STMA and Monticello are both in the Section finals in Girls Basketball. The Section finals take place Thursday night, and we will have the STMA vs. Brainerd game, live at 6:45 PM with opening tip at 7 PM from Sartell, Izzy Cheney on the call.
Also, on Thursday we will have live updates of the Monticello Section final vs. Totino-Grace. Good luck to both the Knights and Magic tomorrow!
Section 8AAA Final. #3 Brainerd vs. #1 STMA @ Sartell, 7 PM. (Live on AM 1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. Pregame beginning at 6:45 PM)
Let’s take a look at the STMA Knights….
Record, Seed: 18-10, #1 Seed and #8 ranked AAAA team in the state.
Last Year: Won the Section and lost to Minnetonka in the state semifinals.
So far in Sections: Defeated Bemidji, 65-41, and Sartell, 74-42.
Key Players: Cail Jahnke (20 ppg.), Abby Hoselton (14 ppg), and Ella Erickson (8 ppg.)
Key Stat: After starting the season 3-1 vs. Top Ten teams, the Knights went 0-8 the rest of the season.
About the Knights: The Knights still have star power in Jahnke and Hoselton, but they lack the usual depth they have had in the past and have struggled as of late against elite competition. The Knights came into the playoffs on a 3-7 slide.
Cail Jahnke, above, is hoping to lead the Knights to the state tournament for the fourth straight year.
Let’s take a look at the Brainerd Warriors….
Record: 24-4, 3rd seed.
Last year: Lost to Elk River in Section Semifinals.
So far in Sections: Defeated Moorhead, 67-53, and Elk River, 69-61.
Key Players: Mya Tautges (18 ppg), Addison Bjorklund (12 ppg), and Allison Thomas 10 ppg.)
Key Stat: The Warriors haven’t been to state since 1997.
About the Warriors: The Warriors come in on a ten-game winning streak and have scored 70 or more points sixteen times this season. This has been a slow build for the Warriors who won nine games three years ago and got thumped by Elk River in Semifinals last year. They feel like this is their year.
Mya Tautges, above in blue, is one of the best athletes in Brainerd history and is hoping to lead the Warriors to their first state tournament in basketball since 1997.
Three Keys for the Knights:
1. Take the first hit. You know the Warriors will come out firing, knowing this will be their first opportunity to reach state since 97. Tautges a three-sport star, will be ready for this moment, and the Knights need to be too!
2. Rely on Jahnke and Hoselton. There aren’t many teams that have a more talented twosome then the Knights. Not only are Jahnke and Hoselton both great on offense and defense, but they have plenty of big game experience, winning a state title just two years ago.
3. Roll players must step up! Not just in the Section final, but if they reach state the Knights need their role players to play bigger rolls. One girl to keep an eye on is Sophomore, Jaycie Bryan. She scored 16 late in the season a career high and has really come on in the second half of the season for STMA.
STMA, above, won the state championship in 2023 and is looking to go back this year.
Section 5AAA Final. #2 Totino-Grace vs. #1 Monticello @ STMA, 7 PM. (KRWC will have live updates throughout the game.)
Let’s take a look at the Magic….
Record, Seed: 28-0, #1 Seed and #1 in Class AAA.
Last Year: Lost to Totino-Grace, 60-59 in Section final.
So far in Sections: Defeated Zimmerman, 71-40, and St. Francis, 63-24.
Key Players: Samantha Voll (23 ppg), Abby Ruda (12 ppg), and Aubrey Krienke (9 ppg.)
Key Stat: If Monticello wins it will make its 5th state tournament appearance in school history, but only their first since 2007.
About the Magic: Monticello led by their great point guard Samantha Voll has been dominant all year long, winning by 25 points or more nineteen times and claimed their first Mississippi 8 conference championship in almost twenty years. The Magic opened some eyes with their early season 87-79 win over #8AAAA STMA.
Parker Haffeman, above, had a career day in the Section finals last season for the Magic.
Let’s take a look at the Eagles….
Record, Seed: 19-7, #2.
Last year: Defeated Monti in Section final and lost to De La Salle in State Quarterfinals.
So far in Sections: Defeated Coon Rapids, 79-49, and Fridley, 69-58.
Key Players: Chloe Ness (20 ppg), Maria Radabaugh (16 ppg), and Ava Litecky (12 ppg.)
Key Stat: Totino Grace lost to Monti last month but has won five straight since.
About the Eagles: Totino, just like Monti likes to run. The Eagles have scored 70 or more points, sixteen times this season. Totino also has nice wins over #10AAAA Lakeville South, 66-62, and Hill Murray, 73-60.
Chloe Nuss, above, led the Eagles to state last year with a big game over Monticello in last year’s section final.
Three keys for the Magic:
1. You already got revenge! Monti was favored to go to state last year and lost a heartbreaker to Totino. Earlier this year Monti defeated the Eagles, 69-56, so that is out of the way. This game and focus should be all about winning every key moment, not getting revenge.
2. This is Voll’s world! Both teams like to run, but Samantha Voll is one of the best point guards in the state. She will determine when and how Monti plays. If she controls the pace, the Magic have a big edge.
3. Parker Haffeman in the house! Haffeman only avg. 8 ppg this season for the Magic and I didn’t even mention her as a key player, but she certainly could be! Last year Haffeman scored 27 in the Section final, and if they get even half of that from her on Thursday, the Magic will have a great shot at getting back to state for the first time since 2007.
Totino-Grace, above, is looking to go back-to-back at state if they can upset Monticello on Thursday.
