MN State Girls’ Basketball Tournament Preview

(via mshsl) BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- The State Girls’ Basketball Tournament is scheduled for March 14-17 at various venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Quarterfinals will be played at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. All championship rounds will be played at Target Center and all consolation rounds and third-place games will be played at Concordia University in St. Paul. Here is a look at the tournament:

FAST FACTS

The Quarterfinal Schedule:

Class A, Thursday, March 15, at Williams Arena

Heritage Christian Academy, Maple Grove (19-10) vs. No. 1 seed Lyle/Pacelli (29-1), 11 a.m.

No. 5 Menahga (30-0) vs. No. 4 Minneota (25-4) 1 p.m.

Stephen-Argyle Central (27-3) vs. No. 2 Mountain Iron-Buhl (28-2), 3 p.m.

Sleepy Eye (26-4) vs. No. 3 Ada-Borup/Norman County West (27-2), 5 p.m.

Class AA, Wednesday, March 14, at Target Center

Byron (19-10) vs. No. 1 Sauk Centre (30-0), 6 p.m.

No. 5 Norwood-Young America (27-3) vs. No. 4 Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (21-7), 8 p.m.

Class AA, Wednesday, March 14, at Williams Arena

Mesabi East, Aurora (24-6) vs. No. 2 Maranatha Christian Academy, Brooklyn Park (26-4), 6 p.m.

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (29-2) vs. No. 3 Roseau (24-5), 8 p.m.

Class AAA, Wednesday, March 14, at Williams Arena

Alexandria Area (23-5) vs. No. 1 seed Robbinsdale Cooper (26-2), 10 a.m.

No. 5 Willmar (25-2) vs. No. 4 DeLaSalle, Minneapolis (19-8) 12 p.m.

Mankato West (21-7) vs. No. 2 Northfield (25-3), 2 p.m.

Grand Rapids (21-7) vs. No. 3 Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield (25-4), 4 p.m.

Class AAAA, Wednesday, March 14, at Target Center

Prior Lake (16-13) vs. No. 1 Eastview Apple Valley (29-0), 10 a.m.

No. 5 Maple Grove (24-5) vs. No. 4 Lakeville North (24-5), 12 p.m.

Forest Lake (19-10) vs. No. 2 Hopkins (26-3), 2 p.m.

Roseville Area (22-7) vs. No. 3 Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul (27-2), 4 p.m.

Complete Schedule: See the League’s website at www.mshsl.org.

TV: Championship semifinals and championship games in both classes will be televised by 45TV.

Webcast: Daily charges for the live webcast on www.Prep45.com: $10.95 per day or $30.96 for four-day access.

Tickets: $14 adults, $9 students for quarterfinals, championship semifinals, and finals. $19 adults, $12 students for quarterfinal wristbands, good at both venues. $10 adults, $7 students for consolation and third-place games.

Ticket Box Offices open: One hour before earliest scheduled game.

Official Ball: Spalding, TF 1000 Legacy Wide Channel Design, 28.5.

Detailed season statistics: Provided qualified teams are available on the League website --- www.mshsl.org --- as a Media Guide link under Tournaments, then Winter, then Girls’ Basketball.

The Quarterfinal Match-ups

Class A

               Heritage Christian Academy, Maple Grove vs. Lyle/Pacelli: The Eagles of Heritage Christian Academy are making their debut state tournament appearance. Taylie Scott is the team’s top scorer with 16.0 points per game, while Jordyn Allen averages a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game. Lyle/Pacelli returns to tournament play for a second time. As a team, the Athletics average a 49.6 field goal percentage.

               Menahga vs. Minneota: 2018 marks the first-ever tournament appearance for the Menahga Braves. Cierra Ahlf leads the Braves with 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Minneota is a seven-time tournament participant and a 2013 champion. Lydia Sussner averages a double-double for the Vikings with 18.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

               Stephen-Argyle Central vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl: Stephen-Argyle Central is making its second tournament appearance. Autumn Thompson leads the Storm in scoring with 17.9 points per game; Abi McGlynn averages 6.4 rebounds per game. The 2017 runner-up team from Mountain Iron-Buhl returns for an eighth consecutive and ninth overall appearance. The Rangers get 25.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game from Mary Burke, who also leads the team in assists and steals.

                Sleepy Eye vs. Ada-Borup/Norman County West: Sleepy Eye returns for its third overall appearance. Madi Heiderscheidt and Sarah Ibarra both reached 1,000 career points for the Indians this year. This is the first appearance for the Cougars of Ada-Borup/Norman County West. As Ada-Borup, the team previously made two consecutive and ten overall appearances in the tournament, winning championships in 2008, 2009 and 2015. Ada-Borup lost in the quarterfinals in 2017.

                Class AA

                Byron vs. Sauk Centre: Byron is making its debut appearance in the state tournament. Ayoka Lee, who will play basketball at Kansas State next year, leads the Bears with 28.5 points per game, 16.3 rebounds per game and 114 blocks on the season. Undefeated Sauk Centre, the 2017 runner-up, is making its fourth consecutive and eighth overall tournament appearance. Three players average double-digit scoring for the Mainstreeters: Tori Peschel (13.5 points per game), Kelsey Peschel (13.3), and Maesyn Thiesen (12.4).

                Norwood-Young America vs. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis: The Raiders of Norwood-Young America are making their fourth overall tournament appearance. Their last was in 2016. Kali Grimm, who holds the school record for career points and three-point shots made, is closing in on 2,000 career points. This marks the fifth consecutive and 12th overall appearance for Minnehaha Academy, which won a championship in 2010. The Redhawks lost in the quarterfinals in 2017. Mia Curtis leads the team in scoring with 17.9 points per game, while Avery New is the top rebounder with 9.0 per game.

                Mesabi East, Aurora vs. Maranatha Christian Academy, Brooklyn Park: Mesabi East returns to tournament play for the first time since 1998, making their third overall appearance. Hope Howell’s 295 rebounds (9.8 per game) set a team season rebounding record. Ava Hill leads the Giants in scoring at 21.6 points per game. Making a ninth overall and ninth consecutive appearance, Maranatha Christian Academy took fourth place in Class A last year. Jaclyn Jarnot, who averages 15.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, has surpassed 2,000 career points and 700 career assists. The Mustangs won championships in 2011 and 2012.

                Tracy-Milroy-Balaton vs. Roseau: Evelyn Dolan leads the Panthers of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in scoring (17.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.9 rebounds per game). This is the first appearance as Tracy-Milroy-Balaton. Tracy competed three times; Tracy Area was champion in 1992, its only trip to the state tournament; Tracy-Milroy appeared five times and won championships in 1988 and 1996; and Tracy/Milroy/Walnut Grove made an appearance in 1989. The defending champions from Roseau return to the tournament for a fourth consecutive year and sixth time overall.

                Class AAA

                Alexandria Area vs. Robbinsdale Cooper: The Cardinals of Alexandria Area are looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place showing. They are making their second consecutive and ninth overall appearance. If the Cardinals win, it would be their second championship. They won their first in 1997. Kendall Kohler and Macy Hatlestad have both scored 1,000 points for Alexandria Area. The Hawks of Robbinsdale Cooper are making their debut appearance. Aja Wheeler and Kierra Wheeler average 14.0 and 13.7 points per game, respectively, for Robbinsdale Cooper.

                Willmar vs. DeLaSalle, Minneapolis: The Willmar Cardinals are making their second consecutive appearance and seventh overall. They fell in the consolation finals in 2017. Cayle Hovland, who leads the team with 11.2 points per game, has been to state in three events. In addition to basketball, she has also qualified in tennis and track and field. DeLaSalle, which took consolation honors in 2017, returns for its second consecutive and ninth overall appearance. The Islanders won three consecutive championships between 2011 and 2013. DeLaSalle averaged 56.7 points per game this year and their opponents averaged 39.7 against them.

      Mankato West vs. Northfield: The Mankato West Scarlets are making their first tournament appearance. Holly Wiste averages 11.3 points and 3.4 rebound per game for Mankato West. Northfield, which includes students from Arcadia Charter School and EdVisions Off Campus High School, returns for its third appearance. The Raiders made their last appearance in 2010. Grace Touchette has score over 1,300 career points and will end her high school career as Northfield’s all-time leader in assists.

                Grand Rapids vs. Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield: The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks return for their third consecutive appearance and seventh overall. They placed sixth in 2017. Heaven Hamling leads Grand Rapids with 22.4 points per game this season. The Stars of Academy of Holy Angels are making their third consecutive appearance and sixth overall. They are looking to improve on last year’s third-place showing. Academy of Holy Angels won previous title in 1975 (Winter) and 2016. Destinee Oberg, who will play for the University of Arkansas next year, averages 14.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. 

               

                Class AAAA

                Prior Lake vs. Eastview, Apple Valley: Prior Lake is making its fourth appearance, but first since 2003. McKenna Hofschild leads this year’s squad with 28.8 points per game. Eastview is looking to improve on last year’s third-place showing. The Lightning are making their seventh consecutive appearance and their 11th overall. They are in the hunt for their second title, having won their first in 2014. Mariah Alipate, who averages 10.0 points this season, will play basketball at St. Cloud State next year.

                Maple Grove vs. Lakeville North: Maple Grove returns for its fourth appearance, but first since 2011. Autumn Mlinar and Katrina Thies average 15.7 and 15.1 points per game, respectively for the Crimson. Lakeville North is making its third consecutive appearance and eighth overall. The Panthers placed fourth in 2017 and are looking for their second championship. They won their first in 2010. Ke James has had nine double-doubles for the Panthers this season. She averages 10.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

                Forest Lake vs. Hopkins: The Rangers of Forest Lake are making their third appearance. Their last was in 2001. Abigail Groeneweg averages 11.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for Forest Lake. The Hopkins Royals return for their fourth consecutive appearance and 12th overall. They placed second in 2017 and are looking for their seventh title. They won previously in 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015. The Royals average 78.3 points per game this year, and their opponents average 52.8 against them.

                Roseville Area vs. Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul: Roseville Area, which is making its eighth appearance, returns for the first time since 2007. Jayda Johnston paces this year’s squad with 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Raiders of Cretin-Derham Hall are making their sixth appearance, but first since 2003. They won one previous championship in 1999. The Raiders average 65.2 points per game this year, while holding their opponents to an average of 53.8 points per game.

      2017 State Tournament Recap

      Class A: The Wildcats of Goodhue, who entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, won their second consecutive and overall title. They defeated top-seeded Mountain Iron-Buhl 73-51 in the title game. Sydney Lodermeier and Mckenzie Ryan each scored 14 points for Goodhue. Ryan was also a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. The Wildcats started their tournament run with a 68-55 win over GHEC/Truman/Martin Luther. Goodhue then defeated Cromwell-Wright 70-48 in the semifinals. Cromwell-Wright bounced back to claim third-place honors after defeating Maranatha Christian Academy of Brooklyn Park 78-51. Southwest Minnesota Christian of Edgerton took home the consolation hardware after posting a 79-67 victory over GHEC/Truman/Martin Luther.

      Class AA: The top-seeded Roseau Rams won their first championship after defeating No. 2-seeded Sauk Centre 75-64 in the championship game. Kiley Borowicz paced Roseau with a 20-point performance. The Rams opened the tournament with an 82-64 win over New Richland-H-E-G. In the semifinals, they defeated New London-Spicer 79-57. Watertown-Mayer defeated New London-Spicer 49-48 in the third-place game. In the consolation final, Rochester Lourdes fell to New Richland-H-E-G 73-57.

      Class AAA: In Class AAA, the Orono Spartans won their first title after defeating Winona 65-47. Orono entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed. Winona was seeded No. 3. Tori Andrew was the top scorer for the Spartans; she finished the game with 22 points. In the quarterfinals, Orono defeated Willmar 59-45. The Spartans advanced and beat Alexandria Area 50-34 in the semifinals. Academy of Holy Angels of Richfield took home third-place honors after defeating Alexandria Area 74-66. DeLaSalle of Minneapolis needed to two overtimes to defeat Grand Rapids 68-66 in the consolation final.

      Class AAAA: The Elk River Elks earned their first championship after posting a 64-60 victory over top-seeded Hopkins. The Elks, who were the No. 2 seed, were led by Gabi Haack’s 25 points. Elk River started the tournament with a 52-44 quarterfinal win over White Bear Lake Area. In the semifinals, the Elks squeaked by Lakeville North 57-56. Eastview of Apple Valley claimed third-place honors after defeating Lakeville North 68-49. Park Center of Brooklyn Park took the consolation crown after beating Andover 55-45.