Two teams, Elgin-Millville in Class A and Bloomington Kennedy in Class AAAA, return to defend their 2005 titles. Each seeks a second consecutive and overall title. Five teams are making first appearances: Ada-Borup, Browerville, Cannon Falls, DeLaSalle of Minneapolis, and Rogers. Minnesota Valley Lutheran, in Class AA, is the only school to come in with a perfect 30-0 record.

This year marks the 10th year of the four-class format and the third year with all games being played in Minneapolis. The 2006 State Girls' Basketball Tournament starts Wednesday, March 15, with quarterfinal games being played at Target Center and at the Sports Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. Four quarterfinal games will be played Thursday, March 16, at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. Semifinals will be played at Target Center on Thursday March 16 and Friday March 17. The championship games of all four classes will be played at Target Center at Saturday March 18. Third-place games will be played on Saturday at Concordia University in St. Paul.

Class A Preview

(Section 8) Fosston (18-10) vs. (Section 3) Fulda (23-4): The three-time champion Fosston Greyhounds return for their second consecutive and sixth overall tournament appearance. Senior Kelly Landsverk leads the team in every statistical category and averages nearly 19 points per game. Fellow seniors Carrie Sundbom (11.0) and Kristi Lucken (9.1) are the other leading scorers. The Fulda Raiders are making their third overall appearance, but first since 2003. Junior Kaitlyn Kramer, who averages 23 points per contest, leads the Raiders. She has already scored more than 1,000 points in her career. Junior Laura Kramer averages just less than 12 points, 12 rebounds, plus four blocked shots per outing. Fulda averages more than 19 assists per game as a team and also owns large advantages in shooting percentage and rebounding over opponents. Neither team was ranked in the final Associated Press poll.

(Section 6) Ada-Borup (26-2) vs. (Section 5) Browerville (21-3): The Ada-Borup Cougars, ranked No. 8 in the final AP poll, are making their first state tournament appearance. The Cougars have outscored their opponents by 30 points per contest. A team with great balance, they have five players averaging more than 7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Cougars were led in scoring by ninth-grader Nicole Smart who averaged 17.9 points per game. Nicole's sister, junior Kelli, is the second-leading scorer at 12.2 per game. She also delivers eight assists per game. Kelli has more 1,000 points and 500 assists for her career. The unranked Tigers of Browerville are also making their first state tournament appearance. The Tigers, like their first-round opponent, also have a significant competitive scoring advantage, averaging 67 points versus opponents' 38. Seniors Ashley Noska and Jayme Reed who average 13.1 and 10.7 points per game, respectively, lead the Tigers.

(Section 4) Meadow Creek Christian, Andover (26-4) vs. (Section 7) Barnum (28-2): The Saints of Meadow Creek Christian, ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll, are making their third consecutive and overall appearance. The Saints are led by three seniors: Abby Thom, the school's all-time leading scorer (1,916) who averages 15.8 points per game; Elizabeth Woerle, second-leading scorer at 14.5 and nearly 13 rebounds per tilt; and Laura Skog (8.5 ppg) who shoots 55 percent from the floor and 76 percent from the line. Collectively the trio produces 39 points, 26 rebounds, 11 assists, and 7 steals per game. The Barnum Bombers come to the tournament as the highest ranked team, No. 2, in the tournament field. They are making their sixth appearance, but first since 2003. The team did not provide any team or individual statistics.

(Section 1) Elgin-Millville (24-6) vs. (Section 2) Granada-Huntley-East Chain (25-2): The Watchmen of Elgin-Millville are the defending champions in Class A and are making their fifth consecutive and overall appearance. Senior Kali Olstad leads her team in virtually every statistical category. She averages 23.2 points per game, 11.6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals per contest. Olstad, who has scored 1,964 career points, also holds the state record for career three-point field goals made - 355 - for either girls or boys. Senior Sammantha Befort averages 14 points and just over eight boards per game. Befort shot 54 percent from the floor for the season. The Watchmen were not ranked in the final AP poll. This could be considered the fifth overall appearance for the Mustangs of Granada-Huntley-East Chain, the second for the current consolidated name. Granada-Huntley made an appearance in 1974, and East Chain appeared twice in 1980 and 1982. The Mustangs, ranked ninth in the final AP poll, average 68 points per game while yielding only 46. Sophomore Ashley Walterman, shooting 60 percent from the field, is the leading scorer averaging 17.1 per game. Senior Lori Balcom averages 13.9 and nearly 4 steals. The Mustangs outscore their opposition by more than 21 points per game while shooting 47 percent as a team. They also average 17 assists and 13 steals per game.

Class A Quarterfinal Schedule - Thursday, March 16

11:00 a.m. - Fosston vs. Fulda at Williams Arena

1:00 p.m. - Ada-Borup vs. Browerville at Williams Arena

3:00 p.m. - Meadow Creek Christian vs. Barnum at Williams Arena

5:00 p.m. - Elgin-Millville vs. Granada-Huntley-East Chain at Williams Arena

Class AA Preview

(Section 8) Crookston (27-3) vs. (Section 3) MACCRAY, Clara City (21-6): The Crookston Pirates are making their third appearance, but their first since 1998. They average 74.5 points per game with a field goal average of 55 percent. The team also averages 28.2 rebounds and 13.3 steals. They have seven players who average at least 7 points per game. Sophomore Kamille Wahlin, who scored her 1,000th career point this year, averages 17.1 points per game and shoots 43 percent from behind the arc. She also leads her team with 4.5 rebounds per game, and set school records for both assists (177) and points (513) in a single season. Sophomore Taylor Davis adds 10.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore Sydney Epema set a new school record by making 57 three-point shots in a single season. The Wolverines of MACCRAY are also making their third tournament appearance, but their first since 1991. Midwest Minnesota, a co-op between Clara City and Maynard, won a state title in 1986. This season the team averaged 54.3 points and 35.4 rebounds per game. The Wolverines make 37.7 percent of their field-goal attempts and also average 16.2 assists per game. Seniors Hillary Groothuis and Tory Brouwer average 15.8 and 12.8 points per game, respectively. Groothuis, who shoots 41 percent from the field, also leads the Wolverines with 10.3 rebounds per game. Junior Christine Condon set a new school record with 215 assists this season (7.6 per game). Neither team was ranked in the final AP poll.

(Section 6) Albany (25-2) vs. (Section 5) Eden Valley-Watkins (26-3): The Albany Huskies return after a one-year absence to make their ninth appearance. They won previous titles in 1980 and 1983, and were ranked No. 5 in this year's final AP poll. They have a shooting percentage of 46.4 percent this year and average 67.9 points per game. They also pull down 34.9 rebounds per game and average 19.4 assists. Sophomore Jennie Noreen shoots 55 percent from the field and leads her team with 16.2 points per game. Sophomore Taylor Voss adds 12.5 points per game, and senior Steph DeGeest leads the Huskies with 6 rebounds per game. The No. 9-ranked Eagles of Eden Valley-Watkins are making their ninth appearance, but first since 2001. This season they averaged 68.8 points and 35.7 rebounds per game. The Eagles also average 18.9 assists and 14.2 steals per game. They are a quick team and they have balanced scoring. Ninth-grader Hannah Linz, who already has 1,000 career points, averages 22.8 points per game and shoots 54 percent from the field. She also scores on 37 percent of her three-point attempts. Senior Krista Opheim adds 12.0 points per game, and senior Amber Junker corrals 8.6 rebounds per game. Opheim also has 1,006 career assists.

(Section 4) Cannon Falls (25-6) vs. (Section 7) Esko (26-3): The Cannon Falls Bombers are making their debut appearance at the tournament. Senior Cory Montgomery leads this year's squad. She averages 19.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, and shoots 52 percent from the field. Montgomery, who will play for the University of Nebraska next year, has 2,157 career points, 1,205 career rebounds, and 273 career assists. Alex Montgomery, a sophomore, is the second-leading scorer with 15.5 points per game. The Bombers average 63.3 points and 37.1 rebounds per game. They also average 6.7 blocks and 16.6 assists. Head coach Chuck Benda was named Section 4AA Coach of the Year this season. The Esko Eskomos return after a three-year hiatus. This is their eighth appearance. The school did not provide team or individual statistics. Neither team was ranked in the final AP poll.

(Section 1) Winona Cotter (26-4) vs. (Section 2) Minnesota Valley Lutheran, New Ulm (30-0): The Ramblers of Winona Cotter are making their second tournament appearance, but first since 2002. They were ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll. They average 65.8 points and 27.4 rebounds per game. They shoot 49.6 from the field and also average 14.1 assists per game. The Ramblers have a balanced attack and have three players who score consistently in double figures. Junior Devin Bowlin is the school's all-time leader in both assists and steals. She also has scored 1,068 career points and averages 10.9 per game. Sophomore Jenny Gilbertson leads Winona Cotter in points (18.6), rebounds (7.0), and field goal percentage (55) per game. Sophomore Laura Erickson adds 11.8 points per game, and senior Brooke Beyer shoots 34 percent from behind the arc. The Chargers of Minnesota Valley Lutheran are making their second consecutive and fourth overall appearance. They finished in fourth place in 2005 and were ranked No. 2 in this year's final poll. Senior Karissa Kramer, who set a state record with 18 steals in a single game this season, is the team's leading scorer with 16.1 points per game. She shoots 56 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. She also scored her 1,000th career point this year. Senior Kristin Patterson adds 12.7 points per game and senior Laura Hunter leads the team with 6.1 assists per game. Hunter will play basketball at Southwest Minnesota State University next year.

Class AA Quarterfinals Schedule - Wednesday, March 15

6:00 p.m. - Crookston vs. MACCRAY at Target Center

8:00 p.m. - Albany vs. Eden Valley-Watkins at Target Center

6:00 p.m. - Cannon Falls vs. Esko at Sports Pavilion

8:00 p.m. - Winona Cotter vs. Minnesota Valley Lutheran at Sports Pavilion

Class AAA Preview

(Section 8) Willmar (23-4) vs. (Section 3) DeLaSalle, Minneapolis (22-7): The Cardinals of Willmar, who were No. 8 in the final AP poll, return after a one-year hiatus. This is their fifth appearance. This year's team shoots 32 percent from behind the arc and averages 50.7 points per game. They also pull down 29 rebounds per game and enter the tournament on a 15-game win streak. Senior Laura Nielsen, who has 1,606 career points, leads the team in both points (16.8) and rebounds (9.1) per game. She also had 1,000 career rebounds. Senior Andrea Bowen is the second-leading scorer with 10.5 points per game. The No. 3-ranked Islanders of DeLaSalle are making their first tournament appearance. The Islanders, who average 60.4 points and 33.0 rebounds per game, are a balanced team that plays good defense. Junior Rachel Booth averages 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Senior Sheena Porter adds 12.9 points per game. Booth and Porter are both honor roll students. Head Coach Carol Richter is the current president of the Minnesota Girls' Basketball Coaches Association.

(Section 6) Rogers (21-8) vs. (Section 5) Benilde-St. Margaret's, St. Louis Park (24-4): The unranked Royals of Rogers are making their debut appearance at the tournament. They average 57.5 points and 33.3 rebounds per game. They shoot 42.4 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from behind the arc. They also average 15.4 steals per game. Sophomore Casey Mann, who shoots 27 percent from three-point range, leads the team with 15.1 points per game. She also scored her 1,000th career point this year. Ninth-grader Jennifer Dowd scores 9.9 points per game and sophomore Amanda Chesness leads the Royals with 7.7 rebounds per game. Dowd has been on the varsity squad since seventh grade. Head Coach Lamar Detert was named Section 6AAA Coach of the Year this season. The Red Knights of Benilde-St. Margaret's return for their third appearance, but first since 1977. They were ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll and average 64.3 points per game. They pull down 33.6 rebounds and average 16.1 assists per game. They also shoot 46.5 percent from field-goal range. Juniors Kachine Alexander and Samantha Morgan lead the Red Knights with 12.6 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. Alexander also grabs team-high 8 rebounds per game. Senior Margaret Skoglund is this year's valedictorian and will be attending Duke University next year.

(Section 4) St. Michael-Albertville (23-6) vs. (Section 7) Hermantown (26-2): The Knights of St. Michael-Albertville, who were unranked in the final AP poll, are making their second appearance. They won the Class AA title in 2001. This year's team averages 58.9 points and 32.8 points per game. They also average 13.5 steals per game. Seniors Jodi Reinschmidt and Marla Arns, both of whom have scored 1,000 career points, are the top point-getters for the Knights. Reinschmidt averages 16.3 points per game and Arns adds 15.1. Reinschmidt shoots 48 percent from the field and also leads the team with 8.7 rebounds per game. St. Michael-Albertville was undefeated in the Mississippi 8 Conference. The Hermantown Hawks are making their second consecutive and third overall tournament appearance. They lost in the quarterfinals last year and were ranked No. 6 in this year's final poll. This year's team averages 67.9 points and 43.5 rebounds per game. They shoot 39.7 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range. Hermantown credits its success to senior leadership and depth. Senior Anna Bjorlin leads the Hawks with 24.4 points per game. Senior Sara Kelly adds 12.9 points per game and also leads the team with an average of 7.9 rebounds per game.

(Section 1) New Prague (21-6) vs. (Section 2) Marshall (27-2): The Trojans of New Prague are looking for a second title in their third overall appearance. They won their previous title in 2000. This year's team, which was not ranked in the final AP poll, averages 63.5 point per game. They also average 24 rebounds, 10 assists, and 9 steals per game. The team has a strong work ethic and balanced scoring. New Prague did not provide individual statistics. According to the final AP poll, the Marshall Tigers enter the tournament as the top-ranked team in their fifth appearance. They are hoping to improve on last year's fourth-place finish. If they win it would be their third title. The Tigers won previously in 2001 and 2002. In addition to the five appearances under this name, Marshall made one additional appearance as Marshall/Marshall Area Christian in 2000. This year's team outscored its opponents by 23.7 points per game. The Tigers average 65.3 points and 31.7 rebounds per game. They also average 11.8 steals and 11.2 assists, while shooting 44 percent from the field. All five of Marshall's starters scored more than 200 points during the regular season. Junior Macie Michelson, who shoots 53 percent from the field, averages 15.9 points per game. Senior Julia Schultz adds 10.3 points per game, and junior Jessica Onken averages a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game. Senior Kirsten Haukom was the 2006 Triple A Award-winner for Marshall High School.

Class AAA Quarterfinal Schedule - Wednesday, March 15

10:00 a.m. - Willmar vs. DeLaSalle at Sports Pavilion

12:00 p.m. - Rogers vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's at Sports Pavilion

2:00 p.m. - St. Michael-Albertville vs. Hermantown at Sports Pavilion

4:00 p.m. - New Prague vs. Marshall at Sports Pavilion

Class AAAA Preview

(Section 8) Elk River (14-15) vs. (Section 3) St. Paul Central (25-4): The Elks of Elk River come to the state tournament for the seventh time; their last appearance was in 2004. The Elks upset St. Cloud Tech, ranked No. 9 in the AP poll, in the sectional semifinals 41-40 before defeating Moorhead 64-56 to earn their tournament berth. The unranked Elks did not provide any individual statistics. The Minutemen of St. Paul Central, ranked No. 5, enter the state tournament for the seventh time and for the second consecutive year. They finished third last year and were state champions in 1976 and 1979. The Minutemen average 75 points per game versus their opponents' 48. They also force nearly 30 opponent turnovers per contest. The are led by a trio of girls: sophomore Kiara Buford is the leading scorer at 20.6 per game; junior Angel Robinson averages 17 points, 8 rebounds, nearly 7 assists and 6 steals per game; and sophomore Megan Howard, who produces nearly identical numbers in points and rebounds per outing at 10.5.

(Section 6) Bloomington Kennedy (28-1) vs. (Section 5) Robbinsdale Armstrong (11-16): The defending champions from Bloomington Kennedy are making their second consecutive and overall appearance. The Eagles, who were ranked No. 3 in the final AP poll, average 68 points per game. They also average 29 rebounds, 15 assists, and nearly 5 steals per game. The school did not provide individual statistics. Robbinsdale Armstrong's Falcons are making their fourth tournament appearance, the last one in 2004. The unranked Falcons defeated No. 1-seeded Maple Grove, 52-45, in quarterfinal sectional play on their way to a state tournament entry. The school did not provide team or individual statistics.

(Section 4) Roseville Area (24-4) vs. (Section 7) Centennial, Circle Pines (23-6): The Raiders of Roseville Area are making their sixth overall and second consecutive appearance. This year's team has three players who are averaging more than 15 points per game:senior Amy Beggin with 16.9, junior Talisha Barlow with 16.3, and senior Alison Nash-Gerlach with 15.4. Beggin has more than 1,600 career points and Nash-Gerlach surpassed 1,000 in the section quarterfinal game and is an 80 percent free-throw shooter. Barlow also made 181 of 348 field-goal attempts (52 percent) during the regular season. The Raiders are ranked No. 6 in the final AP poll. The Centennial Cougars return after a one-year absence to make their third appearance. The Cougars defeated St. Francis in the section final to earn the state tournament berth. The school did not provide team or individual statistics.

(Section 1) Rochester Mayo (24-4) vs. (Section 2) Hopkins (27-2): The Spartans of Rochester Mayo, two-time champions (1995 and 1997), return to the state tournament for the eighth time. Their last appearance was in 2000. They enter the tournament on a 10-game winning streak. The Spartans, who average 54 points per game, are led by seniors Julia Hirssig (13.0) and Karolina Haraldsdottir (11.4). Hirssig also leads the team in rebounding with 11 per game. She has also surpassed the 2,000-point plateau for her career. Both Hirssig and Haroldsdottir have field goal shooting percentages that exceed 50 percent for the year. The team was not ranked in the year-end poll. The Hopkins Royals, runners-up to Bloomington Kennedy last year, are appearing for the fifth consecutive and overall time. Hopkins Lindbergh made appearances in 1979 and 1980. They are ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll. This year's Royals' team averages 63.6 points per game, while their opponents scored an average of 45.3 points against them. They shoot 44.7 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from behind the arc. Senior Jillian Schurle leads the Royals with 22.4 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the floor and 73 percent from the free throw line. She is also the team leader in steals, averaging nearly 3 per game. The Royals' rebounding leader, senior Tiana Wilkinson, is pulling down just less than 8 boards per contest.

Class AAAA Quarterfinal Schedule - Wednesday, March 15

10:00 a.m. - Elk River vs. St. Paul Central at Target Center

12:00 p.m. - Bloomington Kennedy vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong at Target Center

2:00 p.m. - Roseville Area vs. Centennial at Target Center

4:00 p.m. - Rochester Mayo vs. Hopkins at Target Center

Ticket Information

Tickets will be available at Target Center and Williams Arena. Quarterfinal tickets cost $10.00 for adults and $7.00 for students. Quarterfinal wristbands, which are good at both venues on Wednesday only, are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for students. Semifinal and championship tickets will be available at Target Center and are $10.00 for adults and $7.00 for students per session. Third-place tickets will be available at Concordia University and are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for students.

There are also two ticket promotions available during the tournament. KSTC TV is offering a Channel 45 Family Four Pack that includes four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas at any game for $45. Tickets are available at www.kstc45.com, at all Ticketmaster locations, and at the Target Center box office.

The Jersey Day promotion is available only on Saturday, March 18. Any youth 13 or under wearing any basketball jersey can get a half-price adult admission ($5.00) with a paid adult admission. The Jersey Day promotion is only available at the Target Center box office.

KSTC TV, Channel 45, will televise all semifinal and championship games live.

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Note the venue change for Wednesday's quarterfinals originally scheduled for Williams Arena. Those four Class AAA and two Class AA games will instead be played at the adjacent Sports Pavilion.

Individual and team statistics provided by the schools are posted on the League's Web site. Tournament results will also be posted on the site. The League's Web site address is www.MSHSL.org.