MN GBB: Saturday Reports & an examination of State seeding history.
D1 HIGH FIVE
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Lakeville North 22
Paige Bueckers, UConn, Hopkins 20
Alayna Contreras, Kansas City, Hopkins 20
Paige Meyer, South Dakota State, Albany 17
Teresa Kiewiet, Lafayette, Mankato West 16
Totals: 95
Hopkins had a pair of 20s to reach 40.
SEEDS AND HISTORY
The seeds have been planted. This is the first time since 2009 the AAAA & AAA fields have been seeded one to eight. This is the first time for AA and A who did not begin seeding until 2014. AAAA and AAA seeded starting in 2007.
AAAA
This marks the first time that Maple Grove has garnered the top seed. In 2010 the Crimson was the #2 seed, their highest mark. Last year they were #3. They have yet to reach the title game.
In 17 years of seeding in AAAA the #1 seed ended up as champion twelve times which is a success rate of 70.6%. In the other five seasons they finished second—including the past two years.
Two #3 seeds have won the AAAA title—in 2008 with St. Paul Central and 2016 with Minnetonka.
AAAA will have a new champion this year as Minnetonka fell in the 2AAAA title game against Chaska.
AAA
Benilde-St. Margaret’s will be looking for a three-peat. This is the second straight year they are #1 in the seven times they have been to state during the seeding era. The Red Knights won two titles as #2 seeds in 2010 and 2023.
In 17 years of seeding AAA the #1 seed ended up as champion six times. That success rate is only 35.3%, the lowest of any class. There was a six-year string (2008-2013) where the #1 seed did not win. Park Center broke the string in 2014, and then two more years of #1s not prevailing.
The only time a #1 seed fell in the quarters in AAA came in 2016 when Thief River Falls surprised #1 Hutchinson.
The lowest seed ever to win a title was unseeded St. Michael-Albertville in 2009. Four #3s, four #2s and a #5 have also won titles.
AA
Providence is looking for a four-peat. This is their fourth straight year going in as #1 with #1 finishes on the previous three occasions.
In the ten years of seeding AA the #1 seed ended up as champion eight times, a success rate of 80%, the best of any class.
The lowest seed ever to win a AA title was #3 Minnehaha in 2019. Dover-Eyota is the other non-#1 to win and that came in 2015.
A
Another class, another chance for a repeat—this time back-to-back. This is Goodhue’s third time as #1 and they won both times in 2016 and 2024. They also won as #2 seed in 2017.
In the ten-year seeding experience A #1s have won five titles* with Minneota in the hunt in the virus shortened 2020 season making it six. That creates a 60% success rate (with the asterisk).
A also has a #1 falling victim to an unseeded team. Minneota toppled #1 Mountain Iron-Buhl in 2022 in overtime.
The very first year of seeding (2014) produced an unseed champ—-Win-E-Mac. #2s have won twice and #3 once.
ALL FOUR????
Has there ever been a year where all the #1s prevailed? Only once in the ten years all four classes have seeded: 2018 with Eastview, Cooper, Sauk Centre, and Lyle-Pacelli entering and leaving as #1s.
UNBEATEN
There are now three teams left. Royalton exited the stage on Tuesday in the 6AA semis when Milaca stopped the streak. Next week there will be at least one more change because only one AA school can remain undefeated. Of course, the possibility we may have zero undefeated teams is present. The drama will build starting Wednesday.
AAAA-0
AAA-1
Monticello
AA-2
Providence, Crosby-Ironton
A-0
STREAKING
A change at A with Grand Meadow’s 17 game streak halted by Goodhue. Replacing the SuperLarks are Wolverines….from MACCRAY. MAynard, Clara City, and RAYmond make up that school. The school itself is in CC. Providence is now at the 40 level.
AAAA: 19 Maple Grove
AAA: 29 Monticello
AA: 40 Providence (11 last year +29 this year)
A: 10 MACCRAY
QUEST FOR..
THE QRF
Three teams were check listed this week: Proctor on Wednesday; Sauk Centre and Milaca on Friday.
1-10 10/10-1.000
1-20 20/20-1.000
1-30 30/30-1.000
1-40 39/40-.975
1-50 47/50-.940
Biggest fish left to fry….is now #38 Rock Ridge. They will be check listed Wednesday. #46 Fergus Falls will never be charted since their season is over. Several other state teams will also be charted.
TOP 10s
One move in the polls drops my totals to 77.5%.
AAAA 10/10-1.000
AAA 9/10-.900 Rock Ridge slides into #10 spot
AA 9/10-.700 Minnewaska is left at #6
A 5/10-.500. Only four teams are left from the top 10. The only possibility to be charted is West Central.
overall it is 33/40 or .825
#1s EACH SECTION
Only one charted this week—-Sauk Centre.
AAAA 8/8—1.000
AAA 7/8-.875 still Rock Ridge from section 7.
AA 6/9-.667 (section 3AA is split) missed (past tense) JWP in section 2; Jackson County Central section 3 south; DGF section 8
A 6/12-.500 (splits in 3, 5, 6, 8) missed plenty (or 6) 3N, 3S, 6N, 6S, 8E, 8W
Overall, 27/37 or .729
THE WEEK AHEAD
State begins Wednesday with quarters for AAAA, AAA, AA. Thursday A takes the stage. The big change this year will be the Saturday final set up. AA and AAA will flip spots. The schedule will be A, AAA in the first session AA and AAAA in the evening.