Minnesota State Girls Basketball Tournament Underway

Section 1 teams fared well on Wednesday during the second day of the state high school girls' basketball tournament.

Winona, the second seed in AAA defeated Grand Rapids 76-56 on Wednesday at Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota. Becker upset No. 3 seed St. Paul Como Park 62-57.

Class AAA started Tuesday with history being made in the first game. Unseeded Thief River Falls became the first team to beat a top seed in the quarterfinals since the league began seeding teams in 2007 when the Prowlers downed Hutchinson 61-59. Holy Angels topped Marshall 69-47.

The AA quarterfinals began Wednesday with top seed Plainview-Elgin-Millville beating Holy Family 59-38. The other games are Roseau against Pequot Lakes, No. 2 seed Sauk Centre playing Norwood-Young America and third seed Minnehaha Academy versus New London-Spicer.

The opening game of the AAAA tournament featured two returning state champions. Hopkins won the big school title last year. Park Center has won the past two AAA championships and moved up to AAAA this season. Hopkins won the game Tuesday morning 81-69. Last year's runner up Eastview eliminated Lakeville North 52-35 in a showdown between South Suburban teams, according to the high school league website. In the first of a pair of big upsets White Bear Lake upset No. 2 seed St. Michael-Albertville 72-69. Third seed Minnetonka handled Anoka 71-40.

The A quarterfinals are Thursday at Mariucci Arena. Top seed Goodhue opens play with Sacred Heart at 11AM on KDHL AM 920. Cromwell plays Wheaton, No. 2 seed Mountain Iron-Buhl meets Sleepy Eye and third seed Maranatha Christian faces Southwest Minnesota Christian.

Semifinals are Thursday and Friday at Williams Arena. Championships on Saturday are also at The Barn. Target Center, which hosted the boys finals last Saturday, is where the NCHC men's hockey tournament is being held.