It's that time of the year again and I'll be providing game reports from Target Center beginning on Tuesday (3-15) and from Mariucci Arena on Wednesday (3-16) and then from Williams Arena on Thursday (3-17), Friday (3-18) and Saturday (3-19). As always, there are some intriguing match-ups and teams that may be flying under the radar that are ready to step up and snatch the title away from a heavy favorite. Let's do a capsule look at each of the four classes and see how things shape up:
Class A
The Class A teams don't start action until Thursday over at Mariucci Arena and while I haven't had an opportunity to cover any of the Class A teams extensively, I did get to cover nearby Maranatha Christian back in January when they traveled to and upset highly-regarded Minnehaha Academy (in the Class AA field). The third-seeded Mustangs, who made it to the Class A title game last year to Ada-Borup, come into this year's state tournament with a solid 24-6 record and are led by a dynamic sister duo - senior point guard Alaina Jarnot and sophomore forward/swing guard Jacklyn Jarnot. While Alaina, who runs the show from the backcourt and averaged 21.3 ppg coming into this season, Jacklyn (11.8 ppg) anchors things down low. When this team is clicking, they are truly something to watch and there's no reason to think that this group can't win it. The only thing that works against them, IMHO, is their tendency for defensive lapses as this is a squad that knows how to put up points but doesn't always get the stops which could cost them going up against top-flight competition. Goodhue is the number one seed in Class A and Mountain Iron-Buhl is the second seed. The Wildcats are led by 5'11" sophomore PG (!) Sydney Lodermeier while the Rangers have a scoring triumvirate of scorers - junior guard Chelsea Mason, sophomore forward Mary Burke and junior guard Mya Buffetta. The Class A field seems to always be a bit more unpredictable but it wouldn't shock me one bit if Maranatha Christian finds a way to win it this time around.
Class AA
Plainview-Elgin-Millville comes into this field as the number one seed with their 28-1 record and three seniors lead the way for the Bulldogs - senior guard Sarah Hart, senior forward Chloe Holtz, and senior guard Tessa Hubbard. Second-seeded Sauk Centre; seeking to avenge last year's state title game loss to Dover-Eyota and the Mainstreeters are loaded with talent and scoring ability. Senior guard Madi Greenwaldt along with sophomore guards Kelsey Peschel and Maesyn Theisen lead a very balanced scoring attack. But another team to keep your eye on in Class AA is third-seeded Minnehaha Academy. The Redhawks, led by senior guard Sarah Kaminiski, have a lot of experience on this stage and Head Coach Josh Thurow calls Kaminski "the best all-around player we've had in our program". I give Sauk Centre a solid shot here but I really like Minnehaha Academy's experience in this setting. My money's on the Redhawks here.
Class AAA
The Class AAA tournament will have a new champion by this coming Saturday night with two-time defending champ Park Center shoved up to the Class AAAA field. Hutchinson comes in as the number one seed with a 23-5 record and the Tigers knocked off highly-regard Orono in the section final to get here. Hutchinson; competing in the Wright County Conference, should at least be battle-tested coming into the state tournament but will their lack of experience on this stage get the best of them? Second-seeded Winona comes in with a 23-6 record but some of the same questions about Hutchinson may very well be swirling around the Winhawks as well. Another team, St. Paul Como Park is making its very first trip to the state tournament but the Cougars do have a big weapon that the other teams in this field don't - senior guard Andrayah Adams who can do it all. If she does what she wants to do, St. Paul Como Park could be very, very tough to beat. But one other team that DOES come into this state tournament with a ton of experience is Marshall at the number four seed. The Tigers, with a 23-6 record, don't quite have the star-studded line-up they've had the last couple of years that saw them get to the title game only to fall to Park Center twice - the first time in that dramatic triple-overtime game back in 2014. Senior forward Marah Mulso and fellow senior forward Lexi Saugstad lead the way for Marshall and in a field that has a fair amount of unpredictability to it, experience could go a long way here and the Tigers are due.
Class AAAA
I suppose one could look at this field and simply reply "Just give it (the trophy) to Hopkins already and be done with it." But while the Royals are the number one seed here and the favorites to win it, you may just want to wait until all the games are played out before you go handing anyone the title trophy just yet. No doubt about it, the Royals are a very, very, good team as their 27-2 record suggests. Senior guards Nia Hollie, Ashley Bates and Evelyn Knox lead the way for Hopkins and their explosiveness on offense and ability to defend certainly give them something of an inside track to the title. But you also have to consider the two teams that managed to beat Hopkins this season that find themselves in this state tournament as well - second-seeded STMA and third-seeded Minnetonka. The Knights; at 26-2, were somewhat of a surprise (to me anyway) with the second seed although the trio of junior guard Rae Johnson, senior forward Sydney Tracy and fellow senior guard Kitri Zezza can put up a lot of points. This group has been here before as well and they know what it's about so it's not at all out of the realm of possibility that they could win it. But the most complete team (to me anyway), is the third-seeded Skippers. Senior guard Grace Allen and senior forward Courtney Fredrickson lead the way for Minnetonka. The experience factor on this stage works against them, but I think this group is more than good enough to overcome that. They're just solid at every position and they know how to play defense. Fourth-seeded Eastview and fifth-seeded Lakeville North are longshots here as is Anoka. Oddly enough, the most dangerous team out here may very well be unseeded Park Center. They've played both Hopkins and Minnetonka during the regular season (along with Anoka in Northwest Suburban Conference regular season play). Oh, let's not forget that they're the two-time defending Class AAA state champs and they can swarm like angry hornets on defense. Getting past Hopkins is likely a bridge too far for the Pirates on Tuesday morning but if there's one team you'd just as soon avoid playing if at all possible - especially at 10:00 in the morning, is Park Center. They've got absolutely nothing to lose here and they'll let it all hang out Tuesday morning.
So there you have it. As always, I'll be providing game recaps and interview bits. Let's get this show on the road!
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