HOPKINS, Minn. (Nov. 19, 2012) – Anxious to see a interstate showdown between Hopkins’ preseason No. 1 squad led by TT Starks and Nia Coffey against Kansas superpower Olathe Northwest? How about Chaska’s up-and-coming young team against high-scoring Carlie Wagner and NRHEG? Or the defending state champions in Class AA (Providence Academy) against the No. 7 team in Class AAAA (Chanhassen)? Well, don’t wait until March to get your basketball fix. Those games are among 15 terrific matchups between the elite in Minnesota girls’ high school basketball at the BREAKDOWN SPORTS Tip Off Classic.

Many of the top players and teams in the state of Minnesota will be on the courts at Hopkins’ Lindbergh Center for the annual Tip Off Classic, Dec. 1, 2012. Games begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning with a showdown between rising Class AA power Pine Island and big-school opponent Park of Cottage Grove and conclude later Saturday night on games on three courts, all of which feature teams ranked among the top-15 in their respective classes.

Saturday, Dec. 1 – Lindbergh main court
10:00 a.m. – Pine Island (No. 4 AA) vs. Park of Cottage Grove (No. 9 AAAA)
11:30 a.m. – Simley (No. 4 AAA) vs. Mounds View (No. 14 AAAA)
1:15 p.m. – Chaska (No. 3 AAA) vs. NRHEG (No. 2 AA)
2:45 p.m. – DeLaSalle (No. 1 AAA) vs. Osseo (No. 5 AAAA)
4:15 p.m. – Bloomington Kennedy (No. 2 AAAA) vs. Mason City (IA)
6:00 p.m. – Hopkins boys vs. Centennial boys
7:30 p.m. – Hopkins (No. 1 AAAA) vs. Olathe NW (KS)

Saturday, Dec. 1 – Lindbergh east court
11:00 a.m. – Braham (No. 3 AA) vs. Park Center (No. 6 AAA)
12:30 p.m. – Lakeville North (No. 13 AAAA) vs. Centennial (No. 11 AAAA)
2:15 p.m. – Lakeville South (No. 4 AAAA) vs. Esko (No. 6 AA)
3:45 p.m. – Chanhassen (No. 7 AAAA) vs. Providence Academy (No. 1 AA)
5:15 p.m. – Roseville (No. 3 AAAA) vs. Minnetonka (No. 6 AAAA)
7:00 p.m. – Holy Angels boys vs. Minnetonka boys

Saturday, Dec. 1 – Lindbergh old court
1:00 p.m. – Maranatha Christian (No. 1 A) vs. Staples-Motley (No. 9 AA)
3:00 p.m. – Robbinsdale Cooper (No. 10 AAAA) vs. Crookston (No. 13 AA)

The Tip Off Classic features more than 175 college prospects, including several who have already committed to D1 programs. Twenty-four teams are ranked among the top-15 in the state in our preseason polls and all four No. 1 teams (Hopkins, DeLaSalle, Providence Academy and Maranatha Christian) are at the Tip Off Classic as a start to their title defenses.

Check out these stats:

• Many potential Division I players, including Miss Basketball candidates such as Becca Dahlman (Braham), Nia Coffey (Hopkins), Savanna Trapp (Esko), Joanna Hedstrom (Minnetonka), Taylor Finley (Providence Academy) and DeLaSalle teammates Tyseanna Johnson and Allina Starr as well as superstar youngsters such as TT Starks and Nia Hollie-Jones from Hopkins, Carlie Wagner (NRHEG), Sydney Lamberty (Park), Cayla McMorris (Park Center), Ellie Thompson (Chaska), Abby Kain nd Kylie Brown from Simley, Monica Burich (Roseville) and Kenisha Bell (Bloomington Kennedy).
• At least 175 players with college basketball possibilities
• Four of our top five and 15 of our top 20 prospects in the Class of 2013
• All of the top five and eight of the top 10 prospects in the Class of 2014
• Four of the top six prospects in the Class of 2015
• Six of the top 10 prospects in the Class of 2016
• All four defending state champions (Hopkins, DeLaSalle, Providence Academy and Maranatha Christian), all of whom enter the season ranked No. 1.
• A great mix of big and small schools, as well as two powers from out-of-state: Olathe NW (KS) and Mason City (IA).

The Tip Off Classic began back in January 2004. The BREAKDOWN staff wanted to showcase teams from across the state and provide unique, competitive match-ups that might not otherwise be seen, including top-rated teams with state tournament aspiration squaring off. The experiment worked out so well that now The BREAKDOWN now hosts the No. 1 single-day classic in Minnesota.

BREAKDOWN SPORTS USA and our annual publications are Minnesota's No. 1 resource for players, coaches, fans and sports enthusiasts. We are a full-service high school sports company, offering season preview publications, in-season premier events, off-season leagues, great photography and an extensive website with news and notes.

We're in our 11th year of covering boys’ and girls’ basketball and fifth in girls’ volleyball and boys’ hockey. The goal of The BREAKDOWN is simple: We want to offer players, coaches and fans a complete sports resource and experience that they will never forget.

Please visit our website at www.BreakdownSportsUSA.com. We welcome all suggestions and comments for upcoming editions by email at tim@BreakdownSportsUSA.com.

PRESS/MEDIA INFORMATION
No press or media credentials will be accepted at the gate. If you are interested in covering the event please contact Justin Hegna at 612-454-1440 or email hegna@breakdownsportsusa.com to receive a media pass. All photography or video taken at the event is for editorial purposes only. No resale of photographs or reproduction of images will be allowed without the written consent of Breakdown Sports USA, Inc.