Girls basketball: WCA upsets Minnewaska to begin playoffs; other area teams' assignments announced

The West Central Area girls basketball team began the Section 3AA playoffs with a 74-59 upset over Minnewaska on the road on Saturday. WCA (10-13) is the No. 6 seed in the 3AA-North, while Minnewaska (12-12) was the No. 3 seed.

WCA was led by Claire Stark’s double-double, 19 points and 12 rebounds. She crossed the 1,000 career point threshold in the game.

Macy Grosz had 22 points for the Knights. Mya Foslien nearly had a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.

Lauryn Ankeny led the Minnewaska offense with 17 points while Sydneny Dahl added 14.

WCA plays the No. 2 seed Montevideo (20-3, 10-1 Section 3AA) in the section quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Willmar.

WCA PLAYER STATS - Jayden Styba - 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 deflections, 1 block; Izzy Puchalski - 1 rebound; Nora Anderson - 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 deflections, 3 steals; Sydney Ulrich - 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 deflections; Mya Foslien - 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks; Madison Fagre - 1 assist; Claire Stark - 19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks; Macy Grosz - 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 deflections, 2 steals; Addison Staples - 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block

MINNEWASKA PLAYER STATS - Addy Kaith - 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 deflection, 1 steal, 1 block; Jayda Kolstoe - 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 deflection, 1 steal, 1 block; Avery Fier - 3 rebounds; Alia Randt - 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 deflections, 4 steals; Leslie Murken - 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 deflections, 2 steals; Megan Thorfinnson - 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 deflections, 1 steal; Sydney Dahl - 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 deflections, 4 steals, 1 block; Lauryn Ankeny - 17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 6 deflections, 5 steals, Brooke Kolstoe - 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 deflections, 2 steals

The Alexandria Cardinals (22-4, 7-1 Section 8AAA) have won 18 of their last 19 games and have earned the No. 1 seed in the Section 8AAA playoffs.

Alexandria plays the winner of Thursday’s game between the No. 5 seed Rocori (6-19, 3-5 Section 8AAA) or the No. 4 seed Willmar (10-16, 1-6 Section 8AAA) in the semifinals on Saturday, March 4, in Alexandria at 3 p.m.

Detroit Lakes (22-4, 5-1 Section 8AAA, the defending section champion, is the No. 2 seed and will play either the No. 6 seed Little Falls (8-18, 0-3 Section 8AAA) or the No. 3 seed Sauk Rapids-Rice (16-10, 4-4 Section 8AAA) on Saturday.

The Osakis Silverstreaks have an 11-13 (1-5, Section 6AA) record and play on the road against the No. 5 seed Kimball (16-8, 7-3 Section 6AA) at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Kimball beat Osakis 49-40 on Feb. 7.

The winner of that game plays either the No. 13 seed Rush City (10-13, 1-7 Section 6AA) or the No. 4 seed Pine City (20-6, 5-2 Section 6AA) at St. John’s University on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the section quarterfinals.

Osakis plays at Pillager (12-13) at 7:30 p.m. on Monday to round out the regular season.

The Ashby Arrows are the No. 8 seed in Section 6A-South and host the No. 9 seed Benson (3-9, 1-3 Section 6A) on Monday at 7 p.m.

Ashby picked up a 39-35 win over Benson on Jan. 6, 2023.

The winner of Monday’s game plays the top seed in the subsection, Hancock (20-4, 18-1 Section 6A), on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Brandon-Evansville Chargers (9-17, 6-14 Section 6A) are the No. 6 seed in Section 6A -South and play on the road on Thursday at 7 p.m. against the No. 3 seed Wheaton-Herman-Norcross (13-11, 12-7 Section 6A).

W-H-N beat B-E 81-51 on Jan. 10 and 63-50 on Feb. 9.

The winner of this game plays either the No. 7 seed Ortonville (1-24, 1-6 Section 6A) or the No. 2 seed Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (19-6, 3-0 Section 6A) on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. at Minnewaska.

The Parkers Prairie Panthers (11-15, 7-12 Section 6A) are the No. 5 seed in the Section 6A-South and play at the No. 4 seed Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (10-11, 6-8 Section 6A) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

CGB beat Parkers Prairie 66-53 on Jan. 10.

The winner of the CGB/Parkers Prairie game plays in the section quarterfinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Minnewaska High School against either Hancock, Ashby, or Benson.