Northland Sports Online

Girls Hoops Teams Positioning For Section Seeding

Feb 20, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO


As the 2011-2012 regular season starts to wind down, several local high school girls basketball teams find themselves jockeying for position as the section seedings will be determined this week. The sections no longer go by a point system but by a QRF rating system, which is based upon strength of schedule similar to how College Football teams are ranked.


The Barnum Bombers, who moved from Section 5A to 7A after a four year stint in Section 5A, find themselves currently seeded third in the section, but it appears they will be seeded first in the south half of the section. Section 7A, with three of the top five girls basketball teams in the state in the QRF rankings, will find it tough going as the sectional tournament approaches. Mountain Iron-Buhl who has a QRF ranking of 3rd, and Northwood’s who is rated 4th, look to be the top two seeds in the northern half of the section.


Barnum should hold on to their top seed in the south half of the section as they close out the season Monday against Carlton and Thursday versus Moose-Lake Willow River. South Ridge has finished their regular season and should be seeded 5th overall as the playoffs begin. Floodwood is seeded 5th currently and could overtake the 4th spot if McGregor falters this week.


The Carlton Bulldogs, who are currently seeded 7th in the south section, could possibly move up one spot; but they would need wins over Barnum and Wrenshall to move them into 6th. Cromwell is currently seeded 6th and closes their season at Esko on Thursday. They should hold the 6th seed unless a huge win by Carlton Monday. Wrenshall who is currently seeded 9th also has a shot to move up one spot into 8th this week; they would need a win over either Hinckley-Finlayson or Carlton to do so.


Section 7AA appears to be fairly well situated as the Eskomos move from the southern half of the section to the northern half this season when the Proctor Rails were moved to section 7AAA. The Eskomos will have the number one seed in the northern half of the section. The Eskomos close with three games this week against Eveleth-Gilbert, Cromwell, and Duluth East. The Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels are 3rd in the southern half of the section and should remain seeded there, unless Rush City would upset Isle. The Rebels close their season Thursday against the Bombers.


Section 7AAA sees the Hermantown Hawks currently seeded 2nd overall with a host of teams within striking distance this week. Chisago Lakes has wrapped up the number one seed, while North Branch, Grand Rapids and Hibbing all have chances to move up in the seedings. Duluth Denfeld is 6th, and Cloquet has a firm hold on number the 7 seed. The Proctor Rails who are in 9th also have a chance to move ahead of the 8th seeded Princeton Tigers with a win this week. Proctor is at Cloquet Thursday and Mora on Friday. Hermantown can seal their 2nd spot with a win over Grand Rapids Friday. Cloquet finishes at Duluth East on Tuesday and home Thursday versus Proctor.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com

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