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:
- 2026 #1a
Tori Oehrlein
Tori Oehrlein 5'11" | CG Crosby-Ironton | 2026 State MN of Crosby-Ironton (Minnesota) will face 2026 #9 Morgan Staloch
Morgan Staloch 6'0" | PF Jordan | 2026 State MN of Jordan (St. Thomas) at 10:30 a.m.
- 2025 #2
Addison Mack
Addison Mack 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2025 State MN of Minnehaha Academy (Maryland) goes up against 2026 #6 Mya Moore
Mya Moore 5'10" | PG Orono | 2026 State MN of Orono (Creighton) at 5:00 p.m.
- 2028 #1
Chloe Johnson
Chloe Johnson 6'0" | PG Duluth Marshall | 2028 State MN of Duluth Marshall, possibly the best freshman in America, meets Albany at 6:30 p.m.
MORE PLAYERS TO SEE
- 2027 #1
Mya Wilson
Mya Wilson 6'1" | CG Hill-Murray | 2027 State MN & 2030 standout Ashlee Wilson
Ashlee Wilson 5'10" | CG Hill-Murray | 2030 MN of Hill-Murray play 2028 #8 Adele Changamire
Adele Changamire 5'8" | CG Becker | 2028 State MN and 2029 Andie Changamire
Andie Changamire 5'11" | SG Becker | 2029 MN of Becker at 9:30 a.m.
- 2028 #7
Maggie Dyer
Maggie Dyer 5'10" | SF/SG Rochester Mayo | 2028 State MN & 2028 #12 Amelia Mills
Amelia Mills 5'7" | PG Rochester Mayo | 2028 State MN of Rochester face Colorado State signee Bree Bowman
Bree Bowman 6'2" | SF Prior Lake | 2025 State MN , Tulsa commit Haven Fisher
Haven Fisher 5'11" | SG Prior Lake | 2025 State MN and Northern State signee #29 Brooklynn Holmberg
Brooklynn Holmberg 5'11" | SG Prior Lake | 2025 State MN (Northern State) of Prior Lake at 12:15 p.m.
- 2025 #9
Sophie Hawkinson
Sophie Hawkinson 5'8" | CG Wayzata | 2025 State MN (North Dakota State), 2025 #22 Katie Kelzenberg
Katie Kelzenberg 6'2" | PF Wayzata | 2025 State MN , 2027 #13 Maren Day
Maren Day 6'1" | CG/SF Wayzata | 2027 State MN , 2027 #15 Kaja Nash
Kaja Nash 5'10" | CG/SG Wayzata | 2027 State MN and 2027 #16 Annika Kieser of Wayzata will meet Myah Maull
Myah Maull 5'7" | CG Eastview | 2025 State MN (Winona State), Bra’ja Torry
Bra’ja Torry 5'6" | SG Eastview | 2025 State MN and Lexie Mathews Lexie Mathews 5'11" | SF Eastview | 2026 State MN of Eastview at 12:45 p.m.
- 2025 #13
Aneisha Scott
Aneisha Scott 5'6" | PG DeLaSalle | 2025 State MN (Richmond), 2026 #21 Maddy Blaylark
Maddy Blaylark 5'7" | CG DeLaSalle | 2026 State MN and 2027 #19 Laila Moses
Laila Moses 5'11" | SF DeLaSalle | 2027 State MN of DeLaSalle go up against Eden Prairie at 2:15 p.m. The Eagles feature 2025 #5 Tori Schlagel
Tori Schlagel 5'9" | CG Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN (South Dakota) & 2025 #17 Rae Ehrman
Rae Ehrman 5'9" | SF Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN of Eden Prairie (Montana).
- 2026 #20
Abbie Pietila
Abbie Pietila 5'8" | PG Delano | 2026 State MN of Delano (Michigan Tech) will face Cretin-Derham Hall at 1:45 p.m. Hopefully we’ll get a glimps of 2029 CDH guard Madeleine Hamiel, a transfer from Winnipeg who promise to be one of the top prospects among this year’s 8th graders.
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.