State Tournament: Meet the All-Tournament Teams
So that’s it. The Minnesota state high school girls basketball championship is over. Done. Kaput. Finished. As of noon on Friday, the Minnesota State High School League declared that the show could not go on due to a set of global circumstances that is far more complex than any of us regular folks can possibly grasp. It’s a crappy way to end the season which is, perhaps, appropriate given that there does not appear to be a single roll of toilet paper for sale anywhere in the Twin Cities right now!
The MSHSL, in what seems to be a rather hasty decision made in the heat of the moment, has determined that there will be no class champions for the 2019-20 season. Personally, I see no reason why we can’t declare co-champions. Unless the teams are going to hold clandestine finals in an empty gym somewhere deep into cul de sac country – this idea was certainly floating around social media late Friday night – nobody will get to hoist a trophy.
Without asking anyone’s permission we’re going to honor this year’s state champions. And, as we always do, we’re naming our Prep Girls Hoops All Tournament Teams. Although the sample size is a little smaller than in previous seasons, there were still 20 basketball games played on Wednesday and Thursday at Williams Arena and the Maturi Pavilion on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
With out further ado, these are your state champions and tournament all stars for 2019-20.
CLASS AAAA
Co-champions: Farmington Tigers & Hopkins Royals
First Team
- Sophie Hart Sophie Hart 6'4" | C Farmington | 2021 State #44 Nation MN , junior forward, Farmington
- Taylor Woodson Taylor Woodson 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #28 Nation MN , freshman forward, Hopkins
- Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers 5'11" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Hopkins (UConn)
- Mackenzie Kramer Mackenzie Kramer 5'9" | PG STMA | 2020 State MN , senior guard, St. Michael-Albertville (Lehigh)
- Peyton Blandin Peyton Blandin 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Farmington
Second team
- Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN , sophomore forward, Hopkins
- Liza Karlen Liza Karlen 6'2" | PF Stillwater | 2020 State MN , senior forward, Stillwater (Marquette)
- Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN , freshman guard, St. Michael-Albertville
- Paige Kindseth Paige Kindseth 5'10" | CG Farmington | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Farmington
- Lauren Jensen Lauren Jensen 5'10" | CG Lakeville North | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Lakeville North (Iowa)
CLASS AAA
Co-champions: Becker Bulldogs & DeLaSalle Islanders
First team
- Nurjei Weems Nurjei Weems 6'0" | PF DeLaSalle | 2020 State MN , senior forward, DeLaSalle
- TeeTee Danso TeeTee Danso 6'0" | PF Simley | 2020 State MN , senior forward, Simley (Bradley)
- Julia Bengtson Julia Bengtson 5'10" | PG Becker | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Becker
- Kiani Lockett Kiani Lockett 5'9" | PG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN , sophomore guard, DeLaSalle
- Sydney Runsewe Sydney Runsewe 5'8" | CG DeLaSalle | 2022 State MN , sophomore guard, DeLaSalle
Second team
- Megan Gamble Megan Gamble 5'10" | SF Becker | 2021 State MN , junior forward, Becker
- Courtney Nuest Courtney Nuest 5'8" | CG Becker | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Becker
- Addy Salzer Addy Salzer 5'10" | CG Waconia | 2021 State MN , junior forward, Waconia
- Zareia Chevre Zareia Chevre 5'10" | PF Simley | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Simley (Monmouth)
- Sydney Stensgard Sydney Stensgard 5'9" | CG Simley | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Simley (Montana State)
CLASS AA
Co-champions: Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers, Providence Academy Lions, Rochester Lourdes Eagles, Waseca Bluejays
First team
- Alyssa Ustby Alyssa Ustby 6'2" | CG Rochester Lourdes | 2020 State MN , senior forward, Rochester Lourdes (North Carolina)
- Gianna Kneepkens Gianna Kneepkens 5'11" | CG Duluth Marshall | 2021 State #86 Nation MN , junior guard, Duluth Marshall
- Hailey Hohenecker Hailey Hohenecker 5'2" | PG Providence | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Providence Academy (Sioux Falls)
- Grace Kirk, senior guard, Duluth Marshall (Brown)
- CJ Adamson CJ Adamson 5'9" | CG Rochester Lourdes | 2022 State MN , sophomore guard, Rochester Lourdes
Second team
- Rachel Breck Rachel Breck 6'0" | PF Waseca | 2020 State MN , senior forward, Waseca (Iowa Lakes)
- Grace Counts Grace Counts 6'1" | PF Providence | 2023 State MN , freshman forward, Providence Academy
- Kyra Miller Kyra Miller 5'9" | CG Providence | 2023 State MN , freshman guard, Providence Academy
- Hannah Potter Hannah Potter 5'11" | PF Waseca | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Waseca
- Ivane Tensaie Ivane Tensaie 5'7" | CG Concordia | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Concordia Academy
CLASS A
Co-champions: Cromwell-Wright Cardinals, Henning Hornets, Minneota Vikings, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers
First team
- Taya Hakamaki Taya Hakamaki 5'7" | CG Cromwell | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Cromwell-Wright (UM-Duluth)
- Brielle Bartelt Brielle Bartelt 5'6" | PG Waterville-E-M | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
- Ellie Dague Ellie Dague 5'10" | CG Henning | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Henning
- Megan Weber, junior guard, Henning
- Kassidy Broadwater, senior guard, Fillmore Central
Second team
- Abby Hennen Abby Hennen 5'9" | CG Minneota | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Minneota
- Taylor Schuck Taylor Schuck 5'7" | CG Heritage | 2021 State MN , junior guard, Heritage Christian
- Natalie Rolbiecki Natalie Rolbiecki 5'10" | CG Minneota | 2022 State MN , sophomore guard, Minneota
- Shaily Hakamaki Shaily Hakamaki 5'8" | CG Cromwell | 2020 State MN , senior guard, Cromwell-Wright (UM-Duluth)
- Toryn Richards, junior forward, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
Top photo: Shaily Hakamaki Shaily Hakamaki 5'8" | CG Cromwell | 2020 State MN of Cromwell-Wright and Abby Hennen Abby Hennen 5'9" | CG Minneota | 2021 State MN of Minneota both made our class A All Tournament Team. (Photo courtesy of StarTribune)