MSHSL Class 3A Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview

Two Big Nine Conference teams are among the Elite Eight that comprise the field in the Class 3A Minnesota Girls Basketball State Tournament.  Games are throughout the day Wednesday at Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota Campus.

At 10:00 a.m. the #7 ranked by Minnesota Basketball News  Austin Packers (24-5) will go up against top seed, top ranked and defending State Champion Becker Bulldogs (23-4).  The Packers split games with Rochester Mayo, Mankato East and lost to Owatonna in conference play.  They also lost to Eden Prairie toward the end of the season.

The Packers defeated Class 4A Rochester John Marshall twice starting the season on a 10 game winning streak before falling to St. Paul Como Park 74-69.

Austin averages 66.5 points per game and allows 47.7.

The Bulldogs average 76.3 while giving up 49 points per contest.  They've won 17 straight games after starting the season losing 3 of their first 4.  Their four losses are to Minnetonka, Wayzata, Appleton East, and Willmar.

Noon #5 seed Mankato East (24-4) ranked #6 plays #4 seed and #5 rated Benilde St. Margaret's (23-6) of St. Louis Park.  The Cougars average 59.4 points while giving up 44.3 per contest.

Their losses came against Austin in double overtime (they also defeated the Packers), DeLaSalle 59-57, St. Louis Park 86-61 and John Marshall 51-44 (they split with the Rockets.).

The Red Knights average 61.3 points and allow 50.6 points per game. BSM lost three of their first four games of the season.  Losses came against Totino-Grace, Providence Academy,  Academy of Holy Angels, Chaska, Chanhassen and St. Louis Park.

Benilde St. Margaret's had 12 opponents on their schedule that are in Class 4A.

The Big Nine Conference had three state ranked teams (Mankato East, Mankato West, Austin) this season.

The Packers are sparked by senior guard Hope Dudycha who broke the school girls career scoring record held since 2004. The record breaker came against Byron during the Section 1AAA Semifinals off a pass from her twin sister Emma.  Not an easy accomplishment when you consider there were no games played in 2020.

2:00 p.m. #2 seed, #2 ranked St. Paul Como Park (22-6) opens with #9 rated Grand Rapids (25-3).

The Cougars average 73.1 points and allow 57.4 each game while the Thunderhawks score 64.5 and give up 45.2.

Grand Rapids three losses were to state ranked Hill-Murray, Brainerd and Esko.

St. Paul Como Park started the season with losses in their first three games prior to going on a 10 game winning streak. They were defeated twice by Hopkins, lost to Eden Prairie, Stillwater, Wayzata and St. Michael-Albertville.  All Class 4A schools. Two in State 4A Tournament.

4:00 p.m. #3 seed, #8 ranked Totino-Grace (20-8) competes against unrated Detroit Lakes (14-12).

The Lakers score 53.1 and allow 50.2 points per game while the Eagles average 63.4 offensively and 53.8 defensively.

Let's see how we can make a difference.