Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Girls State 4 Seed

The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers were rated #7 in the final Minnesota Basketball News state Class A rankings.  The Buccaneers will be the #4 seed in their first ever trip to the MSHSL Girls State High School Basketball Tournament when they open play Thursday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

WEM faces #5 seed Heritage Christian Academy rated #12 in the final MBBN rankings.  The Section 4A champion Eagles are 22-7 and defeated #6 rated Mayer Lutheran 73-60 in their section final Friday.  They average 66.9 points per game while allowing 36.3.  In section play they allowed 50.6 in the three games they played and they got to play two of those games at home.

The Buccaneers also emphasize the defensive end of the floor.  During the regular season they allowed 38 points per game.  In the sections 49.7 points were scored per contest including 68 in their 79-68 win over #8 rated Sleepy Eye St. Mary's. Going into the State Tournament WEM is scoring 59.1 per game and giving up 40.1.

Top seed and defending State Champion Minneota is riding a 17 game winning streak since suffering their only loss of the season to Goodhue.  The Vikings average 72 points and allow 41.8.  The Wildcats defeated them in Kasson 64-44 to avenge last year's state title loss at The Barn on the University of Minnesota campus.  Goodhue was bumped up to Class 2A this season and narrowly missed a return trip to the dance.  The top ranked Class 2A Rochester Lourdes Eagles edged Goodhue by 4 points in their section final game last week in Rochester.

Minneota (30-1) opens against the #19 rated Red Lake Warriors (20-8) who average 70.1 and allow 55.6 points per contest.  They start the day Thursday at 11:00 a.m.

#2 seed and #2 rated Cromwell Wright Cardinals (28-2) lost by 2 to Minneota in their season opener at Hopkins.  Their only other loss to Class 3A state entrant Hermantown by 2 points in Hermantown.  The Cardinals open against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (19-10) at 3:00 p.m.  The Jaguars were the #2 seed in their subsection and rolled to a 67-25 win over Ogilvie in the Section 5A title game.  B-B-E had the best defense in their section giving up 44.3 points per game while scoring 57.2.  The Jaguars are coached by former Kenyon-Wanamingo standout and Augsburg Auggie Kristina Lurken Anderson.  Sister of K-W boys Head Coach Brent Lurken.

The #3 seed and #3 rated Henning Hornets (28-2) are riding a 9 game winning streak with a 61.7 offensive average and 41.0 defensive mark.  The Hornets draw #18 rated Fillmore Central (22-8) at 5:00 p.m.  The Falcons score 54.8 and allow 44.4 points per contest.