Girls High School Hoops Heat Up in Minnesota

The hardwood was sizzling in the Land of 10,000 Lakes as the 2024 Minnesota State Girls Basketball Tournament tipped off with quarterfinal action across all three classes. From the metro area to the rural outskirts, future collegiate stars showcased their skills in pursuit of state supremacy.

Class AAAA Quarters Offer Metro Flavor

The Class AAAA quarterfinals provided a glimpse into the talent-rich Minneapolis-St. Paul metro, with powerhouses like Hopkins, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, and St. Michael-Albertville punching their semifinal tickets. Hopkins opened the tournament with a resounding 66-39 win over White Bear Lake, while Maple Grove edged past Lakeville North in a 56-55 thriller.

Minnetonka followed suit with a 74-48 rout of Andover, and St. Michael-Albertville secured the final semifinal berth by dispatching Rosemount 68-57. The quartet of metro contenders will now battle for the right to play under the bright lights of Williams Arena in the championship tilt.

Class AAA Showcases Well-Rounded State Talent

The Class AAA field offered a more geographically diverse lineup, with teams from across Minnesota vying for glory. Benilde-St. Margaret’s roared out of the gates with a 75-40 demolition of Minneapolis Roosevelt, while Stewartville eked out a nail-biting 47-46 victory over St. Peter.

DeLaSalle flexed its muscle in an 81-49 win against Totino-Grace, and Alexandria punched its semifinal ticket with a 67-50 triumph over Rock Ridge. As the tournament marches on, these four squads will aim to continue their Cinderella journeys in hopes of cutting down the nets.

Class AA Serves Up Offensive Fireworks

If high-scoring affairs are your cup of tea, look no further than the Class AA quarterfinals. Providence Academy set the tone early, pouring in an eye-popping 94 points en route to a win over Perham. The New London-Spicer vs. Crosby-Ironton matchup provided another offensive showcase, with the winner yet to be determined.

On the other side of the bracket, Albany handled Rochester Lourdes 58-41, while Minnehaha Academy and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown were set to battle for the final semifinal berth. With potent offenses on display, Class AA promises to be a rollercoaster ride of momentum swings and buzzer-beaters.

Class A Offers Cinderella Storylines

As is tradition in Minnesota’s smallest class, the Class A field is ripe with potential Cinderella storylines. Unseeded squads like Mayer Lutheran, Southwest Minnesota Christian, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, and Fosston have already turned heads with their quarterfinal performances.

Powerhouses like Goodhue, Underwood, Mountain Iron-Buhl, and Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart aim to maintain order and secure their spot in the semifinals. Regardless of the outcomes, the Class A tournament is sure to provide an intimate, hard-fought atmosphere where every possession could make or break a dream season.

As the Minnesota State Girls Basketball Tournament rolls on, fans across the state will be treated to a showcase of skill, determination, and the pure joy of competition. From the metro giants to the small-town phenoms, these student-athletes have poured their hearts into reaching this stage – and the best is yet to come. Grab your face paint, dust off those pom-poms, and get ready to experience the magic of March in Minnesota.