Class A: Section previews
Marc just set the stage for a big Saturday of action — read it here — but I'm taking a slightly different track with my Class A coverage. Instead of highlighting the best games and doing one last rankings update on…
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Continue ReadingMarc just set the stage for a big Saturday of action — read it here — but I'm taking a slightly different track with my Class A coverage. Instead of highlighting the best games and doing one last rankings update on Sunday, I'm going to take a full spin around the state to predict my section champs.
I'll be on the edge of my seat Saturday night to take in the Goodhue-Lyle rematch that should decide the Section 1 title. Tune in on Twitter for updates starting at 8pm and watch the website for a full recap on Sunday.
My Class AA previews will be posted later today, but we're already guaranteed of a new state champ there after PEM's stunning loss on Tuesday.
Section 1
#1 Goodhue v #2 Lyle
#5 Fillmore v #3 Kingsland
As a Rochester native who has seen this rivalry explode in recent years, I might be biased…but Goodhue/Lyle is my Class A game of the weekend. The Athletics knocked off the Wildcats two years ago, then watched a 17-point lead evaporate in the final 8 minutes last year to suffer a stunning loss — then watched Goodhue dominate all three games at state.
Goodhue survived against Lyle earlier this year in OT, so I’m expecting another doozy. The Wildcats are rolling again, but 6-4 junior Kristi Fett is a game-changer inside.
No offense to Fillmore Central and Kingsland — who have both had nice seasons and sprung upsets on Monday — but neither of those squads can hang with whoever survives this long-awaited rematch.
Prediction: Goodhue over Kingsland
Section 2
#1 CMC 20-5 v #5 MN Valley Lutheran 11-15
#3 BOLD 15-11 v #2 Sleepy Eye 20-7
#1 Loyola 24-2 v #4 Springfield 17-10
#3 St Clair 17-10 v #2 GHECTML 23-4
This section has a ton of talent and depth. Mankato Loyola has the best record and suits up the best player in Lindsey Theuninck, so it’s earned the mantle of favorite. But this is March and anything can happen.
What if Springfield’s uber athletic Vishe Rabbe gets Theuninck in foul trouble? Can she and her Crusaders handle GHECTML’s size? Does Paige Richert have a couple big games left in her? Can Madi Heiderscheidt make some postseason noise after Sleepy Eye’s up-and-down year?
My head tells me Loyola will emerge for Theuninck’s swan song, but I’m still following my heart to predict an upset. It’s called March Madness for a reason, right?
Prediction: GHECTML over CMC
Section 3
#1 Canby 22-4 v #2 Lac qui Parle Valley 19-9
#1 Red Rock Central 25-3 v #2 SW MN Christian 23-3
Red Rock has been a big riser for us this season and enters the weekend riding a 19-game winning streak. They’re all the way up to #11 in our poll, jumping 8 spots in our last update. That surge actually allowed them to jump SW MN Christian in the seeding process, though we’ve got them ranked #8 after its 14-point win over Canby.
So, what’s that tell us? We like whoever emerges from that showdown to represent Section 3 at state — and we’ll stay true to our rankings in this one.
Prediction: SW MN Christian over Canby
Section 4
#1 Maranatha v #8 Christian Life Academy
#5 Mayer Lutheran v #4 Heritage Christian
#3 Lester Prairie v #6 Christ Household of Faith
#7 West Lutheran v #2 Mlps North
Oofta. This is the best Class A section in the state, right? Maranatha took some bumps this season while playing a great schedule. Ditto Minneapolis North. Mayer Lutheran and Heritage Christian stumbled a bit during the middle of the season, allowing Lester Prairie to slide up.
What’s it all mean? This thing is really up for grabs. I like Heritage, but don’t see them getting by Mayer *and* Maranatha, so we’ll stick with the favorite.
Prediction: Maranatha over Lester Prairie
Section 5
#1 Cromwell v #5 Verndale
#3 Pine River-Backus v #2 Menahga
#1 Kimball v #5 Upsala
#6 KMS v #2 BBE
To me, this one is pretty easy. I really like Chelsea Swatek, the Bailey Gronner and the Hakamaki sisters for Cromwell. They might actually be the biggest threat to knock off Mountain Iron-Buhl. While Kimball and BBE are both dangerous, I’ll stick with the favorite.
Prediction: Cromwell over Kimball
Section 6
#1 Ada-Borup v #4 Park Christian
#3 Henning v #2 New York Mills
#1 Wheaton v #4 Brandon-Evansville
#6 Hancock v #2 Parkers Prairie
Marc bumped undefeated Wheaton up to #2 during our last ranking update, while I celebrated my new baby. Yeah, me!
Anyway, a few quick thoughts on that. I had Wheaton ranked at “just” #4 due to some questions about its schedule. The Warriors played just two ranked Class A teams who finished in our Top 20 poll — #14 Canby and #18 Underwood — and nobody ranked from the bigger classes. Compare that with MIB, Goodhue, Cromwell and Maranatha, who all clearly played a much better schedule than Wheaton and took at least one loss for it. To me, that matters.
That said, I still think Wheaton is legit and I’ll prove it by picking them over #7 Ada-Borup. Emma Schmidt is as good of a defender as you’ll see and its got great size with Hannah Gail and Briona Edwards.
Prediction: Wheaton over Ada-Borup
Section 7
South Ridge v Cook County
Littlefork v MIB
Cherry v Bigfork
Carlton v Floodwood
I’ll keep this one short because I think we all know what’s going to happen here: MIB in a landslide. Yes, they’re that good.
Prediction: MIB over Bigfork
Section 8
#1 Red Lake 21-2 v #4 Lake of the Woods 13-11
#3 Clearbrook-Gonvick 18-9 v #2 Fooston 19-7
#1 Stephen-Argyle 21-5 v #5 Northern Freeze 12-11
#6 Fertile-Beltrami 16-10 v #2 Sacred Heart 19-8
This one appears destined for a rematch of the Dec. 30 barnburner between Stephen-Argyle and Red Lake. The Storm emerged with a 65-64 road victory in a game that features two of the top scorers in the state with Red Lake’s Grace White and S-A’s Autumn Thompson.
I’ll lean toward the team with the best player in this one, as Denver-bound White has led her team to 11 straight wins.
Prediction: Red Lake over Stephen-Argyle