State Tournament Preview: The biggest stars in Class A

The media loves to talk about the big-time programs of Class 4A and 3A when the girls basketball State Tournament rolls around every March. This year there's extra focus on Class 2A, which features some of the biggest names in Minnesota girls basketball. Truth be told, however, it is the presence of the eight Class A programs that makes the world go round at State. Entire towns turn out the lights and make the trek to Minneapolis to support their teams. They are loud and boisterous and all-in for their kids who they have no doubt known for most of their lives.   THE SCHEDULE   The Class A portion of the State Tournament opens on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. with the first of four consecutive games at Maturi Pavilion, a lineup that looks like this:   • 11 a.m. – #1 Goodhue (24-5) vs #8 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (25-4) • 1 p.m. – #4 West Central Area (23-6) vs #5 Cromwell-Wright (25-4) • 3 p.m. – #2 Mayer Lutheran (26-3) vs #7 MACCRAY (23-5) • 5 p.m. – #3 Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (29-2) vs #6 EGF Sacred Heart (24-6)   THE TEAMS   Top-seeded Goodhue are the defending state champions. #2 Mayer Lutheran returns to the bracket as does #8 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley. SESM and West Central Area are back in the field for the first time since 2021. Cromwell-Wright's last appearance was in the ill-fated COVID tournament of 2020. This is Sacred Heart's first trip to Minneapolis since 2016. It has been 19 years since MACCRAY went dancing.   THE PLAYERS If you aren't as familiar with Class A basketball as you'd like to be, here are a few standout performers you should watch beginning on Thursday.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Kendyl-Lodermeier_Goodhue-crop-4021x2640-1673308319.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-580351" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='550025' first='Kendyl' last='Lodermeier'] – 2025 forward, Goodhue   The 5'10 power forward took center stage at last year's State Tournament as Kendyl played a crucial role in Goodhue's triumph over Mountain Iron-Buhl. She went 9-for-14 from the field for 21 points and hauled down a dozen rebounds. Committed to Division 2 Upper Iowa University, Lodermeier is a walking double-double who averaged 18 ppg this winter. The All-State senior is strong and physical and will not take ‘no' for an answer.   [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] – 2027 guard, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's   I bumped into Morgan (top photo) in Sioux Falls over the weekend at the Summit League Tournament. It's not as though she needs any extra motivation this week but watching her sister Madison Mathiowetz turn in a stellar performance in South Dakota State's threepeat victory certainly adds fuel to the fire. Ranked #11 among 2027 prospects in Minnesota, Mathiowetz is a top-drawer talent who can do it all. The All-State performer averages 34 ppg, topped the 40-point mark six times and was in the 30s another 18 times.   [player_tooltip player_id='515673' first='Brielle' last='Janssen'] – 2026 forward, MACCRAY   Remember when Brielle was going to be a volleyball player? I'd like to forget those conversations, but the 6'1 junior now has two feet firmly on the basketball court and that's exactly as we like it. That's why MACCRAY made it to the big show. Now the 14th-rated prospect in the Class of 2026, Janssen averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds per game this season along with 6.3 assists, 5.2 steals and 1.7 blocks. The coaches All-State selection is a D1 talent who has verballed to the defending Division 2 national champions from MSU-Mankato.   [player_tooltip player_id='396437' first='Aubrey' last='Morrison'] – 2025 guard, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley   The speedy guard is one of the most entertaining players in the state. Aubrey's pace in the open court is impressive. Her ball-handling skills are exceptional. And she can score any which way you want. Morrison averaged 24 points per game for the Wolves along with 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and a remarkable 4.7 steals. Selected by the girls basketball coaches for All-State honors, Aubrey has signed with MSU-Moorhead.   [player_tooltip player_id='1048130' first='Izabelle' last='Keaveny'] & [player_tooltip player_id='1048125' first='Clara' last='Keaveny'] – 2026 guards, Mayer Lutheran   I've said this before and I'll say it again: if the Keaveny sisters decide to focus on basketball over volleyball they will sprint up the rankings immediately. Both 5'10, both physical and strong and athletic, both super-skilled and uber-competitive, Izzy and Clara are the real deal. This year the pair have combined for more than 26 ppg. Clara was a coaches All-State pick; Izzy earned an honorable mention. There are plenty of talented kids in the Mayer Lutheran lineup, but the Crusaders go as the Keavenys go.   [player_tooltip player_id='918612' first='Lexi' last='Lawrence'] – 2027 forward, EGF Sacred Heart   Confession: We've never seen Sacred Heart play live. Based in East Grand Forks, the Eagles rarely venture outside of the Northwest corner of the state. We have seen Lawrence, however, and it doesn't take a genius to deduce how the team made it to Minneapolis. Ranked in the top 35 among Minnesota sophomores, Lexi is a 6-foot forward whose career is on a steep trajectory upward. Her family lineage qualifies for royalty status in the realm of University of North Dakota basketball. I'm sure Lexi would love to add to the lore.   [player_tooltip player_id='948877' first='Isabella' last='Anderson'] – 2025 forward, Cromwell-Wright   Cardinal teams over the years have earned a well-deserved reputation for playing fast, shooting well from beyond the arc, and sharing the ball by the book. They can also defend like nobody's business. Anderson is their most recognizable name, a coaches All-State selection who has led the team in scoring and rebounding for the past three years. They have not been to State for five years but eight of the top nine Cardinals compete in AAU for [program_tooltip program_id='779294' first='Northern' last='Lights']. Anderson and her girls just might suprise.

The media loves to talk about the big-time programs of Class 4A and 3A when the girls basketball State Tournament rolls around every March. This year there's extra focus on Class 2A, which features some of the biggest names in Minnesota girls basketball. Truth be told, however, it is the presence of the eight Class A programs that makes the world go round at State. Entire towns turn out the lights and make the trek to Minneapolis to support their teams. They are loud and boisterous and all-in for their kids who they have no doubt known for most of their lives.