The girls basketball section tournament continues to intensify with crucial sub-section championships and semifinal matchups set for tonight.
In Section 5A, the second-seeded Bertha-Hewitt Bears (19-8) take on top-seeded Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (23-4) at Wadena-Deer Creek High School. This marks the first meeting between the two teams this season, with the winner advancing to the Section 5A championship game at Hallenbeck Hall at SCSU on Friday night. They will face the winner of Braham (22-5) vs. Upsala (19-9). Fans can catch the Bertha-Hewitt game live on KWAD at 7:00 p.m.
In Section 6A, the North Sub-Section Final features top-seeded Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (24-4) against No. 2 Underwood (23-5) in Perham. Hillcrest, ranked 10th in the state, has already defeated Underwood twice this season—57-42 in January and 56-45 in February. The winner will play either Breckenridge (23-5) or West Central Area (21-6) for the 6A title on Friday at Concordia-Moorhead. Breckenridge, ranked No. 4, and WCA, ranked No. 9, add extra intensity to the battle for a championship berth..
The Section 7AA semifinals features powerhouse Crosby-Ironton (28-0) vs Pequot Lakes (23-5) on Wednesday night at UMD. The Rangerettes are the second-ranked team in the state, averaging nearly 90 points per game this season. C-I beat the Patriots 72-35 back in January. The other side of the 7AA bracket features a pair of 20-win teams in Proctor (25-3) and Duluth Marshall (21-7). The 7AA title game will be Friday night at UMD.
In Section 8AA, fourth-seeded Menahga (24-4) travels to Concordia-Moorhead to face No. 10 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (22-5) in a semifinal clash. It’s the first meeting between the two squads this season. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Barnesville (20-6) takes on No. 3 Pelican Rapids (21-6). Fans can listen to the Menahga matchup on The Superstation K106, with tip-off at 6:00 p.m.
The Section 8AAA Championship matchup is already set, with No. 5 Alexandria (23-4) set to battle second-seeded Fergus Falls (21-7) on Thursday night at Detroit Lakes High School. Alexandria’s only losses this season have come against top-ranked teams, including No. 2 Marshall, No. 1AAAA Maple Grove, No. 4 Benilde-St. Margaret’s, and No. 1AA Providence Academy. The Cardinals have already beaten Fergus Falls twice this year—76-56 in January and 77-48 in February. Coverage of the championship game will air on Cool 94.5/Alexandria.
In 8AAAA, the underdog Brainerd Warrior girls (24-4) continue their run to the state tournament. After avenging last year’s playoff loss to Elk River 69-61 on Saturday, they’ll take on eighth-ranked St. Michael-Albertville (18-10) for the section title on Thursday night. This will be the first meeting between the Warriors and Knights this season. Tip-off from Sartell High School can be heard on KLIZ The Fan at 7:00.