The biggest basketball game in Minnesota Thursday night was between Hopkins and Wayzata and four Timberwolves players showed up to see the top girls teams play.
Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Josh Okogie and James Johnson all sat at center court to see undefeated Hopkins, led by super recruit Paige Bueckers, advance to next week’s state tournament with a 86-76 win over rival Wayzata.
“That was cool,” Bueckers said, via MN Girls’ Basketball Hub.com. “I got told before the game they would be here and for them to actually show up was pretty cool.”
Minnesota love 🙏@KarlTowns and @Dloading pulled up to @paigebueckers1's game to show support 🙌 (via @overtime) pic.twitter.com/9X5SdfJdNm
— espnW (@espnW) March 6, 2020
Bueckers, the No. 1 recruit in the nation who is headed to the University of Connecticut after high school, scored 33 points as Hopkins improved to 28-0 this season and extended its winning streak to 60 games.
“She’s different..sheeshhhh,” tweeted Towns, while Russell tweeted that he’ll need a Bueckers jersey the next time he sees her.
popcorn ready for the @paigebueckers1 show (📸: @brilewerke) pic.twitter.com/JhlkN4BBIC
— LeagueFits (@leaguefits) March 6, 2020
Teams to clinch a berth in the state tournament:
Class 4A: Lakeville North, Stillwater, Park Center, Cambridge-Isanti, Hopkins, St. Michael-Albertville
Class 3A: Waconia, Simley, DeLaSalle, Becker, Holy Angels, Hermantown, Alexandria
Class 2A: Rochester Lourdes
Class 1A: Fillmore Central, Cromwell
The majority of section title games in 1A and 2A are Friday night, in addition to a pair of 4A championships and one section final in 3A. The state tournament brackets will be released Saturday.
