With a blow out win over Elk River in the Section 8AAAA Finals, the Monticello girls’ basketball team advanced to the state tournament for the second straight year, and will be making their AAAA State Tournament debut. Below is a state tournament preview for Class AAAA, 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: Williams Arena, U of M Campus.
Dates: Wed., March 12th-Saturday, March 15th.
Schedule: Wed, March 11th, Quarterfinal games at 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, and 4 PM @ Williams Arena. Thursday, March 12th, Semifinals, 6 PM and 8 PM@Williams Arena. Saturday, March 14th, Championship game at 8 PM.
Wright County Area Teams: Monticello Magic, are making their second straight state tournament appearance and their first ever in Class AAAA.
Defending Champs Here? Yes, Hopkins defeated Maple Grove in last years state championship game.
The Hopkins Royals, above, are back to defend their state championship at Williams Arena this week.
The Teams:
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Hopkins, 28-2, #1 Seed, and #1 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance#: 20th. State Champs in 2004,2006,2011,2012,2013,2015,2019, and 2022.
Key Players: Erma Walker, 18 ppg, Jaliyah Diggs, 17 ppg, and Ava Cupito, 15 ppg.
Did you know? Ava Cupito is the daughter of former Gophers QB Brian Cupito. Cupito was the QB during the Lawrence Maroney, Marion Barber, Jr. era.
About the Royals: Typical Hopkins team. They never stop coming at you with their press, they push the pace and they have an outstanding three-point sniper in Cupito. Without a doubt the favorite, but it won’t be easy.
Ava Cupito, above, the top three point shooter on the Royals received a scholarship offer from St. Thomas this winter.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Rosemount Irish, 26-3, #2 Seed and #6 ranked team in the state.
State Tournament Appearance# 7th.
Key Players: Amisha Ramlall, 21 ppg, Ashna Ramlall, 15 ppg, and Giana Carpentier, 10 ppg.
Did you know? Amisha, Ashna and Arshia Ramlall are all part of the Guyana women’s national team.
About the Irish: Surprisingly despite being ranked #6 in the state, the Irish received the #2 seed. This team with the Ramlall’s have a great shot at reaching the state championship, something they did in 2021. This team can score, but can it play enough defense?
Amisha Ramlall, above, hopes to lead the Irish to their first state championship in Girls Basketball this week.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Rochester Mayo Spartans, #3 Seed and ranked #5 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 14th, state champs in 1995, and 1997.
Key Players: Amelia Mills, 22 ppg, Maggie Dryer, 19 ppg, and Mia Banks, 12 ppg.
Did you know? The last time the Spartans won a state championship in 1997, they were led by the Miller twins, Coco and Kelly. The Millers went on to play for Georgia and Hall of fame coach Andy Landers.
About the Spartans: This team can play, and defeated Maple Grove to open the season, giving them the higher seed over the Crimson. Eight players avg over 5 ppg, so they are a very deep team, but just barely reached state with a 50-48 win over Lakeville North in the 1AAAA finals.
Amelia Mills, above, is the top scorer for 28-1, Rochester Mayo.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Maple Grove Crimson, 24-5, #4 seed, #2 ranked team in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 8th.
Key Players: Kate Holmquist, 18 ppg, Sophia Anderson, 19 ppg, and Senna Meyer, 12 ppg.
Did You Know: Kate Holmquist is the daughter of former Buffalo Bison HS and North Dakota Sioux football player, Robbie Holmquist. Kate is headed to Montana next year to play basketball.
About the Crimson: This should be an ornery team coming into state. Not only did they lose to Hopkins in the state championship last season, this season despite being the #2 ranked team in the state they received the #4 seed. This team is balanced and plays great D! If they win, it could be the Crimson vs. Hopkins in the semifinals. Get your popcorn ready.
Kate Holmquist, above #20 in white, will play for Montana next year.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: East Ridge Raptors, #5 seed, ranked #7 in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 1st.
Key Players: Vienna Murray, 23 ppg, Cara Sarbacker, 10 ppg, and Amelia Ecker, 9 ppg.
Did you know: Vienna Murray is the #3 ranked player in the state of Minnesota and will play college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners.
About the Raptors: This team goes as Murray goes, and that can be a bad thing this time of year. Murray is incredible, but no one else on the team avg. over 9.5 ppg, and in their five losses the Raptors have avg. 50 ppg. Can East Ridge win if their opponent can find a way to slow Murray?
Vienna Murray, above in black, is headed to Oklahoma next fall to play basketball.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Monticello Magic, 25-4, #6 seed, #8 ranked team in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 5th.
Key Players: Samantha Voll, 26 ppg, Abby Ruda, 13 ppg, and Addison Ruda, 10 ppg.
Did you know: Sr. Guard Samantha Voll is the all-time leading scorer in Monticello school history regardless of gender. Voll will play at St. Thomas next year.
About Magic: Moving up to AAAA can the Magic play with the big boys of girl’s hoops in the state? We will soon find out! No doubt they will be motivated to prove they can play with the best, and with Voll missing last year’s state tournament, you can bet she will be ready to roll come Wednesday. This team also shouldn’t be intimidated because they made state last season, and their top eight players are all Seniors.
Samantha Voll, #21 in black above, hits a three pointer against Elk River in the Section 8AAAA finals.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Chanhassen Storm, 21-7, #7 seed, not ranked coming into state.
State Tournament Appearance # 1st.
Key Players: Kate Arnold, 21 ppg, Lyla Hentges, 16 ppg, and Lacy Hilgert, 15 ppg.
Did you know? If the Storm win their tournament debut, and Monticello defeats Rochester Mayo, it would be the Storm against the Magic in the semifinals, and they played earlier this year and the Magic won a thriller, 84-81.
About the Sorm: The first-time entrant from Chanhassen is a dangerous team. In their Section final, Lucy Hilgert had a double double with 30 points and 10 rebounds, as the Storm upset #2 Minnetonka, 79-68. This team has a big three and is talented enough to pull a few upsets.
Lucy Hilgert, above, had a double double in the Section finals as Chanhassen upset #2 Minnetonka.
Team, Record, Seed, State Ranking: Blaine Bengals, 21-8, #8 seed, not ranked in the state.
State Tournament Appearance # 7th.
Key Players: Amelia Ritchie, 12 ppg, Marlie Janssen, 11 ppg, and Bryana Cummings, 9 ppg.
Did you know? This will be the Bengals first state tournament appearance since 2009.
About the Tigers: Let’s see this team has a hard time scoring at times, and they get the most explosive talented team in the state first game, in Hopkins. Congrats on getting to state for the first time in 17 years, it’s a great accomplishment, but it should be a short run.
Amelia Ritchie, above, hopes to lead the Bengals to a monster upset over Hopkins in the first round on Wed.
2026 Class AAAA State Girls Basketball Bracket:
