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Girls Basketball: State tournament tips off Tuesday

The 44th annual Minnesota State High School League girls basketball tournament is scheduled Tuesday through Saturday, March 14-18, at four sites in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The 44th annual Minnesota State High School League girls basketball tournament is scheduled Tuesday through Saturday, March 14-18, at four sites in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Championship semifinals and championship games in all four classes will be televised by KSTC 45TV.

Class 1A

Southwest Minnesota Christian vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl --- Southwest Minnesota Christian returns for the second consecutive season. Mountain Iron-Buhl is trying to improve on last season's third-place finish.

Maranatha Christian Academy vs. Ada-Borup --- Two tournament veterans here. Maranatha Christian Academy has finished second the past two seasons. One of those was to Ada-Borup in 2015.

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GHEC/Truman/Martin Luther vs. Goodhue --- GHEC/Truman/Martin Luther is making its first state tournament appearance as this co-op. Granada-Huntley-East Chain was the 1A runner-up in 2006. Goodhue is the No. 2 seed in its title defense.

Red Lake vs. Cromwell-Wright --- Red Lake is on a 15-game winning streak and has topped the 100-point mark three times this season. Cromwell-Wright returns for the second consecutive season

Class 2A

New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva vs. Roseau --- NRHEG returns for the first time since winning the second of two state titles in 2014. Roseau can score at will.

Esko vs. New London-Spicer --- The Eskomos return after a one-year hiatus. New London-Spicer is led by legendary coach Mike Dreier.

Minnehaha Academy vs. Sauk Centre --- Might be the best matchup of the quarterfinal round. Minnehaha Academy has been a consistent 2A power under head coach Josh Thurow. Sauk Centre was the No. 2 seed in 2016, but finished fourth.

Rochester Lourdes vs. Watertown-Mayer --- Following a loss to Goodhue in the regular-season finale, Rochester Lourdes has rattled off four postseason wins for its first state tournament appearance since 2010. Watertown-Mayer is back for the first time since 2010 as well.

Class 3A

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Willmar vs. Orono --- Willmar has won 11 of its past 12 games to qualify for the first time since 2010. Orono was the top seed in 2015 in its last state tournament visit.

Alexandria vs. Grand Rapids --- Alexandria was the 3A champion in 1997 and has made six appearances since. Grand Rapids fans are making a quick turnaround to the Twin Cities after watching the Thunderhawks win the 2A boys hockey title.

Waseca vs. Academy of Holy Angels --- Waseca is making its state tournament debut. Holy Angels returns after a mini-upset binge in 2016 paved the way to the 3A championship.

DeLaSalle vs. Winona --- DeLaSalle is back for the first time since winning the final title in a spree of three in 2013. Winona was the No. 2 seed in 2016 before losing to Holy Angels in the championship game. Winona is on an 11-game winning streak and has won 14 of its past 15 games.

Class 4A

Minnetonka vs. Hopkins --- What better way to open the 4A quarterfinals than a rematch of the 2016 championship game that Minnetonka won. Hopkins is top seeded, undefeated and the most storied girls' basketball program in the modern era. The Royals have been seeded No. 1 six times.

Park Center vs. Eastview --- Park Center, the 3A champion in 2014 and 2015, is in the second year of playing in 4A. Eastview has won at least 20 games for the past 11 seasons. The Lightning are in the big-school field for the sixth consecutive season.

White Bear Lake vs. Elk River --- White Bear Lake upended top-seeded East Ridge in overtime in the section final to qualify for the third consecutive season. Elk River is focused on winning the school's first girls basketball championship. The Elks were state runners-up in 1990 and 2001.

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Andover vs. Lakeville North --- Andover makes it three teams from the Northwest Suburban Conference to qualify for the state tournament. The Huskies made state tournament appearances as well in 2004 and 2015. Lakeville North is no stranger to the big-school field. The Panthers were the 2010 4A champions and are making their seventh trip.

-- mshsl.org

Class 1A

Thursday, March 16

At Mariucci Arena

Quarterfinals

Southwest Minnesota Christian (25-3) vs. No. 1 Mountain Iron-Buhl (29-1), 11 a.m.

No. 5 Maranatha Christian Academy (22-7) vs. No. 4 Ada-Borup (28-1), 1 p.m.

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GHEC/Truman/Martin Luther (26-4) vs. No. 2 Goodhue (25-4), 3 p.m.

Red Lake (24-2) vs. No. 3 Cromwell-Wright (25-4), 5 p.m.

Friday, March 17

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation semifinals

10 and noon

At Williams Arena

Championship semifinals

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Quarterfinal winners, noon and 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 18

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation final, 9 a.m.

Third-place game, 11 a.m.

At Williams Arena

Championship, noon

Class 2A

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Wednesday, March 15

At Mariucci Arena

Quarterfinals

New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (25-5) vs. No. 1 Roseau (29-0), 2 p.m.

No. 5 Esko (24-6) vs. No. 4 New London-Spicer (26-3), 4 p.m.

Minnehaha Academy (25-4) vs. No. 2 Sauk Centre (29-1), 6 p.m.

Rochester Lourdes (21-9) vs. No. 3 Watertown-Mayer (26-3), 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 16

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation semifinals

6 p.m., 8 p.m.

Friday, March 17

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation final, 2 p.m.

At Williams Arena

Championship semifinals

Quarterfinal winners, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 18

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Third-place, 1 p.m.

At Williams Arena

Championship, 2 p.m.

Class 3A

Tuesday, March 14

At Target Center

Quarterfinals

Willmar (20-9) vs. No. 1 Orono (23-5), 6 p.m.

No. 5 Alexandria (25-4) vs. No. 4 Grand Rapids (23-5), 8 p.m.

Wednesday, March 15

At Mariucci Arena

Quarterfinals

Waseca (23-6) vs. No. 2 Academy of Holy Angels (25-3), 10 a.m.

DeLaSalle (18-10) vs. No. 3 Winona (24-4), noon

Thursday, March 16

At Williams Arena

Championship semifinals

Quarterfinal winners, noon and 2 p.m.

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation semifinals

2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Friday March 17

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation final, 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 18

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Third place, 3 p.m.

At Williams Arena

Championship, 6 p.m.

Class 4A

Tuesday, March 14

At Target Center

Quarterfinals

Minnetonka (17-10) vs. No. 1 Hopkins (29-0), 10 a.m.

No. 5 Park Center (24-5) vs. No. 4 Eastview (23-6), noon

White Bear Lake (20-9) vs. No. 2 Elk River (29-0), 2 p.m.

Andover (20-9) vs. No. 3 Lakeville North (27-2), 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 16

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation semifinals

10 a.m. and noon

At Williams Arena

Championship semifinals

Quarterfinal winners, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Friday, March 17

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Consolation final, 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 18

At Concordia (St. Paul)

Third place, 5 p.m.

At Williams Arena

Championship, 8 p.m.

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