Preview: Twin Cities Thanksgiving tournaments

Grant McGinnis November 27, 2024 @ 09:08 AM

There is no shortage of rituals that permeate the Thanksgiving holidays – the family gatherings, turkey dinners and that overbearing uncle who always manages to sully the proceedings. For basketball fans in Minnesota, the annual post-Thanksgiving tournaments are just as engrained in the holiday routine as grandma’s pumpkin pie. This week is no exception as two big events take over the girls basketball calendar: The Pat Patterson Invitational and the Twin Cities Thanksgiving Tip Off.

There will be plenty of star players and contending teams to take in, including a rematch of last year’s epic battle between DeLaSalle and Minnehaha Academy, two old rivals each led by one of the most dynamic point guards in the state. The two squads will meet up once again at 4:45 p.m. on Friday at Hamline University in one of the best potential contests on the docket this season.

Last year, the one-on-one battle between the Islanders’ Aneisha Scott Aneisha Scott 5'6" | PG DeLaSalle | 2025 State MN (Richmond commit) and the Redhawks’ Addison Mack Addison Mack 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2025 State MN (Maryland) was nothing short of epic. Neither one would give an inch and it quickly turned into a game of ‘Anything you can do I can do better.’ With the outcome on the line, it was Mack who came through in the clutch for the 61-58 victory.

As reported by our Tony Ragulen, “Down by 2 with just over a minute to go, Mack hit a 3 from the corner to put the Redhawks up one at 59-58. The Islanders got two cracks at it with 17 seconds left and went to Scott to take them home. The Redhawks’ defense answered the bell after DeLaSalle got a second opportunity after Scott missed a 3 and Minnehaha deflected the loose ball out of bounds. With 2.3 seconds left Mack knocked down two free throws to seal the deal at 61-58.”

Let’s hope Friday’s game lives up to last year’s epic showdown. Here’s a look at some of the best matchups to see and some young talent to watch on Friday and Saturday.

PAT PATTERSON TOURNAMENT

Held at historic Hutton Arena on the campus of Hamline University – the birthplace of college basketball believe it or not – the event features 14 games over two days. Hosted by the women’s basketball team, the tournament has always produced plenty of drama. In addition to DeLaSalle and Minnehaha Academy, the field includes Minnetonka, Rosemount, Maple Grove, Delano, Orono, Rochester Mayo, Chaska and Centennial. The first game tips off at 9:30 a.m. with the last starting at 8:15 p.m. on both days.

Top 5 games to watch at Hamline

• Friday at 4:45 p.m. – DeLaSalle vs Minnehaha Academy
• Friday at 6:30 p.m. – Minnetonka vs Orono
• Saturday at 4:45 p.m. – Lakeville South vs Delano
• Saturday at 6:30 p.m. – DeLaSalle vs Minnetonka
• Saturday at 8:30 p.m. – Rosemount vs Maple Grove

Young prospects to watch

TWIN CITIES THANKSGIVING TIPOFF

This is edition #8 of the event, which began as a Catholic-school tournament held at the University of St. Thomas. When the Tommies moved to Division 1, NCAA rules required the event to move off campus. After a good run at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, the tournament now moves to the new facilities at White Bear Lake High School. The field features numerous outstanding Minnesota programs along with Iowa’s Dowling Catholic of West Des Moines and Iowa City West. The top Minnesota teams include Hopkins, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, St. Michael Albertville, Providence Academy, and East Ridge. There are nine varsity games each day with play beginning on Friday at 12:30 p.m.

5 games to see at White Bear Lake

• Friday at 2:15 p.m. – East Ridge vs St. Michael-Albertville
• Friday at 5:00 p.m. – Jordan vs Stewartville
• Friday at 7:30 p.m. – Hopkins vs Iowa City West
• Saturday at 1:30 p.m. – Providence Academy vs Dowling Catholic
• Saturday at 6:45 p.m. – Benilde-St. Margaret’s vs Hopkins

Young prospects to watch

• Pressley Watkins Pressley Watkins 6'0" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's School | 2027 State MN – 2027 #2, Benilde-St. Margaret’s
• Emma Millerbernd Emma Millerbernd 5'10" | CG Providence Academy | 2027 State MN – 2027 #4, Providence Academy
• Ava Cupito Ava Cupito 5'10" | CG Hopkins | 2027 State MN – 2027 #5, Hopkins
• Erma Walker Erma Walker 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2027 State MN – 2027 #6, Hopkins
• Mariah Sexton Mariah Sexton 6'3" | PF Maple Grove | 2027 State MN – 2027 #8, St. Michael-Albertville
• Alivia Bell Alivia Bell 5'7" | PG Hopkins | 2027 State MN – 2027 #9, Hopkins
• Caelyn Foster Caelyn Foster 5'10" | SG STMA | 2028 State MN – 2028 #18, St. Michael-Albertville
• Amelia Ecker Amelia Ecker 6'1" | PF/C East Ridge | 2028 State MN – 2028 #20, East Ridge
• Beckett Greenway Beckett Greenway 5'7" | CG/SG Providence | 2029 MN – 2029, Providence Academy
• Madeleine Hamiel Madeleine Hamiel 5'10" | CG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2029 MN – 2029, Cretin-Derham Hall
• Jordan Staloch Jordan Staloch 5'9" | CG Jordan | 2029 MN – 2029, Jordan
• Nevaeh Grosse Nevaeh Grosse 5'7" | CG/PG Eastview | 2029 MN – 2029 Eastview