AAU Shootout preview: Minnesota’s first home games
When Minnesota’s AAU summer season finally tips off this weekend in Bloomington there will be some significant rule changes going into effect. Unfortunately we’re not talking about the implementation of a shot clock or anything else fun and innovative. No, we’re talking about the COVID-19 rules of participation, and they apply to anyone and everyone who plans to be in the gym Saturday and Sunday for a pair of one-day shootouts that will bring together a mishmash of teams that have elected not to travel out of state for tournament play. We’ll post the rules below which should make for a long, hot, uncomfortable day of basketball. But it’s still basketball and for that we are grateful.
WHO’S PLAYING
Minnesota’s top teams will mostly be competing in Des Moines this weekend at the first of three sessions of the Nike Tournament of Champions with others scattered at other events around the country. It was a tough call deciding which event to attend but in the end we determined that this was a good opportunity to see a large number of incoming freshmen that we haven’t seen before. Among the top 2024 teams competing in the Minnesota event are Crossfire Robertson, Minnesota Stars Amundson and Gardner, MN Rise Geistfeld and Southern Minnesota Fury 2024. Crossfire, which now operates North teams out of Maple Grove and South teams in Lakeville (soon to be Rosemount), will also have its 2024 South Corley, South Gill and Pearson teams at the event along with four more teams in the 2023 division.
Among the other quality 2023 squads entered are MN Rise Busse, Minnesota Stars Knight, Metro Stars Ruffin and MN Impact 9th. Leading 2022 squads are Minnesota Stars Fleming, MN Rise Wright and Crossfire South. The 2021 field is small, led by MN Rise Wolfe, Minnesota Stars Zabel and Minnesota Heat Vang.
TOP GAMES TO WATCH
Here is a look at some of the better games to see this weekend.
Saturday
11:45 p.m. (Kennedy 4) – Stars 2022 Fleming vs Start Strong 2022 Black
-
Leah Dengerud
Leah
Dengerud
5'9" | SF
Totino Grace | 2022
State
MN
(Totino-Grace),
Sophie Stork
Sophie
Stork
5'9" | CG
NRHEG | 2022
State
MN
(NRHEG),
Hannah Herzig
Hannah
Herzig
6'0" | CG
Totino Grace | 2022
State
MN
(Centennial),
Lauren Feddema
Lauren
Feddema
5'9" | CG
Buffalo | 2022
State
MN
(Buffalo) vs Kimori Morris (Irondale), Nia Hacker (Eastview), Grace Pullman (Centennial) and Jenny Ntambwe (Coon Rapids)
3:30 p.m. (Kennedy 4) – Crossfire 2023 Vaughn vs Stars 2024 Gardner
- Ashlyn Vaughn (Wayzata) & KJ Tharp (Centennial) vs
Kiya Hegdahl
Kiya
Hegdahl
5'7" | PG
St. Louis Park | 2024
State
MN
(St. Louis Park) & Savanah Gardner (Eastview)
4:45 p.m. (Kennedy 5) – Crossfire 2024 Robertson vs Southern Minnesota Fury 2024
-
Taylor Tool
Taylor
Tool
6'1" | PF
Delano | 2024
State
MN
(Delano),
Emma Frost
Emma
Frost
5'11" | SF
Andover | 2024
State
MN
(Andover) & Sophie Mareck (Wayzata) vs Syndey Shubert (Kasson-Mantorville), Sydney Marine (Byron) & Taylor Klement (Stewartville)
8:30 p.m. (Kennedy 1) – Stars 2024 Gardner vs MN Rise 2023 Busse
- The Rise lineup includes
Allison Milbrandt
Allison
Milbrandt
5'10" | SF
Buffalo Lake-H-S | 2023
State
MN
(Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart),
Peyton Stevermer
Peyton
Stevermer
5'5" | CG
Mankato East | 2023
State
MN
(Mankato East),
Brynn Busse
Brynn
Busse
5'6" | CG
G-F-W | 2023
State
MN
(GFW) & Bryn Nesvold (New Ulm).
Sunday
10:30 a.m. (Jefferson 5) – Metro Stars 2023 Ruffin vs Stars 2023 Knight
-
Grace Counts
Grace
Counts
6'1" | PF
Providence | 2023
State
MN
(Providence Academy),
Braziel Fairbanks
Braziel
Fairbanks
5'5" | CG
Edina | 2023
MN
(Edina),
Sierre Lumpkin
Sierre
Lumpkin
5'10" | SF
Benilde-SM | 2023
State
MN
(Edina),
Aalayah Wilson
Aalayah
Wilson
5'8" | CG
Osseo | 2023
State
MN
(Osseo) vs
Sammi Chandler
Sammi
Chandler
5'8" | CG
Red Wing | 2023
State
MN
(Red Wing),
Juliana Ewald
Juliana
Ewald
5'6" | CG
Pillager | 2023
State
MN
(Pillager) and Emma Felt (Jefferson)
3:30 p.m. (Kennedy 4) – MN Rise 2021 Wolfe vs MN Heat 2021 Vang
-
Madison Mathiowetz
Madison
Mathiowetz
5'10" | CG
Sleepy Eye St. Mary's | 2022
State
MN
(Sleepy Eye-St. Mary’s),
Jordyn Hilgemann
Jordyn
Hilgemann
5'10" | SF
Marshall | 2021
State
MN
(Marshall),
Morgan Kelly
Morgan
Kelly
5'11" | PF
St. Peter | 2021
State
MN
(St. Peter),
Lakesha Carter
Lakesha
Carter
5'6" | CG
Lake Crystal-Welcome | 2021
State
MN
(Lake Crystal-Welcome Memorial) vs
Audry Ensminger
Audry
Ensminger
5'7" | CG
Hopkins | 2021
State
MN
(Hopkins),
Annie Feine
Annie
Feine
6'0" | PF
Andover | 2021
State
MN
(Andover) and
Brynn Bauer
Brynn
Bauer
5'9" | PF
South St. Paul | 2021
State
MN
(South St. Paul)
RULES OF THE (COVID-19) GAME
Please take note of the rules as posted by event organizers, which are presented here as shown on the aauevents.com website.
- Everyone planning to play, coach, or attend: if you feel sick, STAY HOME! Elderly and others at increased risk due to pre-existing conditions should consider the risks before attending.
- Completed waivers are required for each player. They will be checked against your score-sheet roster at coaches check-in.
- Everyone entering the building must wear a mask or other face covering. Coaches, players, and referees may remove them once they arrive on their court. Spectators must remain masked at all times.
- Each team will be allowed 22 fans per team. We are asking coaches to collect money for wristbands from parents ahead of time, to limit lines at the admission table. They will be $10/day – CASH ONLY. Fans will be able to purchase on site as well in the event there are last minute changes in your plans.
- Spectators MUST stand or bring their own chairs. There will be no bleachers or chairs available for fans. There will be no concessions available in the building.
- Fans are REQUIRED to social distance. Family groups must be 6 feet apart from other households. This will be enforced by our staff.
- ENTERING: As long as the weather cooperates, coach’s check-in and wristband purchases will take place outside. You will not be allowed in the building until the previous round of games is finished.
- EXITING: Everyone must leave the gym immediately upon the completion of their game. Exits will be at Bloomington Kennedy Court 3 and Bloomington Jefferson in the corridor between the two gyms near the weight room. These are the exits even if your games are in the high school gyms. No post game talks, no handshake lines, etc.
- A parent from each team will be asked to work the table for each game. One will do the scoresheet, and one will do the clock. A 3rd wristband will be included in the coach’s packet for that parent.
