This could very well be a state tournament preview, as No. 5-1A Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa visits No. 1-1A Minneota in a battle between two of the top teams in Class 1A.
The Vikings (8-0) are effectively the reigning state champions — winning in 2019 and reaching the semifinals as the top seed in 2020 before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Minneota senior guard Abby Hennen (19.0 ppg) may be the toughest matchup in Class 1A, with her point guard skills and length. She's the defending All-Camden South Conference MVP and a possible Miss Basketball candidate, and along with second-leading scorer Natalee Rolbiecki (15.7 ppg), is one of four returning starters for the loaded Vikings.
The Jaguars (8-0) returned two starters and several top reserve players from last year's state tournament run — the program's first visit to state. Lanky senior post Allisa Knight is the key cog inside, as the Minnesota State Moorhead commit leads the team in scoring and rebounding.
These are two of the top defensive teams in all of the small-school class as well. Minneota is giving up just 37.4 points a game and has allowed just one opponent more than 50 points in a contest. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa is limiting teams to only 30.1 points per game, and none have cracked 50 points in a contest so far.