high schools

Brianna Mastey of Becker

Star Tribune file photos

1 Can St. Paul Central repeat as Class 4A champion?

Angel Robinson, a supremely skilled point guard who made Central go, is now in the starting lineup at Marquette. But the Minutemaids have plenty of talent returning, including future Gopher Kiara Buford and Georgie Jones, who has signed with Marquette, as well as junior Theairra Taylor.

2 HILL -- YET AGAIN

Minneapolis South's Tayler Hill is a three-time Star Tribune All-Metro first-team selection, and she still has two more high school seasons remaining before she makes some college coach very, very happy. Hill and teammate Ephesia Holmes, who will play Division I basketball at the University of Buffalo, hope to take the Tigers back to the state tournament. They finished second to St. Paul Central last year.

3 SISTER ACT

Becker is the favorite to repeat as Class 3A champion. The Bulldogs, who were top-ranked in 3A and top-seeded at state, defeated DeLaSalle 41-39 in the championship game. Plenty of talent returns for Becker, including Gopher-bound twins Brianna and Nicole Mastey. Games to watch: Minneapolis South at Becker on Dec. 7 and Becker at Hopkins on Dec. 14.

4 HOPKINS LOADED AGAIN

Hopkins had a five-year streak of state tournament appearances, including Class 4A championships in 2004 and 2006, interrupted when the Royals lost to Edina last year in section play. Returning for Hopkins are three seniors who have signed Division I letters of intent: Steph Sension with Air Force, Caitlin Rowland with Harvard and Hanna Muegge with Bradley. Among Hopkins graduates who signed with Division I schools in recent years are Leslie Knight and Jordan Barnes, Gophers; Jackie Hiebert, Ohio; Jillian Schurle, Princeton; Abby Greene, Maine; and Kaitlyn Lillemoe, Yale.

5 STAYING IN-STATE

Four in-state seniors have signed with the Gophers, and three younger players have made verbal commitments. The signees are the Mastey twins from Becker, St. Paul Central's Buford and Park's Jackie Voigt. Giving verbal commitments to the Gophers are juniors Amber Dvorak (6-6) of Hinckley and Katie Loberg (6-4) of Princeton and sophomore point guard Shakila Boler of Bloomington Kennedy.

JOHN MILLEA