Two teams, Minneapolis North Community (Class AAA), and Hopkins (Class AAAA), return to defend their 2004 titles. The Polars of Minneapolis North Community are looking for their third consecutive title. Seven teams are making first appearances: Tower-Soudan, Minneota, Rockford, Sartell-St. Stephen, Detroit Lakes, Bloomington Kennedy, and Minneapolis South. Fosston (Class A) is the only team to enter the tournament with a perfect record (27-0).

This year marks the ninth year of the four-class format and the second year with all games being played in Minneapolis. The 2005 State Girls' Basketball Tournament starts Wednesday, March 9, with single quarterfinal games being played at Target Center and Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Wednesday and Thursday March 10. Semifinals will be played at Target Center on Thursday March 10 and Friday March 11. The championship games of all four classes will be played at Target Center at Saturday March 12. Third-place games will be played on Saturday at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Class A Preview

(Section 6) Cass Lake-Bena (25-2) vs. (Section 4) Meadow Creek Christian, Andover (28-2): The Panthers of Cass Lake-Bena return for their first tournament appearance since 1998 and their third overall. The Panthers averaged 63 points per game with 31 rebounds, 14 steals, and 17 assists. Senior Kristina Salscheider led the team with 426 total points, an average of 15.8 points per game. Amber Schaaf, also a senior, contributed 13.4 points per game and led the team in rebounding with eight per game. The Meadow Creek Christian Saints are making their second consecutive and overall appearance in the state tournament. The Saints are averaging 60.5 points per game and have held their opponents to 34.9. They are averaging 14 assists and 14 steals per game. Junior Abby Thom recorded her 1,000th career point in December and set the Meadow Creek girls' all-time scoring record in February. Thom averaged 15.6 points per game. Senior Blaire Baldwin added 381 points, 168 rebounds, and 71 steals. The Saints' top rebounder was junior Elizabeth Woerle with 11.6 per game. Woerle also had 78 steals during the regular season.

(Section 5) Underwood (26-2) vs. (Section 1) Elgin-Millville (28-2): The Underwood Rockets are making their second consecutive and overall state tournament appearance. In 2004 they were the runners-up. The Rockets are led by senior Ashley Samuelson who had 674 points, 276 rebounds, 87 assists, 9 blocks and 147 steals. Junior Lisa Gorr added 145 rebounds, and 52 steals. Becky Wold, a junior, added 220 points, and 106 rebounds. As a team Underwood scored an average of 51.8 points per game. The Elgin-Millville Watchmen are making their fourth consecutive and overall tournament appearance. In 2002 they were the runners-up. The team provided no team or individual statistics.

(Section 8) Fosston (27-0) vs. (Section 2) Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (23-5): The Greyhounds of Fosston are making their fifth overall appearance in the state tournament, their last being in 2003. They won the tournament in 2000, 2001 and 2003. The Greyhounds are averaging 65.5 points per game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 26.2 points. They are shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 32 percent from behind the arch. The team is also averaging 38.3 rebounds, 13.9 assists, and 11.7 steals per game. Senior Kayla Bagaason contributed 21.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game during the regular season. This year she reached 2,000 career points. Senior Shelly Francis adds 12.8 points and 11 rebounds per game. The Knights of Sleepy Eye St. Mary's are making their second state tournament appearance, their first being in 1999. The Knights are averaging 54 points per game, outscoring their opponents by 10.5 points. They are shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 18.4 percent from the 3-point line. The team averages 33.6 rebounds, 12.8 assists, and 12.7 steals per game. Sophomore Molly Mathiowetz, who scored a team-season-record 515 (18.4 per game) points, leads the Knights. She also contributed 282 rebounds (10.1 per game), 74 assists, and 87 steals. Ninth-grader Maria Ganglehoff adds 11.3 points per game and had 63 assists and 72 steals during the regular season.

(Section 7) Tower-Soudan (24-2) vs. (Section 3) Minneota (21-6): The Golden Eagles of Tower-Soudan are making their first state tournament appearance. The team averaged 59.6 points per game, outscoring their opponents by 20.5 points on average. No other team or individual statistics were provided. The Minneota Vikings are also playing for the first time in the state tournament. The team averaged 60 points per game, averaging 35.7 percent from the field and 36.8 from the 3-point line. The Vikings also recorded 30.6 rebounds, 15.8 assists, and 9.6 steals per game. Senior Brittany Buysse contributed 474 points this year and reached 1,000 total career points. She also had 100 assists and 56 steals. Sophomore Hayley Hennen added 269 points. Top rebounder, sophomore Alyssa Buysse, had 209 rebounds and contributed 145 points.

Class A Quarterfinal Schedule - Wednesday, March 9

6:00 p.m. - Cass Lake-Bena vs. Meadow Creek Christian at Target Center

8:00 p.m. - Underwood vs. Elgin-Millville at Target Center

6:00 p.m. - Fosston vs. Sleepy Eye S. Mary's at Williams Arena

8:00 p.m. - Tower-Soudan vs. Minneota at Williams Arena

Class AA Preview

(Section 6) Albany (24-5) vs. (Section 4) Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (24-2): The Albany Huskies make their third consecutive and ninth overall tournament appearance. In 2004 they came in third. In 1980 and 1983 they won the tournament and were runners-up in 1979. The Huskies average 59.9 points per game with a field goal average of 41.1 percent. The team averaged 30.4 rebounds and 19.6 steals. Senior Joanne Noreen leads the team in scoring with 558 season points (an average of 19.2 points per game) and a career total of 1,989 points. She also adds 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 5.6 steals per game. Junior Steph DeGeest averages 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. The Minnehaha Academy Redhawks are making their second state tournament appearance. Their first was in 2001. The team provided no team or individual statistics.

(Section 5) Rockford (25-5) vs. (Section 1) Rochester Lourdes (27-1): The Rockford Rockets are making their first appearance in the state tournament. The team was led in scoring by senior Sarah Lincoln. Sarah had 387 points this season with 219 rebounds, 71 assists and 54 steals. Junior Ann Schmitz contributed 313 points, an average of 10.4 per game. Schmitz also recorded 99 rebounds, 34 assists and 69 steals. The school did not provide team statistics. The Rochester Lourdes Eagles are enjoying their fourth consecutive tournament appearance and the 16th appearance overall. The Eagles won championships in 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2000, and 2003. The Eagles averaged 46.1 points per game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 18.6 points. The team had a field goal average of 43 percent and a 3-point average of 33 percent, with 20.3 rebounds and 12.1 assists per game on average. Junior Anne Breland contributed 10.8 points per game. She also averages 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Junior Lauren Luebbe added 262 regular-season points with 96 rebounds and 64 steals.

(Section 8) Hawley (24-2) vs. (Section 2) Minnesota Valley Lutheran, New Ulm (27-1): The Hawley Nuggets are returning to the tournament for the fifth consecutive and sixth overall time. They were the runners-up in 2003 and 2004. They are returning all five starters from last year's team. The Nuggets average 50.9 points per game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 19.6 points. The team had a 52.7 percent field goal average and 47.3 percent from the 3-point line. They averaged 19.5 rebounds, 13.5 assists, and 10.3 steals. The team did not provide individual statistics. The Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers made their last appearance in the state tournament in 2000 when they were the runners-up. This is their third appearance overall. The Chargers were led in scoring by junior Karissa Kramer with 368 points (13.1 per game). She also contributed 144 assists and 176 steals. The leading rebounder was junior Laura Hunter with 7 per game. Laura added 9.1 points per game as well.

(Section 7) Pequot Lakes (28-1) vs. (Section 3) Pipestone Area (19-9): The Pequot Lakes Patriots make their third overall appearance. Their last was in 2000. Pipestone Area is making its first tournament appearance under this name, although Pipestone participated in 1987. Neither school provided team or individual statistics.

The Class AA Quarterfinals Schedule - Thursday, March 10

11:00 a.m. - Albany vs. Minnehaha Academy at Williams Arena

1:00 p.m. - Rockford vs. Rochester Lourdes at Williams Arena

3:00 p.m. - Hawley vs. Minnesota Valley Lutheran at Williams Arena

5:00 p.m. - Pequot Lakes vs. Pipestone Area at Williams Arena

Class AAA Preview

(Section 6) North Branch (23-6) vs. (Section 4) Sartell-St. Stephen (20-8): The Vikings of North Branch return after a one-year hiatus. This is their fifth overall appearance and they are still looking for their first title. Their highest finish was as runners-up in 2001. This season the Vikings averaged 50.5 points per game, while their opponents averaged 40.2. They also pull down 37.5 rebounds per game and shoot 36.1 percent from the field. Senior Jenny Anderson was the top scorer for North Branch. She averaged 11.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Anderson also had 12 double-doubles during the regular season. Sophomore Gabrielle Olson was the second-leading scorer with 9.8 points per game. Head coach Dan Schindler needs one more victory to reach 300 career wins. He was also named Section 6AAA Coach of the Year for the third time this year. The Sabres of Sartell-St. Stephen are making their first tournament appearance. The Sabres average 49.6 points per game and their opponents average 42.1. They shoot 40 percent from field goal range and 30 percent from 3-point range. They also average 29.9 rebounds and 12.5 steals per game. Senior Stacie Oistad, who leads the team with 15 points game, surpassed 1,000 career points in December. Oistad will play for South Dakota State next year. Senior Michelle Cheney is the second-leading scorer with 8.5 points per game. Ninth-grader Sarah Schellinger averages 2.7 steals per game.

(Section 5) Minneapolis North Community (21-4) vs. (Section 1) Red Wing (18-9): The Polars of Minneapolis North Community return as the two-time defending champions. They are making their ninth consecutive and 11th overall appearance. They have won four championships and also have three runner-up finishes. The Polars did not provide team or individual statistics. The Wingers of Red Wing return to make their second overall appearance, but their first since 1978. As a team the Wingers averaged 51.7 points and 26.6 rebounds per game this season. Their opponents scored an average of 44.3 points against them. The school did not provide individual statistics.

(Section 8) Detroit Lakes (21-6) vs. (Section 2) Marshall (24-5): The Detroit Lakes Lakers are making their first appearance in the state tournament. The team averaged 53 points and a 14-point lead against opponents this year. The Lakers' field goal average was 40 percent, with 28 percent from 3-point territory. Junior Jordanne Even contributed an average of 12.6 points per game also adding 5.1 rebounds. Sophomore Corey Lof recorded 184 season points and 75 rebounds. The Marshall Tigers are making their fourth appearance under this name (they appeared once as Marshall/Marshall Area Christian in 2000). Their last appearance was in 2002 where they won the title, as they did in 2001. The Tigers averaged 60.7 points per game this season, outscoring their opponents by 19.1 points on average. The team recorded 30.4 rebounds per game with a field goal average of 44 percent and a 3-point average of 34 percent. Seven different players have led this team in scoring this season and the stats reflect this: eight players each have over 100 points for the season. Sophomore Macie Michelson leads the team with 385 points (13.3 points per game), while Julia Schultz and Kirsten Haukom, both juniors, add 9.9 and 7.6 points per game, respectively. Amber Buysse led the team in rebounding with 140 (4.8 per game) and Michelson led in steals with 75 (2.6 per game).

(Section 7) Hermantown (27-2) vs. (Section 3) Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield (22-6): The Hermantown Hawks are making their second overall appearance in the state tournament. Their last was in 2003. The Hawks averaged 59.4 points per game, outscoring their opponents by 21.5 points. Their record from the field was 41.8 percent and 32.3 from behind the arc. The team had 33.7 rebounds and 17 steals per game. The team attributes their success to the veteran coaching staff and their multi-sport athletes. The school did not provide individual statistics. The Academy of Holy Angels Stars are making their third overall appearance in the tournament. Their last was in 1986. They were the winter champs in 1975. As a team they averaged 65.8 points per game, outscoring their opponents by 15.1 points. The Stars' field goal average was 43.1 percent and their 3-point average was 31.8 percent. The team pulled down 29.3 rebounds per game and made 12.8 steals. Junior Jessie Miller led the team with 451 points, an average of 16.1 per game. Miller also had 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 4.25 steals per game. Sophomore Maggie Slawson contributed 339 points (12.1 per game). Senior Sarah Mueller led the team in rebounds with 178 (6.4 per game).

The Class AAA Quarterfinal Schedule - Wednesday, March 9

10:00 a.m. - North Branch vs. Sartell-St. Stephen at Target Center

12:00 p.m. - Minneapolis North Community vs. Red Wing at Target Center

2:00 p.m. - Detroit Lakes vs. Marshall at Target Center

4:00 p.m. - Hermantown vs. Academy of Holy Angels at Target Center

Class AAAA Preview

(Section 6) Bloomington Kennedy (25-2) vs. (Section 4) Roseville Area (23-6): The Bloomington Kennedy Eagles are making their first tournament appearance. The Eagles average 58.6 points per game. They make 43 percent of their field-goal attempts and 30 percent of their 3-point attempts. They also average 10.2 assists and 10.6 steals per game. Junior Jenna Smith averages 20.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Senior Allison Schoff is the second-leading scorer with 14.6 points per game. The Raiders of Roseville Area are making their fifth overall appearance, but their first since 2000. Their highest finish was as runners-up in 1993. This year's team was led by sophomore Talisha Barlow. She made 178 of 308 field-goal attempts and was 68 for 101 from the free throw line with a season total of 429 points (14.8 per game). Junior Amy Beggin, who was the Raiders' second-leading scorer, surpassed 1,000 points this year. Beggin also shoots 87 percent from the free throw line. Senior Heather Lindeborg shoots 41.3 percent from behind the 3-point line. As a team Roseville Area outscored its opponents by an average of 15.1 points. They also sank 44.2 percent of their field-goal attempts and 33.1 percent of their three-point efforts. They average 25.5 rebounds and 11.3 steals per game.

(Section 5) Minneapolis South (21-6) vs. (Section 1) Lakeville (15-14): The Tigers of Minneapolis South are making their first appearance at the tournament. The school did not provide team or individual statistics. The Panthers of Lakeville return for their second consecutive and sixth overall appearance. They were the runners-up last year. They won previous titles in 2001 and 2002. The Panthers averaged 46.0 points per game this season while their opponents scored an average of 45.3. They average 38.2 percent on field goal chances and 25.4 percent from three-point range. They also have 10.7 assists and 12.2 steals per game. Sophomore Laura Kalbfell led Lakeville in scoring with 9.9 points per game. She also averages five rebounds per game. Junior Katie Sheets, who averages eight points per game, was selected to the All-Lake Conference Team. The Panthers credit their success to team unity and strong work ethic.

(Section 8) Moorhead (19-7) vs. (Section 2) Hopkins (26-2): The Moorhead Spuds return after a one-year absence to make their third overall appearance. Their highest finish was as runners-up in 1999. The school did not provide team or individual statistics. The Hopkins Royals return to defend their 2004 title. They are making their fourth consecutive and overall appearance under this name. Hopkins Lindbergh made two additional appearances in 1979 and 1980. This year's Royals' team averaged 55.4 points per game, while their opponents scored an average on 41.2 points against them. They shoot 44.6 percent from field goal range and 32.0 percent from behind the arc. The pull down 28.5 rebounds per game and also average 9.4 steals per game. Senior Kaitlyn Lillemoe and junior Jillian Schurle lead the Royals in scoring. Lillemoe averages 15.0 points per game, while Schurle adds 14.3. Junior Tiana Wilkinson averages 5.7 rebounds per game.

(Section 7) Blaine (18-11) vs. (Section 3) St. Paul Central (26-2): The Bengals of Blaine return after a two-year break hoping to capture their first title. This is their fifth overall appearance and their highest finish was as runners-up in 2002. Sophomore Ana Garcia led Blaine with 285 points during the regular season. Senior Anna Kingman added 205 points and also led the Bengals with 187 rebounds. Kingman also had 56 steals. Blaine did not provide team statistics. The Minutemen of St. Paul Central return for their sixth overall appearance, but their first since 2001. They won two previous titles in 1976 and 1979. This year's team outscored its opponents by 25.5 points. The Minutemen average 65.1 points and 36.8 rebounds per game. They shoot 41.0 percent from field goal range and 26.1 percent from three-point range. They also average 15.6 assists and 13.1 steals per game. Senior Ashley Ellis-Millan, who will play at the University of Minnesota next year, surpassed 1,000 career points last year and 1,000 career rebounds this year. She averages 21.2 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Senior Danielle Ellison, who also scored her 1,000th career point this season, averages 9.9 points per game. Ellison will play basketball for North Dakota State University next year.

The Class AAAA Quarterfinal Schedule - Wednesday, March 9

10:00 a.m. - Bloomington Kennedy vs. Roseville Area at Williams Arena

12:00 p.m. - Minneapolis South vs. Lakeville at Williams Arena

2:00 p.m. - Moorhead vs. Hopkins at Williams Arena

4:00 p.m. - Blaine vs. St. Paul Central at Williams Arena