3A STORY LINES

1 DEFENDING CHAMPS AS SLEEPER?

The QRF ranking system can be a helpful resource, but if it had been used exclusively for seeding the tournament, defending state champion DeLaSalle (25-3) would have come out as low as sixth in the eight-team field. Sixth? With four starters back from a squad that won its three state tournament games by 24, 9 and 20 points a year ago? If you're a QRF devotee, the Islanders are your Class 3A sleeper (Ha!).

2 UPSET SPECIAL IN THE FIELD

Keep a close eye on Lindsay Whalen's alma mater, Hutchinson. The unseeded Tigers went 25-3 and have a senior- dominated team. They meet fourth-seeded Hill-Murray in the opening round. They have played one common opponent: Marshall, which lost to Hutchinson 76-60 in the Section 2 tournament and defeated Hill-Murray 83-66.

3 BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINE ON STARS

The lights at Williams Arena and Target Center will shine brightly on the individual talent in Class 3A. There is plenty of Division I talent in DeLaSalle junior forward Tyseanna Johnson and junior guard Allina Starr (verbal to Georgetown), Chisago Lakes senior guard Whitney Tinjum (Washington State), Hill-Murray senior guard Tessa Cichy (undecided), Red Wing junior guard Tesha Buck (verbal to Wisconsin-Green Bay) and Richfield junior guard Jessica January.

RON HAGGSTROM