With an overtime win over Totino Grace in the Section 5AAA Finals, the Monticello girls’ basketball team advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2014. Below is a state tournament preview for Class AAA, where six of the eight teams are ranked! Good luck to the Magic and follow all their games live, right here on AM 1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app.
Site: Maturi Pavilion and Williams Arena, U of M Campus.
Dates: Wed., March 12th-Saturday, March 15th.
Schedule: Wed, March 12th, Quarterfinal games at 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, and 4 PM@Pavilion. Thursday, March 13th, Semifinals, 12 PM and 2 PM@Williams Arena. Saturday, March 15th, Championship game at 2 PM.
Wright County Area Teams: Monticello Magic, are making their first state appearance since 2014.
Defending Champs Here? Yes, in fact Benilde St. Margeret’s is looking for a three peat!
The Teams:
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Benilde St. Margeret’s, 23-6, #1 Seed, and #4 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance#: 10/State Champs in 2006,2010,2023, and 2024.
Key Players: Zahara Bishop (19 ppg.), Pressley Watkins (15 ppg) and Kendell McGee (12 ppg.)
Did you know? The Knights are the #1 seed, despite only being the fourth ranked team in the state, and the third highest ranked team in the state tournament.
About the Knights: BSM started the season 0-3 against top competition but has won nine straight coming into the state tournament. The Knights are not as deep as they have been in the past but have played a brutally tough schedule and have tons of tournament experience.
Zahara Bishop, above right, and the Red Knights are looking for their third straight Class AAA Championship this week in Minneapolis.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Monticello Magic, 29-0, #2 Seed, and #1 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance# 4, last time in state was in 2014.
Key Players: Samantha Voll (22 ppg), Abby Ruda (12 ppg), and Aubrey Krienke (9 ppg.)
Did you know?
About the Magic: It’s been a “magical season” for Monticello as they enter the state tournament undefeated and ranked #1 for the first time in school history. The Magic are a very deep team with seven players avg. 5 or more ppg and may have the best PG in the state in Voll. Defeating #8AAAA STMA early in the season gave this team a ton of confidence.
Samantha Voll, above, enjoys some “face time” after winning the Section 5AAA finals last Thursday night.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Marshall Tigers, 27-1, #3 Seed and ranked #2 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 14, state champs in 2001, and 2002.
Key Players: Reese Drake (18 ppg), Taleigha Bigler (15 ppg) and Oakley Schneekloth (13 ppg).
Did you know? Their only loss this season came to #3AAA Orono, 69-56, and the Spartans were the only Top five team in AAA not to make the state tournament.
About the Tigers: The Tigers are a very balanced scoring team with a lot of depth. Marshall won two of their first three games by five points or less and since them they have won only one game by less than 10 points as they cruise into the state tournament.
Above, action from Marshall’s win over Hutch earlier this season.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: De La Salle, 24-5, #4 Seed, and ranked #6 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 14, state champs in 2011,2012,2013,2019.
Key Players: Aneisha Scott (20 ppg), Anaya Shaffa(11 ppg), and Laila Moses (9 ppg.)
Did You Know: The Islanders won three straight championships in 11,12, and 13 led by hall of fame coach, Faith Patterson.
About the Islanders: Typical DLS team, athletic and will press you the whole game. Played top competition and it paid off as they won 13 of 14 down the stretch including a Section final game over #9AAA Hill Murray 69-65.
Aneisha Scott, above #12, drives to the basket against BSM in last year’s state tournament.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Alexandria, 24-4, #5 Seed and ranked #5 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 14 won it all in 1997.
Key Players: Hadley Thul (16 ppg), Chloe Scholl (12 ppg), and Macee Linow (11 ppg).
Did you know: Cards head coach Wendy Kohler is second all-time in girls’ basketball wins in the state of Minnesota with over 720!
About the Cards: Another team that will play anyone anywhere and anytime! Played Providence Academy the #1 Ranked team in the state to a close 89-78 loss and plays as well defensively as any team in the state. Big three of Thul, Scholl and Linow will have to carry the Cards if they want to go on a run. My team to keep an eye on to pull a surprise run just like their volleyball team this fall.
Wendy Kohler, above, became the second winningest coach in girls state basketball history earlier this year.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Rock Ridge, 24-5, Random Draw, #10 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 2 last time was first time, last year!
Key Players: Ava Westby (25 ppg), Lexi Lamppa (17 ppg), and Maija Lamppa (7 ppg.)
Did you know: Rock Ridge is made up from three schools up north. Virginia, Eveleth and Gilbert.
About Rock Ridge Wolverines: Most of the teams at state are deep, not Rock Ridge. Westby and Lexi Lamppa are big time players and will give higher seeds fits, but I don’t think there is enough behind them to make a run at state, but for Rock Ridge it’s been a fun run these last two years and just being at state is a big deal.
Ava Westby, above #42, has scored over 1,000 points in her Wolverines career.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Cretin Derham Hall, 20-9, Random Draw, not Ranked.
State Tournament Appearance # 3.
Key Players: Isabella Deleeuw (11 ppg), Sage Gilbert (11 ppg), and Madeline Hamiel (11 ppg).
Did you know? The Raiders have not been to the state tournament since 1984.
About the Raiders: It’s hard to tell how good they are as they have played a very soft schedule and lost to most of the teams that had winning records. The good news for the Raiders is that they have a balanced team, are 4-1 in close games and our so happy to be here after a 41 year wait!
Cretin Derham Hall, above in white is going back to the state tournament for the first time in 41 years.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Stewartville, 21-8, Random Draw, not ranked.
State Tournament Appearance # 3.
Key Players: Audrey Shindelar (21 ppg), Jayci Rath (11 ppg) and Danika Shindelar (9 ppg).
Did you know? The Tigers may only have three state tournament appearances, but this is the third straight year they have made it too state.
About the Tigers: This team is not a team you want to see early in state! The Tigers don’t score a lot, but play wicked D, and have three straight years of tournament experience. Then you factor in their win over #8AAA Byron in the Section finals, and this team gets the dreaded “no one wants to play them right now.”
The Stewartville Tigers, above, are going back to state for the third straight year.
MSHSL Girls Basketball Website:
