Section 1 girls basketball championship games set

Mayo, Stewartville, Red Wing, and NRHEG advance to title games

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Section 1 girls basketball championship games are set, with top seeds Mayo, Stewartville, Red Wing, and NRHEG all advancing to the finals. The matchups include Mayo vs. Lakeville North, Stewartville vs. Byron, Red Wing vs. Lourdes, and NRHEG vs. Hayfield/Schaeffer Academy.

Why it matters

These championship games will determine which teams advance to the state tournament, a highly anticipated event for girls basketball fans across Minnesota. The outcomes could also impact recruiting and college prospects for some of the top players involved.

The details

In the Class 4A matchup, top-seeded Mayo (27-1, ranked 5th) will face off against No. 3 seed Lakeville North (15-13, unranked). The teams met earlier this season, with Mayo winning 60-50. In Class 3A, No. 1 Stewartville (26-1, ranked 2nd) will take on No. 2 Byron (21-7, unranked). Stewartville won their previous meeting this year 82-51. The Class 2A final features No. 1 Red Wing (25-4, ranked 3rd) against No. 2 Lourdes (23-6, ranked 6th), with Red Wing having won their only regular season matchup 68-57. Finally, in Class 1A, top-seeded NRHEG (26-3, ranked 5th) will face No. 2 Hayfield/Schaeffer Academy (22-7, unranked), after NRHEG won both regular season meetings.

  • The championship games will be played on Thursday, March 4, 2026.
  • The Class 4A game between Mayo and Lakeville North tips off at 6 p.m.
  • The Class 3A game between Stewartville and Byron follows at 8 p.m.
  • The Class 2A game between Red Wing and Lourdes also tips off at 8 p.m.
  • The Class 1A game between NRHEG and Hayfield/Schaeffer Academy starts at 5:30 p.m.

The players

Maggie Dyer

A sophomore forward for Mayo who scored 17 points in their regular season win over Lakeville North.

Amelia Mills

A sophomore guard for Mayo who scored 11 points in their regular season win over Lakeville North.

Audrey Shindelar

The 2023 Post Bulletin All-Area Player of the Year and a senior at Stewartville who averages 23 points per game.

Jayci Rath

A 6-foot-1 senior forward at Stewartville who averages 12.5 points and 7 rebounds per game.

Izzy Guetzlaff

A Northern State University commit and the top player for Red Wing, averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals per game.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The winners of Thursday's championship games will advance to the state tournament, which begins next week.

The takeaway

These section finals feature some of the top girls basketball talent in Minnesota, with several players already committed to play at the college level. The outcomes will determine which teams and players get to showcase their skills on the state's biggest stage.