Bethlehem Academy Start Playoffs on Road Tuesday
The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals girls basketball team participates in one of the three play-in games Tuesday in the Section 1 Class A Tournament. The Cardinals received the #19 seed and travel to #14 Mabel-Canton for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. The other play-in games are #18 Lanesboro at #15 Leroy-Ostrander and #17 Schaeffer Academy at #16 Rushford-Peterson.
The first round begins Thursday at the high seed before the scene shifts to the Rochester Mayo Civic Center for the Quarterfinals through the title game scheduled for March 7. The winner in the BA game goes to #3 seed Hayfield Thursday night.
Grand Meadow received the top seed and Goodhue is #2. Defending State Class A Champion Lyle/Pacelli is the #4 seed and hosts #13 Wabasha-Kellogg Thursday in defense of their Section crown. #5 seed Fillmore Central has #12 Southland come to their school. #11 Spring Grove heads to #6 Kingsland in Spring Valley.
#7 Houston entertains #10 Alden-Conger. #9 Randolph goes to #8 Blooming Prairie.
Bethlehem Academy enters the new season after a 1-22 regular season. Mabel-Canton was 7-18 during the regular season. The Cardinals have the lowest scoring average in the section, 34.8 and allowed the second most points per game, 61.8.
The Cougars have also struggled to score averaging 43.8 but defend pretty well allowing 50.5 points per game.
Six teams in the section allowed less than 50 points per game. Grand Meadow and Goodhue 42.8, Lyle/Pacelli 43.8, Hayfield 45.0, Blooming Prairie 48.0 and Randolph 49.9.
Three teams averaged over 60 points on offense during the regular season. Grand Meadow 64.1, Houston 61.3 and Alden Conger/Glenville-Emmons 65.2.