A strong field highlights State AA

BISMARCK – It’s down to this! The Division AA (formerly known as Class A) state tournament gets underway on Thursday, March 7 at the Bismarck Event Center with quarterfinal play. The tournament will feature 11 games over three days. Two loser-out and two semifinals are on Friday, March 8 with the fifth place, third place and championship games on Saturday, March 9. As custom, the field includes four teams from the Western Dakota Association and four from the Eastern Dakota Conference.

Best from the West: WDA regular season champion Minot High claimed its second consecutive West Region Tournament crown. The Majettes won the tournament final against No. 3 seed Bismarck Legacy. No. 2 Bismarck High and No. 6 Bismarck St. Mary’s also qualified.

Beasts from the East:: EDC regular season champion and defending state champion Grand Forks Red River captured the East Region Tournament title. The Roughriders topped No. 3 West Fargo Horace. It was the Hawks’ first appearance in the region championship. No. 2 Fargo Davies and No. 4 West Fargo Sheyenne also qualified.

The Contenders: It starts with defending state champion G.F. Red River. The Roughriders enter the tournament on a 17-game winning streak and an experienced lineup. GFRR’s two losses have come against WDA foes. Minot High handed G.F. Red River one of its two losses. Minot High, meanwhile, has won its last 15 games and also has just two losses. Both coming to Minnesota opponents. Minot High, like G.F. Red River boasts a talented lineup that has played on the big stage. Fargo Davies was EDC runner-up in EDC play and has 20 victories. Three of its losses have come to G.F. Red River and Minot High. Bismarck Legacy has built a nice resume with victories over G.F. Red River, Bismarck High and WF Sheyenne. The program has reached the state tournament in every season it has had a varsity program (9). West Fargo Horace is making its tournament debut, but this team is not going to be satisfied with just participating. The Hawks have turned in an impressive year which included nearly knocking off G.F. Red River in the East Region title game. Horace has won 19 games.

Team records: (1E) G.F. Red River, 22-2; (1W) Minot High, 22-2; (2E) West Fargo Horace, 19-5; (2W) Bismarck Legacy, 18-6; (3E) Fargo Davies, 20-4; (3W) Bismarck High, 17-7; (4E) WF Sheyenne, 14-10; (4W) Bismarck St. Mary's, 12-12

TV/Web coverage: WDAY-TV is televising and live video web streaming tournament games (check the NDHSAA website for more viewing details)…Tournament games will be carried either through streaming of live TV by WDAY.

Free throws: The WDA posted a 20-7 record against EDC teams this past season…G.F. Red River’s state title last year was the school’s second, and first since 1988…West Fargo Horace is making its first state tournament appearance…The last time Bismarck Century did not qualify for the state tournament was 2001…There are five players in the tournament that average 20 or more points per game (Jocelyn Schiller, G.F. Red River; Jaiden Haile, WF Horace; Brenna Dick, WF Sheyenne; Leelee Bell, Minot High

By the numbers

9: Consecutive state tournament appearances by Bismarck Legacy

3: Number of teams entering this week with 20 or more wins

11: Consecutive years at least one WDA teams has reached the championship game

15.7: Number of rebounds WF Horace’s Jaiden Haile averages per game

17: Current win streak by G.F. Red River

119: Points scored by Minot High vs Dickinson (a program record)

2,000+: Points G.F. Red River standout Jocelyn Schiller has amassed in her career

Note: Complete team capsules and statistics can be found on the AA state tournament website which is linked on the Home Page

Photo: Bismarck High's Paige Breuer and Cambrie Fischer (15) and Minot's Karew Lamoureux (24)