Minnetonka Girls Basketball Families:

Given current events, we want to provide an early update on planning for the 2020-21 Girls Travel Basketball season.  With basketball tournaments resuming in Minnesota in July, we are hopeful and planning for a regular travel basketball schedule this year; however, we know this season will require all of us to be adaptive and flexible as circumstances dictate.  Below are some important updates as we all plan for the season. 

Key Dates

While we are hopeful to follow a similar calendar to prior years, we need to wait for the Governor’s decision on school in the fall before we can confirm anything.  We are currently planning to open registration around August 15th.  If we are allowed to follow our historical calendar, we would hold tryouts from September 12th to 17th, release teams on September 19th and begin team practices on September 28th. 

No Gate Fee Model

In recent years, some communities have adopted a no gate fee model where there is no individual charge for spectators on tournament weekend.  Virus concerns are accelerating this trend as the model allows you to avoid the exchanging of money and limits your need for volunteers.  Minnetonka along with many other communities will be adopting that model this year. 

To account for the lost revenue, leagues are required to raise tournament fees as well as up front player fees.  While those increases should be neutral to families given the money saved not paying gate fees, we recognize the difficulty in increasing up front costs especially in the current economic environment.  As a result, Minnetonka will phase in any increases and will budget to operate at a deficit this season spending down cash reserves to minimize the impact.  The net result is we do expect a modest increase in registration fees, but the overall cost this season will hopefully be lower not higher when we account for the lower gate fees.  It is hard to know for certain as not every community is adopting this model, and you should still expect to pay a gate fee at some tournaments. 

As always, no player will be turned away for inability to pay and scholarships are available to those that have a financial need.  At registration, we will provide an opportunity to families that are able to make a tax deductible donation to fund our scholarship program as we expect the need to be greater this season. 

Refund Policy

If our season is interrupted due to virus concerns and restrictions, we will of course look to refund as much as we are able to.  Please note; however, that we intend to be flexible and provide as much of a normal travel basketball experience as is safely allowed.  If large weekend tournaments are restricted, we could possibly adapt by providing more small group training, or shift to a league game structure, or consider any number of options.  Our guiding principle will be to offer as much basketball as we safely can both to provide our players with a great youth athletic experience as well as help them improve as basketball players. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.  Thank you.

MGBA Board

The Summer Challenge starts on 5/1  Have you registered yet?  Below is the current list.  Numbers will be updated weekly.  

What an amazing season!  We had a lot of success throughout the season, and we had some great results at State.  

We are so proud of the girls, the coaches, and the parents and how they represented Tonka Girls Basketball and Minnetonka as a Community.  Please send photos - I’m guessing there are more.  Here are a few from the weekend!

Congrats to all the teams this past weekend!  You make Minnetonka proud!!  A speciall call-out to the teams below:

4Blue - 3rd Place

5Blue - CHAMPS!

6White - 3rd Place

6Black - 3rd Place

8White - 2nd Place

Congrats to all the teams that participated in Edina's tournament last weekend.  You make Tonka Hoops proud!!

A special "shout out" to:

6 White - 2nd Place

7 White - 3rd Place

Eastview Tourney Results:

5Black - 2nd Place

7White - 2nd Place

7Black - 3rd Place

STMA Shootout Classic Results:

5White - 2nd Place

6White - 2nd Place

6Black - Consolation Champs

8Black - 4th Place

8White - 2nd Place

Elk River Results:

5Blue: Free Throw Champs / 2nd Place Tourney

5White: Champs!

5Black: Champs!

7White: 2nd Place

7Black: Consolation Champs

8White: 2nd Place

Wayzata Classic:

7Blue: Consolation Champs!

7Gray: Champs!

8Black: Champs!

What an exciting weekend of basketball!  It was yet another successful tournament...definitely one of the showcase tournaments in the metro with snow globes on the line!  Congrats to all of the teams who participated.  A special congrats to the following teams:

4Blue - 4th Place

4White - 4th Place

5Blue - 3rd Place

6White - 2nd Place

6Black - 2nd Place

7White - 4th Place

7Gray - CHAMPS!!!

8Blue - 4th Place

8White - Consolation Champs

8Black - 3rd Place

The RCYBA Early Bird Classic didn't disappoint!  It's such a great time watching the girls play the game they love and getting to know families even better!  Here are some of the results!

4 Blue - 2nd Place

4 White - 4th Place

5 Blue - 4th Place

5 White - 5th Place

6 Blue - 3rd Place

6 White - 3rd Place

7 Blue - 3rd Place (see picture above)

7 Black - 2nd Place

8 Blue - 2nd Place

8 Black - 4th Place

Congratulations to all the teams that participated in tournaments over the past few weekends.  A special "call out" to the teams below for their results in the tournaments!

Eden Prairie Tournament:

4Blue - 2nd Place

5White - 3rd Place

8Black - 5th Place

Osseo-Maple Grove Tournament:

4White - 5th Place

6Blue - Consolation Champs!

Prior Lake Tournament:

7Blue - Consolation Champs

7Gray - Champs!!!

8Blue - 3rd Place

8 White - 5th Place

Thank you to all who participated in this year's Empower Leadership Academy!  The girls had a fantastic time and learned a lot about each other and themselves.  

Can't wait to see how it carries through the season!  

Share them with us!  Please send them to tswendseid@yahoo.com.