Previewing Saturday’s Breakdown Tip Off Classic

Just a week into practice, at a time when some coaches and players are still learning the playbook and each other's names, it seems odd to dive right into the biggest and best event of the girls basketball season. No tournament brings together the best of the best like the Breakdown Girls Tip Off Classic. This year, however, things are a little different.

First, a last-minute change moved the event to Southwest Christian High School in Chaska from its long-time home at Hopkins. Second, the showcase is taking place prior to the Thanksgiving-week tournaments that normally mark the beginning of a new season. The college coaches will still show up. So will the scouts and writers and videographers and hopefully the fans, as well. The Tip Off Classic begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday as 32 of the best teams in Minnesota gather for 16 great games and one terrific day of basketball. Here are a few games and players you will definitely want to watch.

TOP 5 MATCH-UPS TO SEE

11:00 a.m. – Stewartville vs Alexandria

This game should be great for two reasons: It is a preview of what could be the Class 3A state championship and a showdown between future college teammates. Hadley Thul Hadley Thul 6'2" | SG Alexandria Area | 2025 State MN of Alexandria is a top-10 prospect in the Class of 2025, and has signed with mid-major powerhouse South Dakota State. Audrey Shindelar Audrey Shindelar 6'0" | CG Stewartville | 2026 State MN of Stewartville is a top 10 junior who has also committed to the Jackrabbits. And they won't be the only college-bound players in the game as Stewartville boasts the 12th-ranked junior and St. Thomas commit Jayci Rath Jayci Rath 6'1" | SF Stewartville | 2026 State MN and 6'1 post Ella Theobald Ella Theobald 6'0" | PF Stewartville | 2026 MN . Alex has guards Allie Haabala Allie Haabala 5'7" | PG Alexandria Area | 2025 State MN (Southwest Minnesota State), Macee Linow Macee Linow 5'6" | SG Alexandria Area | 2025 State MN (Bemidji State), Chloe Scholl Chloe Scholl 5'9" | CG Alexandria Area | 2025 State MN (Gustavus) and more.

3:45 p.m. – Rosemount vs St. Michael-Albertville

These are two of the most well-coached, fundamentally sound squads in Class 4A. There's no question that Rosemount coach Chris Orr and STMA's Kent Hamre have earned their stripes. They also have plenty of talent to work with. The Irish are led by a trio of outstanding sisters – sophomores Amisha Ramlall Amisha Ramlall 5'11" | CG Rosemount | 2027 State MN and Arshia Ramlall Arshia Ramlall 5'7" | CG Rosemount | 2027 State MN and freshman Ashna Ramlall Ashna Ramlall 5'10" | CG Rosemount | 2028 State MN – who can light it up from downtown. Amisha committed to the University of Minnesota this week. STMA features South Dakota State commit Abby Hoselton Abby Hoselton 5'11" | PF STMA | 2025 State MN and top-3 junior Cail Jahnke Cail Jahnke 6'2" | CG St. Michael-Albertville | 2026 State MN . Sophomore Mariah Sexton Mariah Sexton 6'3" | PF Maple Grove | 2027 State MN is a 6'3 post who transferred from Wisconsin.

5:30 p.m.  – Maple Grove vs Providence Academy

We watched Maple Grove Thursday on opening night of the high school season in their win over Eden Prairie, and the Crimson were very impressive. They boast a deep starting lineup that features 2025 #1 Jordan Ode Jordan Ode 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN (Michigan State), 2026 #11 Kate Holmquist Kate Holmquist 5'7" | PG Maple Grove | 2026 State MN (Montana) and along with triplets Bella Hanna Bella Hanna 5'10" | SF Maple Grove | 2025 State MN (Michigan Tech), Lexi Hanna Lexi Hanna 5'9" | SG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN (Missouri-St. Louis) and Addie Hanna Addie Hanna 5'6" | PG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN (Augustana). Providence counters with the incomparable Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN , the top junior in Minnesota who committed this week to Kentucky. She's joined by D1 commit Hope Counts Hope Counts 6'2" | SF Providence Academy | 2025 State MN (Lipscomb) and 2027 #4 Emma Millerbernd Emma Millerbernd 5'10" | CG Providence Academy | 2027 State MN .

7:00 p.m.  – Benilde-St. Margaret's vs Minnetonka

Benilde are the defending Class 3A state champions. Minnetonka are the defending Class 4A state champions. What's not to like about a match-up like that? Both teams are chock-full of talented players who know how to deliver under the bright lights. BSM is celebrating the return of top-3 senior Kendall McGee Kendall McGee 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's School | 2025 State MN , the Creighton commit who is on the comeback trail from a severe knee injury. She's joined by 2025 #16 Zahara Bishop Zahara Bishop 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's School | 2025 State MN (Seton Hall), 2027 #2 Pressley Watkins Pressley Watkins 6'0" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's School | 2027 State MN and college-bound talents such as Kate Kapsner Kate Kapsner 6'0" | SF Benilde-St. Margaret's School | 2025 State MN , Mirabel Wismer Mirabel Wismer 6'1" | SF Benilde-St. Margaret's School | 2026 State MN and Sydney Friedly Sydney Friedly 5'9" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2027 State MN . Tonka counters with one of the smoothest point guards around in Lanelle Wright Lanelle Wright 5'8" | PG Minnetonka | 2026 State MN plus a pair of outstanding transfers in 2027 #7 Jazmin Daing Jazmin Daing 6'2" | CG Minnetonka | 2027 State MN (from Rochester John Marshall) and 2028 #2 Ari Peterson Ari Peterson 6'1" | SG Minnetonka | 2028 State MN (from Providence Academy).

8:30 p.m. – Hopkins vs Lakeville North

This, the final game of the day, might offer a glimpse into the contest for top spot in Class 4A. As usual, the Royals are loaded with veterans like Tatum Woodson Tatum Woodson 5'9" | CG Hopkins | 2025 State MN (Belmont), top-20 senior London Harris London Harris 5'10" | CG Hopkins | 2025 State MN , 2027 #5 Ava Cupito Ava Cupito 5'10" | CG Hopkins | 2027 State MN and #6 Erma Walker Erma Walker 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2027 State MN , plus North Dakota signee Lauren Hillesheim Lauren Hillesheim 5'11" | SG Hopkins | 2025 State MN . Add transfer Alivia Bell Alivia Bell 5'7" | PG Hopkins | 2027 State MN from Winona (#9 sophomore) and you've got a deep roster. The Panthers have plenty to work with, too. 9th grader Sahara Wilson Sahara Wilson 6'3" | PF Lakeville North | 2028 State MN is a 6'3 post who is top 3 in her class. Seniors Elayna Boe Elayna Boe 6'0" | SG Lakeville North | 2025 State MN (UM-Duluth), Aduke Ojullu Aduke Ojullu 6'1" | SF Lakeville North | 2025 State MN and Gracie Winge Gracie Winge 5'10" | CG Lakeville North | 2025 State MN are top talents, as is junior Sophia Perry Sophia Perry 5'10" | SG Lakeville North | 2026 State MN . This should be a good one.

THREE SPECIAL STARS

Earlier in the week we did a preview of Class 2A and the generational players who dominate the division. Click here to read the details. Then make plans to watch all of them on Satuday. We've mentioned Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN above. Here are the other three:

MORE PLAYERS TO SEE

The Breakdown Girls Tip Off Classic will be held at Southwest Christian High School located at 1981 Bavaria Road in Chaska. Saturday's first game is at 9 a.m. The last game begins at 8:30 pm. One ticket gets you access to all 16 games. For more information, visit the website at breakdownsportsusa.com/girlstipoff.