Hopkins Announces Strongest Field Yet For Third Dick’s Sporting Goods Classic

The third annual Dick's Sporting Goods Holiday Classic will feature three outstanding days of girls basketball, featuring two-time defending State Champion St. Paul Central, perennial power Minneapolis South, and a young and hungry Hopkins team eager to show that they belong back in the state tournament.         The 2009 field included 6 of the pre-season top 10 teams in the state, making this possibly the strongest grouping of girls high school basketball ever assembled in the state of Minnesota.  Tournament Director Barry Cosgriff feels that the quality of this tournament will be difficult to match in the years to come.  "We have the past three state championship teams in Central and Hopkins, and the runner up the past two years in South.  There are no fewer than 20 future Division I players who will be in the tournament, and we feel that there is no stronger group of teams playing anywhere this winter."         Five of the 2009 Dick's Sporting Goods Holiday Classic teams were in the 2008 AAAA State Tournament, including the top three in Central, South, and Eastview.  Osseo and Grand Rapids also participated in the State Tournament.         In its first two years, the Dick's Sporting Goods Holiday Classic has established itself as the premier girls high school tournament in Minnesota.  Over 25 players who have participated have gone on to play Division I basketball in such conferences as the Big Ten, Big Twelve, the Horizon League, the Ivy League, the Missouri Valley Conference and others.  This year's group of seniors includes Theairra Taylor (Iowa), Kara Elofson (Binghamton), Carly Rothfusz (North Dakota), and Tayler Hill (uncommitted).  There are also many highly recruited underclassmen, led by Hopkins Junior Hana Potter, Burnsville Junior Molly Duehn, and South Junior Tyisha Smith.  Says Cosgriff, "I think that potentially there are at least 20 girls who will play this holiday at the Lindbergh Center that will eventually play major college basketball.  We are excited to see this group of players come together for this event."         For the second year every varsity game will be podcast on communityhoops.com, one of the most highly regarded upper Midwest basketball websites.  Games will be posted on ITunes at the end of each day. Games kick off Monday afternoon with the following match-ups:                   2:00  Osseo  (3-1, Northwest Suburban Conference)                                 vs.                                   Burnsville (3-3, Lake Conference)                   4:00  Minneapolis South (4-2, Minneapolis City Conference)                                 vs.                 Easview  (4-1, Lake Conference)                  6:00   St. Paul Central (5-1, St. Paul City Conference)                                 vs.                 Eden Prairie  (3-2, Lake Conference)                  8:00   Grand Rapids  (3-0, Independent)                                 vs.                 Hopkins  (9-0, Classic Lake Conference)         Second round games will be held Tuesday December 30 beginning with consolation games at 2:00 and semi-final games beginning at 6:00.         Final round games will be held Wednesday December 31 with the Championship game tipping off at 6:00. Defending Champion and host Hopkins is hoping to repeat their championship performance, but clearly has their eyes set on this spring.  "It was great to win the tournament last year, but our goal is to make a return trip to the Target Center for the State Tournament", says Hopkins head coach Brian Cosgriff.  "This field is as tough as any tournament around, and the champion will have a lot to feel good about, but for every team, the goal is to win in March.  We just want to come and play hard three straight days and feel privileged to play against such quality teams.  This tournament will be a real test for all the teams that are playing."  Hopkins is currently 9-0 and rated # 2 in the latest AP poll.  They currently are rated #20 in the latest USA Today national poll. Hopkins basketball would like to thank Dick's Sporting Goods for their continued sponsorship of the Dick's Sporting Goods Holiday Classic.  Their generosity has made this event one of the premier high school tournaments in the upper Midwest.  "Dick's Sporting Goods has been such an important part of the success that we have had in the first two years," says Cosgriff.  "Their sponsorship allows us to add many things to the tournament that we feel make it a great event.  Dick's Sporting Goods is certainly the store of choice for Hopkins athletes and we are honored that they continue to be our sole sponsor." Again this year we will provide a hospitality room for all media members, officials, and coaches.  We want to make sure that you know that you are an important part of the success of the Dick's Sporting Goods Holiday Classic and that you are welcome to take a few minutes to have a meal on us.  Tournament Website: http://www.hopkinsgirlsbasketball.com/index_files/WinterTournament.htm