AAU State Tourney: Top 2022-23 1st round match-ups

The AAU State Championships are back and we’ve got the scoop on all the teams. The games listed below are games that could go either way despite what number a team is ranked. As the talent pool grows in Minnesota, you’ll see some really high level competitive games at every round. These are the top first round games you’ll want to keep and eye on for the 2022 and 2023 classes.

2022 Division 1

#6 Minnesota Fury 2022 Premier vs #11 Minnesota Basketball Academy Cordes 

These two teams have played before early on in the AAU season. Minnesota Fury had the lead the whole game even getting up by at least 16 points. However once MBA caught back up they kept it close. They are a new team put together this year with some nice junior veterans.  I think the Fury needs to watch out for their shooters Kiera Albers Kiera Albers 5'3" | PG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN and Becca White Becca White 5'8" | CG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN , who can go off from the three-point line. When I say go off I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a game this year where they could combine for 10 total threes together. They also have some quick guards in Jasmyn Hale Jasmyn Hale 5'9" | SG Shakopee | 2022 State MN and Maya Mitchell Maya Mitchell 5'9" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN , who speed up the game for MBA, and Kate Cordes Kate Cordes 5'7" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN can fill up the basket. On the other hand, Minnesota Fury has all of the key pieces to win at a high level. They’ve got a leader in their point guard Zoie Centers Zoie Centers 5'5" | PG Mahtomedi | 2022 State MN , who runs the show. A very tall post in Jessica Heir Jessica Heir 6'6" | PF Chaska | 2022 State MN who I think needs to demand the ball more down low. Oh did I mention she’s 6’6. Also a knock down three point shooter in Kyla Overskei Kyla Overskei 5'11" | SG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN who can throw flames from beyond the arc.

#8 North Tartan 2022 Elite vs #9 43 Hoops Elite

This might be the closest game of the whole tournament. These two teams match up well, so I’ll let you decide whose going to continue to the second round. Ashley Fritz Ashley Fritz 5'10" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN has been playing really good this spring, so she will likely get one of 43 Hoops best defenders on her. Ashley will need to be aggressive to push her team through to the next round, by attacking the hoop strong and getting her rhythm early from outside the three. CJ Adamson CJ Adamson 5'9" | CG Rochester Lourdes | 2022 State MN knows how to shoot it from the beyond the arc too so if she can get hot they will be hard to beat. This 43 Hoops team is trending upward this season and has been clicking on all levels. They have multiple kids who can go off on offense including Cloey Dmytruk Cloey Dmytruk 5'10" | PF Como Park | 2022 State MN , who demands the ball and can finish with contact, and guard Dorothy Stotts Dorothy Stotts 5'8" | CG Edina | 2022 State MN who has proven her rank over the last few years. Mikaelah Counce Mikaelah Counce 5'8" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN will put the cuffs on any guard in Minnesota and give it her all to shut them down. Along side her in the back court is Alicia Bates Alicia Bates 5'6" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN who does the same, along with getting to the rim with ease.

#7 Southern Minnesota Fury vs #10 Minnesota Rise 2022 Wolfe

Another great first round match up that could go either way this weekend. Minnesota Rise is the lower seed but they have some standout players who could give them the push they need to go far in the state tournament. Alyssa Stamer Alyssa Stamer 5'7" | CG Hutchinson | 2022 State MN is playing with great confidence. You could also say the same for Katelyn Diegnau Katelyn Diegnau 6'1" | PF GHEC-Truman | 2022 State MN who has been trending upwards this season. You’ll see both of these girls making a lot of shots around the rim. Their teammate Tori Ratz Tori Ratz 5'7" | CG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN , will hang out more up top, whose been shooting lights out from the three. Southern Fury will need to shut down this three-headed monster to move on. However they also have some hoopers in Hope Dudycha Hope Dudycha 5'6" | CG Austin | 2022 State MN , Olivia Walsh and Taya Jeffrey Taya Jeffrey 5'10" | CG Albert Lea | 2022 State MN who have all proven they are not to be played with. These three will have to go against their big three and put up big numbers. I would say try and hold the Minnesota Rise guards to under 25 combined points

2023 Division 1 

#8 Minnesota Suns 2023 Blue Star vs #9 FBC Real 2023 UA Select 

This game will go down to the wire. This is another game, where the two teams match up very well. My guess is that it will come down to the little things: free throws, turnovers and who out rebounds the other. We didn’t get to watch the Minnesota Suns at prelims because they were sidelined due to COVID protocol, but we know with the play of standout guards Karlee Fisher Karlee Fisher 5'7" | CG Armstrong | 2023 State MN , and Jhanae Green Jhanae Green 5'7" | CG Mpls Southwest | 2023 State MN , that the Suns will be in good shape. They will do what is neccessary to give their team a fighting chance against FBC. With FBC being fairly new, they came together as a team last summer and shocked a few big programs. They have some real nice fire power at the guard level. The backcourt likely includes Aalayah Wilson Aalayah Wilson 5'8" | CG Osseo | 2023 State MN who can score on anyone, Tyreana Reliford Tyreana Reliford 5'11" | CG Cooper | 2024 MN who is a nice freshman guard that plays like a vet, paired with skilled guard  Lauren Pawlyshyn Lauren Pawlyshyn 5'8" | CG Prior Lake | 2023 State MN , I think FBC may have the edge to advance.

#4 Minnesota Fury 2023 Premier vs #13 Minnesota Rise 2023 Wright

Fury tends to have both of their teams finish in the top 5 at prelims and state. This “second team” is really good but I also wouldn’t count out the Minnesota Rise who has been playing some of their best basketball as of late. Anna Lenzen Anna Lenzen 5'9" | CG Chaska | 2023 State MN of the Fury has been putting on a show this AAU season. She is a true scorer who can put big numbers up. You might want to put your best defender on her. If you have another lockdown defender you might want to put her on Jordan Langbehn Jordan Langbehn 5'11" | SG Elk River | 2023 State MN who can get to the hoop and can knock it down from deep. Look out for Emy Wolkow Emy Wolkow 5'11" | CG Lakeville North | 2023 State MN as well who will lead the Fury team. Like I said before don’t count the Rise out because they have a three-headed monster that can eat you alive. These three know what to do when the ball is in their hands. Olivia Harazin Olivia Harazin 5'8" | PG LCWM | 2023 State MN who is playing her best basketball, will surprise you at what she can do, along with her teammates Tori Miller and Peyton Stevermer Peyton Stevermer 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2023 State MN who will have to put the team on their back to advance.

#6 North Tartan 2023 Elite vs #11 Minnesota Stars DeSart 

North Tartan has played some really good games this season. They are not a new team but they definitely have some new pieces that they are trying to plug in. The thing with this team is that almost every kid on the roster has played at a very high level some time in the last two years so they know what it takes to get things done. Chloe Jarnot Chloe Jarnot 5'7" | PG Maranatha | 2023 State MN is a team leader in every facet but she has a nice supporting backcourt. Drew Johnston Drew Johnston 5'9" | PG Roseville | 2023 State MN is finding her role on this team and has the skills needed to compete against the best guards in the state. Look for the other bigger guards to step up as well like Nicole Lillard Nicole Lillard 5'6" | CG Champlin Park | 2023 State MN , Sonya Potthoff Sonya Potthoff 5'9" | CG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN , and Hannah Hanson Hannah Hanson 5'9" | CG Rochester Mayo | 2023 State MN . One or more of these guards will have to step up big. The two posts of North Tartan and Minnesota Stars will have a good time banging down low. For the Stars to move on, point guard Sammi Chandler Sammi Chandler 5'8" | CG Red Wing | 2023 State MN will need to set the pace for this team and put up the numbers she has been this season. She has some really good guards along side of her including Juliana Ewald Juliana Ewald 5'6" | CG Pillager | 2023 State MN and Kate Adams, who can play both the guard and forward position. Kate will be an important piece that may need to help on the strong post-ups of Jenna Kluxdal Jenna Kluxdal 6'1" | PF Jordan | 2023 State MN .