Wednesday marks the start of the 2024 girls basketball state tournament at Williams Arena and Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis with 32 teams across four classes vying for state championships, including two first-time state qualifiers in Class AAA (Minneapolis Roosevelt) and Class A (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley).
The first-time girls basketball state tournament appearance for Minneapolis Roosevelt comes with a challenge, top-overall seed and defending AAA state champions, Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
"We just got to go out there and play Roosevelt basketball," said Teddies head coach, Tyesha Wright. "That's what I tell my girls all of the time. I know [Benilde-St. Margaret’s] has some elite players on their team, so we just got to maintain them, paly solid, and take it game by game. Hopefully we can pull a win out."
Roosevelt enters the tournament with a 23-7 record, defeating St. Paul Como Park 50-49 in the Class AAA Section 3 championship.
"Our season progressed very well," Wright said. "It's been quite a journey and our girls are determined. They come to practice and you can see how much they want to get to state and gel as a team. It shows how hard they work."
Wright, who went to Roosevelt, took over the reigns as head coach from her father three years ago with a goal of getting the team to its first state tournament.
"I have two girls who have been with Roosevelt who have been with the team since the 8th grade year and another girl who's been with the team since her 7th grade year," Wright said. "I just want to make sure all the girls end with a wonderful season and I want to be with them every step of the way."
Roosevelt and Benilde-St. Margaret’s start the tournament Wednesday at 10 a.m.
"We did get a hotel because I want to give our players that experience. We'll get up around 6:45 or 7, get breakfast, and head to the arena around 8 or 8:15 in the morning."
Wednesday, March 13
At Willams Arena
White Bear Lake (21-7) vs. No. 1 Hopkins (25-3), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Lakeville North (24-5) vs. No. 4 Maple Grove (24-4), noon
Andover (24-4) vs. No. 2 Minnetonka (26-2), 2 p.m.
Rosemount (22-6) vs. No. 3 St. Michael-Albertville (22-7), 4 p.m.
Class AA quarterfinals
Perham (26-3) vs. No. 1 Providence Academy (25-4), 6 p.m.
No. 5 Crosby-Ironton (24-6) vs. No. 4 New London-Spicer (28-2), 8 p.m.
At Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis Roosevelt (23-7) vs. No. 1 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (24-5), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Stewartville (21-8) vs. No. 4 St. Peter (27-2), noon
Totino-Grace (17-11) vs. No. 2 DeLaSalle (25-3), 2 p.m.
Rock Ridge (26-3) vs. No. 3 Alexandria Area (24-4), 4 p.m.
Class AA quarterfinals
Rochester Lourdes (21-9) vs. No. 2 Albany (28-1), 6 p.m.
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (19-11) vs. No. 3 Minnehaha Academy (26-3), 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 14
At Maturi Pavilion
Class A quarterfinals
Mayer Lutheran (19-10) vs. No. 1 Goodhue (25-5), 10 a.m.
No. 5 SW Minnesota Christian (28-2) vs. No. 4 Underwood (27-3), noon
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (24-6) vs. No. 2 Mountain Iron-Buhl (27-3), 2 p.m.
Fosston (29-2) vs. No. 3 Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (27-3), 5 p.m.
