2020 State Tournament: Class AAA preview

Observers can talk all they want about teamwork and chemistry and culture – all are important ingredients for a championship team. But you won’t win trophies on a consistent basis without talented athletes, and nobody has more of them in the girls AAA state tournament than the Islanders of DeLaSalle. There are 40 players participating in the AAA tourney whose names appear in the Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings. Eight of them wear the gold and black of the Islanders. Of those eight, five are among the top 20 in their class. Only one does not yet own a state championship medal. Yes, DeLaSalle is the #1 seed and there’s no question they’ve earned it. Since losing their first three games of the season to powerhouse squads – LaCrosse Aquinas of Wisconsin, Dowling Catholic of Iowa and the mighty Hopkins Royals – DLS has lost just once. After dismantling Hill-Murray in the section final, the Islanders bring a 16-game winning streak to the big dance. But it’s not as though the other seven teams in the AAA field are going to roll over and play dead. There is plenty of intrigue to go around, and it would not be at all surprising to see #2 Becker avenge last year’s championship-game loss. #4 Simley is stocked with high-end talent, too. And let’s not forget #5 Holy Angels, which came within a basket of beating the Islanders last season. Here’s a rundown on class AAA and the top prospects to watch. All quarterfinal games will be played Wednesday at Maturi Pavilion on the campus of the University of Minnesota. 10 a.m. – #1 DELASALLE vs HERMANTOWN DeLaSalle Islanders (24-4) DLS has just one senior of note, 6’0 power forward [player_tooltip player_id="110529" first="Nurjei" last="Weems"]. She is a top-20 prospect who can score and rebound and leave her fingerprints all over a basketball game, but it is the Islanders’ crop of talented sophomores who will draw the most notice this week. Led by point guard [player_tooltip player_id="12727" first="Kiani" last="Lockett"], the #13-rated prospect in the 2022 class, the 10th grade brigade includes #16 [player_tooltip player_id="12747" first="Savannah" last="White"], #20 [player_tooltip player_id="12736" first="Sydney" last="Runsewe"], and #36 [player_tooltip player_id="109129" first="Mya" last="Williams"]. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="109184" first="I’tianna" last="Salaam"] and junior [player_tooltip player_id="109817" first="Isabella" last="Thomas"] also play key roles. The difference maker on any given night, though, could be talented freshman [player_tooltip player_id="108306" first="Kennedy" last="Klick"]. She is the only newcomer this season, and the #10-ranked 2023 has more than lived up to expectations. Bottom line: Coach Tanysha Scott’s Islanders are locked and loaded. Hermantown Hawks (26-3) If you’re looking for an underdog in class AAA these are your girls. It’s incredible that a team with 26 wins could be in this position but that’s how strong the class is. Hermantown started its season with nine straight wins before losing to St. Anthony at the Esko holiday tournament. They promptly went on another long winning streak. Hermantown beat Hibbing by two in the section final to advance to their date with DeLaSalle. This is a veteran team led by their one ranked prospect, 6’0 junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="146171" first="Elly" last="Schmitz"]. The #101 player in the class of 2021 leads the team in pretty much every category, including 15 points per game. Schmitz’ supporting cast includes junior forward Bryton Kukowski (14 ppg), senior guards Ava Asgaard and Brita Birkeland, as well as junior guard Maiah Christianson. 12 p.m. – #4 SIMLEY vs #5 HOLY ANGELS Simley Spartans (27-2) These are the Simley Spartans we have been waiting for. When the news broke in the fall of 2018 that one of the premier players in the class of 2020 had transferred to Simley the stage was set for the program to rise. Guard [player_tooltip player_id="110527" first="Zareia" last="Chevre"] (Monmouth) was everything Simley needed and more. They weren’t quite ready for prime time last season but this year they have been very, very good. The #11-ranked player in the 2020 class is one of four elite seniors in Simley’s starting lineup. The others are 6’0 forward [player_tooltip player_id="6529" first="TeeTee" last="Danso"] (#13), a Bradley commit who averages 8 points and 10 rebounds per game. [player_tooltip player_id="1941" first="Sydney" last="Stensgard"] (#22) is a Montana State commit who leads the team in scoring at 16.5 ppg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id="110537" first="Ravyn" last="Miles"] (#31) has returned from ACL surgery and is a scholarship-level prospect, as well. And then there is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="12749" first="Champ" last="Danso"], a big power forward averaging 11 and 8. It’s a formidable lineup that has lost just twice all season, once to Chaska on opening day and once to Stillwater in game 5. The Spartans have since reeled off 23 wins in a row, including an impressive section final triumph over St. Paul Como Park. Holy Angels Stars (22-6) Holy Angels has been there, done that. The Stars have been playing at a very high level for a very long time, having captured a state championship just four years ago, and coming within a bucket of the finals last season. Their kids are battle-hardened and accustomed to playing in the big game. You won’t find a better #5 seed anywhere. The Stars won 6 of their first 10 games this season. Since then Holy Angels has won 16 of 18 including their last 10 in a row. They boast a lineup that includes seven ranked prospects led by 19th-rated junior [player_tooltip player_id="2117" first="Frankie" last="Vascellaro"], who is the team’s undisputed leader in all aspects. The 6’0 forward is scoring just a shade under 20 points per game but her impact can’t be measured in any statistical category. This season junior power forward [player_tooltip player_id="109792" first="Rachel" last="Kawiecki"], a hard-nosed multi-sport athlete, has been more important than ever. Ditto for the twins – [player_tooltip player_id="110911" first="Emma" last="Henry"] and [player_tooltip player_id="110912" first="Isabelle" last="Henry"] – who are steady as a rock night after night. The Stars have seen two players truly emerge this year as sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="109141" first="Kassie" last="Caron"] (#42) and [player_tooltip player_id="147450" first="Grace" last="Massaquoi"] have been consistently good. 2 p.m. – #2 BECKER vs ALEXANDRIA Becker Bulldogs (26-2) Becker’s lineup is loaded with talented juniors who carried the team to the finals last season and are poised to do so once again. The Bulldogs have lost just twice, one to mighty Hopkins and once to Hutchinson during Christmas break. Willmar gave them a scare in section play but Becker came back and won. The ‘Dogs undisputed leader is point guard [player_tooltip player_id="2122" first="Julia" last="Bengtson"], a top-25 prospect who scores over 16 points per game. She is surrounded by a quality cast, each an important piece in a very pretty puzzle. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="30163" first="Adeline" last="Kent"] (#44, 16 ppg), a coaches all-state selection, is a dynamic guard who can fill up the basket. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="109774" first="Courtney" last="Nuest"] (#72) can score, rebound and defend. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="29532" first="Megan" last="Gamble"] (#61) is a 5’10 power forward who can bang with the best of them. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="109797" first="Alayna" last="Lindquist"] (#122) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id="108338" first="Dani" last="Nuest"] (#44) play important roles. The biggest difference for Becker this year is the growth of freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="108304" first="Maren" last="Westin"], who is ranked #8 in the class of 2023. One of the most athletic players in the state, Westin may have her coming out party this week on the biggest stage of all. Alexandria Cardinals (22-7) On paper this one should be all Becker. On the court it could be entirely different. Alexandria is the team that nobody wants to play. Cardinals coach Wendy Kohler did not become the winningest female coach in Minnesota history by accident. Alex plays tremendous team basketball, defends with passion and precision, and always comes prepared for whatever the opponent might have to offer. The Cardinals are led by 6’0 senior [player_tooltip player_id="2032" first="Ella" last="Grove"], a top-45 player who is headed for the University of Mary and can do it all. She’s joined by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="109790" first="Lilly" last="Horn"], a 5’10 shooter who transferred this year from Brainerd, and junior playmaker [player_tooltip player_id="109808" first="Mataya" last="Hoelscher"], who is a teammate of all those Becker juniors with Minnesota Comets Elite. Alex can also count on contributions from seniors Mia McGrane and Summer Gerhardt as well as juniors Jaya Hatlestad and Alayna Strand. The two teams met on Feb. 8 in Alexandria and Becker won it 67-59. Don’t be surprised if this one is even closer. 4 p.m. – #3 RED WING vs WACONIA Red Wing Wingers (26-2) To some people Red Wing might be a bit of a surprise seed at #3. The Wingers have a lot less star power than most of the teams in the field with only four ranked players, two of whom are just freshmen. They also play in the Big 9 where a heavy schedule of conference opponents make it difficult to meet up with other top teams from around the state. If you were on hand Friday night in Rochester for the section 1AAA final against Kasson-Mantorville, however, then you have no doubt that this team could be good enough to win it all. Red Wing plays punishing defense and the Wingers will not be an easy out. The team is led by top 100 senior [player_tooltip player_id="110887" first="Kyli" last="Nelson"]. The Mount Marty commit leads the team in scoring at 16 ppg followed by 5’10 junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="109791" first="Abi" last="Deming"] at 13 and freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="108325" first="Sydnee" last="Nelson"] (#29) at 11. Junior Sydney Rahn is a vital cog in the wheel, as is freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="148341" first="Sammi" last="Chandler"], who is #74 in the class of 2023. Waconia Wildcats (19-10) It would be easy to look at Waconia’s record and conclude that a team with 10 losses has no chance in a field like this. That would be a grievous error. Waconia has played the most difficult schedule of any team in class AAA. Eight of those 10 losses were to big 4A schools, including powerhouse programs Hopkins, Chaska, St. Michael-Albertville and Wayzata. The other two were to very strong AAA teams – to Hutchinson by a basket, to then-undefeated Marshall by 4 points. The Wildcats are led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="110553" first="Tess" last="Johnson"], a top-75 prospect, who plays with an edge. Talented junior [player_tooltip player_id="109750" first="Addy" last="Salzer"] is ranked #32 in the class and can play in college at the D1 level. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="109762" first="Sydni" last="Olson"] (#59) is one of the best three-point shooters in the state. Sizeable sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="109148" first="Audrey" last="Swanson"] (#59) and [player_tooltip player_id="109135" first="Ava" last="Stier"] (#41) are consistent scorers. The X factor is probalby senior forward Natalie Meath, a tireless worker who always seems to come up big when it matters most. Top photo: DeLaSalle and Holy Angels have had plenty of recent battles. (Photo courtesy of StarTribune)