1. Adams stands alone

Coaches of seven of the field’s eight teams reported at least one player who surpassed 1,000 career points. A fun coincidence saw Hutchinson senior forward Erin Corrigan and junior guard Tori Wortz reach the milestone in the same game this season. When talking points, however, St. Paul Como Park senior guard Andrayah Adams dominates the conversation. Adams, who will play at St. John’s University (N.Y.), has more than 3,000 career points and led the Cougars to their first state tournament appearance. She averages 25.1 points per game this season and went to another level in the playoffs. Adams dropped 34 points on Hill-Murray and 35 on DeLaSalle.

2. New champion assured

Two-time defending champion Park Center moved up to Class 4A, leaving a throne for the taking. No. 1 seed Hutchinson has not reached the title game in five previous tournaments. Programs hoping to add to the trophy case are No. 5 seed Holy Angels of Richfield (1975), Marshall (2001, 2002) and Becker (2007). No. 4 seed Marshall, led by seniors Marah Mulso and Lexi Saugstad, is motivated after placing second the past two years.

3. Favorable matchups

Hutchinson is positioned for a deep tournament run. The Tigers must tame Thief River Falls and Ms. Basketball finalist Meleah Biermaier in the quarterfinals. If successful, they would play Marshall or Holy Angels, teams they defeated four days apart in early December. A late surge allowed Hutchinson to upset top-ranked Orono in the Section 6 final and advance to the girls’ basketball state tournament for the first time since 2012.

DAVID LA VAQUE