Early season matchups announced

<p>Two early-season events have traditionally served to kick-off the girls high school basketball season, though there’s now a third such event worthy of our attention. Two of the three events have announced their pairings—one is the Breakdown Tip-Off, now in its 14th year, at Hopkins on Saturday, December 2. Another is the Thanksgiving Tip-Off Tournament at St. Thomas University, now in just its 2nd year, on Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25.</p> <p>The third event is the Hamline tournament. We know it will be played on November 24 and 25, and we’ve seen some but not all of the matchups.</p> <p>For now, here are the Breakdown matchups for Saturday, December 2 at Hopkins. We’ll have the St. Thomas matchups tomorrow and, as we said, the Hamline matchups when we have them.</p> <p><strong>Breakdown Tip-Off Pairings, Saturday, December 2, Hopkins</strong></p> <p>As always, play will be on 2 courts, the Main and the East, with the Main giving way to boys ball as of mid-afternoon. Here are the matchups for both courts by start time.</p> <p><strong>9 a.m. Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Mpls. South—East Court</strong></p> <p>Cretin brings back a powerhouse lineup that (however) underachieved last winter, but any team with Frannie Hottinger, Autam Mendez and Haley Moore has to be reckoned with. Also, Justyna Butler returns after missing almost 2 years with injuries. South returns senior Morgan and sophomore Jade Hill.</p> <p><strong>9:30 a.m. Park Center vs. Prior Lake—Main Court</strong></p> <p>The Lakers’ McKenna Hofschild versus the Pirates Sommer Blakemore and Meghan DuBois. Both team’s lost a lot of talent to graduation after last winter, so otherwise we’ll have to see how things are shaking out.</p> <p><strong>10:30 a.m. Heritage Christian vs. Wheaton-Herman-Norcross—East Court</strong></p> <p>A great Class A matchup. With Maranatha moving up to Class AA, Heritage with Taylie Scott, Annika Simonson, Jordyn Allen and more has a shot at a state tournament berth. Wheaton, led by guards Emma Schmidt and Anna Rinke and post Brionna Edwards was Section 6A champs in 2016 but couldn’t get by Ada-Borup last year.</p> <p><strong>11 a.m. Eastview vs. St. Michael-Albertville—Main Court</strong></p> <p>Goodbye Rachel Ranke, Allie Pickrain, Rae Johnson. Hello Macy Guebert, Mewgan Walstad, Kenzie Kramer, Kendal Cox, Jadyn Hanson. A new cast of characters but, again, a possible state tournament preview.</p> <p><strong>12 noon Sauk Centre vs. Annandale—East Court</strong></p> <p>Sauk point guard Maesyn Theisen and Annandale wing Hannah Purcell are 2 of Minnesota&#39;s best. This, too, could be a preview of a state tournament match-up.</p> <p><strong>12:45 Forest Lake vs. Minnetonka—Main Court</strong></p> <p>Two deep, deep teams though Forest Lake’s hopes took a blow with the knee injury to McKenzie Stumne. Still there’s Abigail Groeneweg, Luxi Hultman and more. Tonka has big-time firepower inside and out with Zoe Hardwick, Kayla Mershon, Katey Brattland and Megan Walker.</p> <p><strong>1:45 p.m. Lakeville North vs. Wayzata—East Court</strong></p> <p>North can beat you inside and out with Ke James, Taylor Brown, Lauren Jensen and more. Wayzata can beat you inside and out with Kallie Theisen, Mimi Schrader, Jasmine Smiley and more.</p> <p><strong>2:15 p.m. Centennial vs. Hopkins—Main Court</strong></p> <p>Host Hopkins always plays in the feature game on its own home court. This year the folks at the Breakdown thought Centennial should get the shot. The Cougars, well, they can beat you inside and out with Sara and Syd Stapleton, Claire Orth, Taylor McAulay and more. Hopkins hopes (and the fans hope) that Paige Bueckers is back from her ankle injury but either way the Royals can also throw Raena Suggs, Dlayla Chakolis, Angie Hammond and more at you. And, you also want to see 8th grade grade Amaya Battle in action.</p> <p><strong>3:15 p.m. Minnehaha vs. Roseau—East Court</strong></p> <p>Possible preview of a Class AA state tournament game. Roseau’s defending state champs will only have 2 Borowicz sisters this year after Kiley completed her incredible career last March. Kacie and Katie figure to score upwards of 30 points per game this year, and to continue winning. Minnehaha has a deep roster led by guards Mia Curtis and Taytum and Terra Rhoades.</p> <p><strong>4:45 p.m. DeLaSalle vs. Mahtomedi—East Court</strong></p> <p>Okay, this is cruel and unusual, to make these 2 play again after last winter’s bloodbath in the Section 4AAA semifinal won by DeLaSalle 37-35 after a remarkably controversial bit of officiating. Can De shut down Emma Grothaus again? Are there enough minutes and enough balls for the Islanders’ incredibly deep talent pool?</p> <p><strong>6:30 p.m. Maranatha vs. Sleepy Eye—East Court</strong></p> <p>Maranatha moves up to AA but draws Class A Sleepy Eye here. Both are state tournament contenders. Maranatha features Jaclyn Jarnot and Kylie Post, Sleepy Eye brings Madi Heiderscheidt and Sarah Ibarra, but the Mustangs also have a cast of thousands and figure to wear a lot of people out.</p> <p><strong>8 p.m. Chisago Lakes vs. Norwood Young America</strong></p> <p>Both are coming back from last year’s disappointments. For Chisago it was Carmen Backes’ 2nd straight season mostly lost to injury. If she’s 100 percent, Ms. Basketball is not out of the question. NYA was upset in the Section 2AA final but returns sharpshooter Kali Grimm and post Bren Fox and more. I’ve said NYA could contend in Class AAA. Class AAA Chisago provides the first opportunity for proof.</p> <p><strong>One More Time: You Must See…</strong></p> <p><strong>Center—</strong>Zoe Hardwick, Minnetonka, “most improved;” and Jenna Johnson, Wayzata, 9th grader and suddenly “ready”</p> <p><strong>Power Forward—</strong>Carmen Backes, Chisago, back from injury; and Abigail Groeneweg, Forest Lake, the most underrated big out there</p> <p><strong>Wings—</strong>Justyna Butler, Cretin, back from injury; Lauren Jensen, Lakeville North, now that she’s at the center of it all</p> <p><strong>Point Guard—</strong>Emma Schmidt, Wheaton, maybe the best point guard you haven’t seen; Maesyn Theisen, Sauk Centre, see her while you still can</p> <p><strong>Shooting Guard—</strong>Amaya Battle, Hopkins, 8th grade, and Katie Borowicz, Roseau, 9th grade, all 10-and-a-half feet of them</p> <p>And, finally, don’t miss <strong>Lakeville North vs. Wayzata</strong>, 1:45 on the East Court, which will be the most intensely played game of the day; and <strong>Minnehaha vs. Roseau</strong>, 3:15 also on the East Court, which will be the fastest-paced game of the day.</p>