up I-35 for the eighth time to Minneapolis and have won 21 straight games.  Their only two losses were to the Armstrong Falcons and the Park of Cottage Grove Wolfpack.  Owatonna beat the top seeded Farmington Tigers in the Section 1 final.  Can Holloman end his career on a high note or will Owatonna head south with a trophy?  

Wrapping up the Class AAAA quarterfinals is the Moorhead Spuds, who travel down I-94 for the 24th time to state.  The last time the Spuds played for a state title was in the one class era back in 1958.  They will have a tough task in the defending Class AAAA state champion Wayzata Trojans.  The Trojan offense, anchored by Carter Bjerke are in the tournament for the seventh time and won the school's first state title since 1958 last season.  Can they make it two straight or will Moorhead try to end their championship drought?  

Next, the Class AAA preview

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.  

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.  

2022 Class AAA State Girls Basketball Tournament Preview

 2022 MINNESOTA STATE CLASS AAA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                                       (Games played Wednesday, March 16 at Maturi Pavilion on University of Minnesota campus)

10:00:  Austin vs. Becker (Seed 1)

12:00:  Mankato East (Seed 5) vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (Seed 4)

 2:00:  Grand Rapids vs. St. Paul Como Park (Seed 2)

 4:00:  Detroit Lakes vs. Totino-Grace (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  The Maturi Pavilion portion of the state tournament begins with the Austin Packers making their sixth trip to state and enter winning nine of their last 10 games.  They will face the defending Class AAA state champion Becker Bulldogs in their ninth tournament appearance.  Dan Baird's bunch hasn't missed a beat this season and hasn't lost since January 4 when they fell to the Willmar Cardinals 74-64.  Can Baird's bunch head back up Highway 10 with another championship trophy.  

It's been a big year so far for Mankato East with both hockey teams playing in the state tournament and now it's the girls basketball team's turn to make the trip up Highway 169 to the Twin Cities.  The Cougars are in their eighth state tournament and their first since 1998.  They face the Red Knights, in their seventh state tournament and led by sophomore sensation Olivia Olson.  If your live or work near the U, take your lunch hour at the Pavilion and you'll see an outstanding game.  

They're known as The Halloween Machine and it's no trick but a real treat for Grand Rapids fans as the Thunderhawks head to their ninth state tournament.  They have lost only one game since January 4, a 43-35 defeat in the season finale against the Esko Eskomos.  The St. Paul Como Park Cougars make their second trip across the river to Minneapolis and have one of the best players, regardless of size in 5'2" Ronnie Porter.  Porter has been the key to the Cougars success as they head to state on a 10 game winning streak.  Can she help lead Como Park to it first state title game berth?  

Closing the Class AAA quarterfinals is the Detroit Lake Lakers, in their fourth state tournament but their first since 2009.  They Lakers, seeded third in Section 8 beat Alexandria in double overtime and Willmar in the section final.  They face the Totino-Grace Eagles, in their sixth trip to state and first since 2009.  It's been a great year so far for basketball in the Highway 65 corridor with outstanding boys teams in Columbia Heights as well as Totino-Grace and now the girls get their moment in the spotlight after defeating the Hill-Murray Pioneers in the Section 4 final 59-50.  

Next is the Class AA preview.