Girls Basketball State Tournament 2024: Class A quarterfinals

While semifinal games were being played at Williams Arena on Thursday, March 14, the Class A quarterfinals began at the adjacent Maturi Pavilion. When the quarterfinals were completed, the top four seeds prevailed and will move on to play in Friday’s semifinals. Top-seeded Goodhue opens with No. 4 Underwood at noon at Williams Arena and No. 2 Mountain Iron-Buhl takes on No. 3 Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart at approximately 2 p.m.

Here is a look at Thursday’s Class A quarterfinals:

• No. 1 Goodhue 65, Mayer Lutheran 38: Senior guard Elizabeth Gadient and junior forward Kendyl Lodermeier combined to scored 18 points in the first half to send the top-seeded Wildcats (26-5) to an opening round victory over Mayer Lutheran. Gadient finished with 19 points, as did sophomore guard Natalie Thomforde. Lodermeier mirrored 11 points with 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Izabelle Keaveny and senior forward Danica Martin had 10 points each for the Crusaders (19-11). Martin also had 15 rebounds, including 13 on the defensive end.
• No. 4 Underwood 64, No. 5 Southwest Minnesota Christian 52: Underwood made 11 of 23 three-point shots, including one each by junior guard Kallyn Grove and ninth-grader Trinity Baker in the final minutes to seal the victory by the Rockets (28-3). Southwest Minnesota Christian (28-3) made just three three-pointers on 16 attempts. Senior forward Jocelyn Barron had 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Eagles.
• No. 2 Mountain Iron-Buhl 71, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 36: The defending Class A champion used a pressure defense and an offense that got on track early in qualifying for the semifinals. Senior guard Jordyn Zubich, a University of North Carolina recruit, finished with 20 points and seven assists. Ninth-grade guard Anna Neyens added 18 points for the Rangers (28-3). Junior forward Ava Welk had 13 points for the Wolves (24-7).
• No. 3 Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 72, Fosston 35: Senior guards and twin sisters Rachel and Kristi Kottke combined for 10 points in the game’s first 10 minutes to set the tone in a victory over Fosston in the final Class A quarterfinal. Rachel Kottke finished with 21 points and seven rebounds for the Mustangs (28-3) while sophomore guard Lily Hubin netted 16. Kristi Kottke finished with 12 points and 11 assists. Fosston (29-3), making its first state tournament appearance since 2006, was led by 13 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore forward Lexi Mahlen.