3A story lines

 

1Islanders’ three-peat?

Until 2011, DeLaSalle never had won a state team championship in any girls’ sport. Now it’s poised to become just the second team to win three consecutive Class 3A state titles since the MSHSL went to the four-class format. With Division I talents in guards Tyseanna Johnson (Iowa State) and Allina Starr (Auburn), the second-seeded Islanders routed Park Center 80-48 in the Section 3 championship game. The last 3A team to win three in a row? Minneapolis North, from 2003 through 2005, coached by now DeLaSalle coach Faith Johnson Patterson.

 

2Rivalry redux?

Red Wing and New Prague are not just quarterfinal foes, they are fierce Missota Conference rivals. Red Wing won both meetings this year, 61-51 at New Prague in early January and 57-48 at Red Wing a month later. Yet New Prague earned the No. 4 seed while Red Wing received the No. 5 seed. Expect this game to be more personal than just about a semifinals berth.

 

3Richfield’s second chance:

The Spartans and their fans reveled in their first state tournament appearance last year, chartering multiple fan buses and bringing hordes of fans to the Target Center for the championship game against DeLaSalle. The Spartans lost but return under first-year head coach Scott Stadem. Star guard Jessica January, the team’s heart and soul, is determined to show that Richfield deserves its No. 1 seed.

Jim Paulsen