Youth Basketball: Five area teams in state championships
Five teams from four area communities will participate in the Pacesetter Minnesota Youth Basketball State Championships for grades 5-6 on Sunday in Clemens Field House at the College of St. Benedict. The championship games in all four tournaments begin at 7:05 p.m. Sunday, and all games are open to the public.
Teams qualified by winning championships in eight regions of Minnesota in March and April. Each of the four grade/gender level tournaments features the eight regional champions in an eight-team bracket.
The girls 5th grade state championship field includes Willmar, which will open the tournament against Cloquet at 9:55 a.m.
The 5th grade boys field includes New London-Spicer facing Minneapolis at 9 a.m.
And the 6th grade boys field includes: Minnewaska playing St. Paul at 9 a.m.; Willmar playing Cass Lake at 9:55 a.m.; and Morris playing Marshall at 10:50 a.m.
The Minnesota state champion and runner-up team at each level will be invited to play in the Pacesetter Great Four-State Championship at the Target Center in Minneapolis against the top two teams from Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. The 6th grade "Great State" tournament is Saturday, Aug. 18, and the 5th grade Great State tournament is Sunday, Aug. 19. The Pacesetter Great Four-State tournament are held in conjunction with Minnesota Lynx games so the Pacesetter players can attend the games and participate in special fan experiences.
