Add another trophy to the bulging case at Lindbergh Center after Kerwin Walton scored 17 points and Dane Zimmer got 21 rebounds to lead the Hopkins Royals to a 55-40 win over the Lakeville North Panthers in the Class AAAA championship game Saturday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.
It was the 10th state title for the Royals in 22 state tournament appearances and the second by a Hopkins basketball team in a week. Last Saturday, the Hopkins girls basketball team took home the Class AAAA title trophy with a victory over the Stillwater Ponies.
Both teams were frigid from the field early in the first half. Zeke Nnaji, who will play next season in Arizona, put the Royals on the board wih a pair of free throws 1:19 into the game. He would hit two more to put the Royals on a 4-0 run. Eli Mostaert would begin the Panthers scoring on a layup with 14:49 left in the first half. Tyler Wall would tally to tie the game at four. Both teams would hit a shot from Marquette Ave. Walton would connect for Hopkins and Jack Rusch for Lakeville North. Rush would also be the recipient of a Will Mostaert assist that would put the Panthers ahead. The lead would be short lived as Nnaji would hit a three pointer. Nnaji would make an outstanding inside pass that would result in a basket for Jalen Treml. Andy Stafford would hit a three pointer to spark a 5-0 run. Walton and Nnjai would also hit three pointers and Lakeville North would end the half on a 4-0 run that would cut the Hopkins halftime lead to 24-17.
The Panthers would come close to the Royals in the second half as Tommy Jensen would score first :59 into the half followed by a three pointer from Tate Staloch. Wall would tie the game and put Lakeville North ahead on Jensen's alley oop pass for a dunk. Nnaji would even the score at 26 and Stafford's jumper put the Royals back in the lead. The lead would increase as the Royals would put the Panthers away with a 12-0 run. Wall would be a bright spot for the Panthers in the second half by scoring five straight points. The Lakeville North defense would attempt to keep Hopkins from taking off the clock by committing fouls that would send the Royals to the free throw line and they would go 13-23 from the line in the second half and 20-31 for the game.
Other Hopkins players in double figures were Nnaji with 14 points and eight assists followed by Stafford adding 10. Wall was the leading scorer for Lakeville North with 19 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots. Jack Rusch added 10 points for the Panthers.
The Royals conclude the season with a record of 27-4 and the Panthers end the year 27-5.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, the top seeded Park Center Pirates got 15 points from Khari Broadway and Tommy Chatman that led them to a 61-59 win over the East Ridge Raptors.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Saturday, March 23, 2019
DeLaSalle Islanders Back in Championship Saddle Again
The DeLaSalle Islanders returned to state title form Saturday night as Jamison Battle scored a game high 26 points to lead them to a 63-56 win over the Waseca Bluejays in the Class AAA championship game Saturday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.
It was the 12th state title for the Minneapolis based school in 24 state tournament appearance and the seventh in the last eight years.
Tyrell Terry's free throw began the scoring for the Islanders 1:06 into the game. Ryan Dufault's shot put the Bluejays ahead before Battle helped DeLaSalle regain the lead with a three point play. Andrew Irvin would force a Malik Willingham turnover and convert it into two points. Jalen Travis, brother of former Islander and current Kentucky Wildcat Reid Travis would spark an 8-0 Islander run. Waseca would get five consecutive points from 6'8" sophomore center Andrew Morgan. Ryan Dufault would inch Waseca close to the lead as he would score to cut the lead to one. But Battle would put DeLaSalle up by three. Morgan would get an inside pass from Malik Willingham and score. Kyreese Willingham would foul Terry on a shot attempt from 5th St. and Terry would go to the line for three shots with :01.1 left in the half. Terry would sink all three free throws and the Islanders led 25-21 at halftime.
Travis would score four consecutive points to open the second half for DeLaSalle. Terry would also tally before Malik Willingahm hit a three pointer for Waseca. Terry would also score four straight points and display outstanding passing that would earn him 10 assists on the night. The Bluejays would get close to the Islanders as Morgan scored four straight points and Matt Olsem would score off a steal. Olsem would also have a four point run though Waseca could not surpass the top seeded Islanders.
In addition to his 10 assists, Terry would score 19 points for DeLaSalle. Travis added 10. Malik Willingham would lead Waseca with 21 points and eight assists. Morgan scored 19.
The Islanders ended their season with a record of 27-5 and Waseca finished 30-2.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Medi obang went out with a bang, scoring a game high 38 points to lead the Austin Packers to a n 88-76 win over the Princeton Tigers.
It was the 12th state title for the Minneapolis based school in 24 state tournament appearance and the seventh in the last eight years.
Tyrell Terry's free throw began the scoring for the Islanders 1:06 into the game. Ryan Dufault's shot put the Bluejays ahead before Battle helped DeLaSalle regain the lead with a three point play. Andrew Irvin would force a Malik Willingham turnover and convert it into two points. Jalen Travis, brother of former Islander and current Kentucky Wildcat Reid Travis would spark an 8-0 Islander run. Waseca would get five consecutive points from 6'8" sophomore center Andrew Morgan. Ryan Dufault would inch Waseca close to the lead as he would score to cut the lead to one. But Battle would put DeLaSalle up by three. Morgan would get an inside pass from Malik Willingham and score. Kyreese Willingham would foul Terry on a shot attempt from 5th St. and Terry would go to the line for three shots with :01.1 left in the half. Terry would sink all three free throws and the Islanders led 25-21 at halftime.
Travis would score four consecutive points to open the second half for DeLaSalle. Terry would also tally before Malik Willingahm hit a three pointer for Waseca. Terry would also score four straight points and display outstanding passing that would earn him 10 assists on the night. The Bluejays would get close to the Islanders as Morgan scored four straight points and Matt Olsem would score off a steal. Olsem would also have a four point run though Waseca could not surpass the top seeded Islanders.
In addition to his 10 assists, Terry would score 19 points for DeLaSalle. Travis added 10. Malik Willingham would lead Waseca with 21 points and eight assists. Morgan scored 19.
The Islanders ended their season with a record of 27-5 and Waseca finished 30-2.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Medi obang went out with a bang, scoring a game high 38 points to lead the Austin Packers to a n 88-76 win over the Princeton Tigers.
It's a Minnehaha Academy Threepeat
Two Minneapolis schools battled for the Class AA championship Saturday afternoon as Jalen Suggs and Prince Aligbe scored 20 points apiece and Chet Holmgen had a triple double of 16 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots to lead the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks to a 69-52 defeat of the Minneapolis North Polars at Target Center in Minneapolis.
It was the fourth state title in seven trips to state for the south Minneapolis school. Minnehaha Academy became the first school since Braham from 2004-06 to win three straight Class AA titles.
The Redhawks began the scoring when Aligbe scored on a rebound :19 into the game. Nasir El-Amin would tally for the Polars to tie the game at two. Minnehaha Academy would go on an 11-0 run as Aligbe scored four straight points and Holmgren would go 4-4 from the free throw line. Davon Townley, Jr. would end the run for Mpls. North and start a 6-0 run that would end on a steal and a score from Suggs, the first of six straight points for the junior guard. The Redhawks would also get outstanding passing from Kaden Johnson who made an inside pass to Siegel Howard and he would score. Minnehaha Academy led 30-15 at halftime.
Both teams took awhile to open the second half scoring as the Polars played a 2-2-1 defense. Foul trouble would plague Mpls. North as Omar Brown picked up his fourth foul with 16:34 to go. The Polars would finally score on a free throw from Willie Wilson 1:59 into the second half. Aligbe would go on another four point run for Minnehaha Academy. Wilson would score four points in a row for the Polars. Suggs would make a great inside pass to Holmgren and the seven footer would jam it home. The Redhawks would also get some bench scoring from Craig McDonald, who scored on a pass from Holmgren. Both teams would utilize their reserves with :49.4 left.
El-Amin would lead Mpls. North with 17 points, the only Polar in double figures.
The Redhawks ended the season 29-2 and the Polars finished with a record of 23-10.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Nathan Heise scored 23 points to lead the Lake City Tigers to a 51-47 win over the Perham Yellowjackets.
Henning Hornets End 53 Years Tournament Drought With Class A Title
Dressed in orange, black and white, most off the 800 residents of Henning saw Sam Fisher score a game high 22 points to lead the Hornets to a 67-42 drubbing of the North Woods Grizzlies in the Class A championship game Saturday afternoon at Target Center in Minneapolis.
It was the first state title for the northwest Minnesota town in its third trip to state and first since 1966.
Sam Fisher began the scoring for the Hornets ::20 into the game and Chase Kleppe tied the game for the Grizzlies. Parker Fraki would vault Henning into the lead with a pair of shots from Nicollet Mall. His first bounced off the glass and went through the net. Trevor Morrison would end the run for North Woods. The Hornets would put a sting in the Grizzlies offense when Sam Fisher forced a turnover and turned it into a basket. Fraki, a 6'1" junior would score seven straight points. The Goggleye Brothers would be a bright spot in the Grizzlies offense when Darius made a perimeter pass to Cade, who scored the game winning basket in the semifinals Friday against Ada Borup and hit a three pointer. But Sam Fisher would go on a late first half tear, scoring six straight points and Henning led 36-17 at halftime.
Morrison would begin the second half scoring for the Grizzlies :10 into the half and Isaac Fisher would tally for the Hornets. Isaac Fisher would score four consecutive points for Henning following Dylan Chiabotti's three pointer for North Woods. He's one of four members of the Chiabotti family to play for North Woods. The others are TJ, Brendan and Jared. Morrison would score six of the Grizzlies eight points. But it wouldn't be enough as Blake Wallevand would come off the bench for Henning and hit a couple of three points and make a couple of outstanding passes that Sam Fisher and Adam Lange would score. As the margin mounted higher. Hornets head coach Randy Misegades and Grizzlies head coach Will Kleppe emptied their benches and gave the reserves a chance to play in the Class A title game.
Other Henning players in double figures were Fraki with 13 points. He also had five assists. Blake Wallevand added 12 points, going 5-5 from the field. Morrison led North Woods with 11 points and 12 rebounds and Chase Kleppe added 10 points.
Henning concluded their season 31-1 and North Woods finished the year 29-3.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Alex Folz scored 29 points to lead the Spring Grove Lions to a 72-68 overtime win over the Ada-Borup Cougars. Mason Miller led the Cougars with 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.
It was the first state title for the northwest Minnesota town in its third trip to state and first since 1966.
Sam Fisher began the scoring for the Hornets ::20 into the game and Chase Kleppe tied the game for the Grizzlies. Parker Fraki would vault Henning into the lead with a pair of shots from Nicollet Mall. His first bounced off the glass and went through the net. Trevor Morrison would end the run for North Woods. The Hornets would put a sting in the Grizzlies offense when Sam Fisher forced a turnover and turned it into a basket. Fraki, a 6'1" junior would score seven straight points. The Goggleye Brothers would be a bright spot in the Grizzlies offense when Darius made a perimeter pass to Cade, who scored the game winning basket in the semifinals Friday against Ada Borup and hit a three pointer. But Sam Fisher would go on a late first half tear, scoring six straight points and Henning led 36-17 at halftime.
Morrison would begin the second half scoring for the Grizzlies :10 into the half and Isaac Fisher would tally for the Hornets. Isaac Fisher would score four consecutive points for Henning following Dylan Chiabotti's three pointer for North Woods. He's one of four members of the Chiabotti family to play for North Woods. The others are TJ, Brendan and Jared. Morrison would score six of the Grizzlies eight points. But it wouldn't be enough as Blake Wallevand would come off the bench for Henning and hit a couple of three points and make a couple of outstanding passes that Sam Fisher and Adam Lange would score. As the margin mounted higher. Hornets head coach Randy Misegades and Grizzlies head coach Will Kleppe emptied their benches and gave the reserves a chance to play in the Class A title game.
Other Henning players in double figures were Fraki with 13 points. He also had five assists. Blake Wallevand added 12 points, going 5-5 from the field. Morrison led North Woods with 11 points and 12 rebounds and Chase Kleppe added 10 points.
Henning concluded their season 31-1 and North Woods finished the year 29-3.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Alex Folz scored 29 points to lead the Spring Grove Lions to a 72-68 overtime win over the Ada-Borup Cougars. Mason Miller led the Cougars with 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Lake City Tigers Beat Melrose Dutchmen
Good news for basketball fans living near Lake Pepin. Nsthsn Heise scored 18 points to lead the Lake City Tigers to a 60-44 win over the Melrose Area Dutchmen inn the Class AA quarterfinals Wednesday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.
It took awhile for both teams to begin the scoring. Preston Keaveny would give the Dutchmen the early lead 1:50 into the first half. Nathan Heise would score the Tigers first four points and Grant Moscho's basket would tie the game at four. Lake City would vault into the lead on a couple of shots from Washington Ave. from Jake Wohlers and Reid Gastner before Rowan Nelson hit a three pointer to end the run for Melrose. The Dutchmen also played outstanding defense in the first half, displaying a 2-1-2 zone. Rowan Nelson would also get a three point play following some great inside passing. Josh Matanich would score four consecutive points to tie the game at 12 and spark a 7-0 run that also had the first three pointer from Justin Wohlers. . He would hit a second three that included a 5-0 run. Lake City would get into foul trouble when Matanich picked up his third foul with 5:18 left in the first half. But Lake City didn't miss a beat when Ethan Heitman got a three point play on an inside pass from Nathan Heise. The Tigers had balanced first half scoring when Brady Schurhammer became the seventh player to enter the scorebook. Lake City led 33-25 at halftime.
The Tigers would come out strong to start the second half like a speedboat heading down Lake Pepin. Lake City would open on an 8-0 run where Heitman would score four of the Tigers first six points. The fans also saw a battle of three point shooting with Moscho hitting a pair for Melrose and Gastner, Jake and Justin Wohlers extending te Lake City lead. The Tigers would also score in the post as Heitman fed Nathan Heise and he scored on a left handed layup. The Dutchmen suffered a blow when Moscho picked up his fourth foul with 7:57 left and fouled out 1:56 later. Nathan Heise would go on another four point run as both teams cleared their benches. Melrose would get production from their bench as Cooper Goerdt concluded the game with five straight points.
Justin Wohlers and Heitman were the only other Lake City players in double figures with 11 points apiece. Keaveny led Melrose with 13 points and Moscho added 11.
The Tigers improved their record to 27-2 and will face the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks in the Class AA semifinals on Friday, March 22 at 6 PM at Target Center. Melrose will play the St. Peter Saints in the consolation semifinals, also on the 21st at 6 PM at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul.
It took awhile for both teams to begin the scoring. Preston Keaveny would give the Dutchmen the early lead 1:50 into the first half. Nathan Heise would score the Tigers first four points and Grant Moscho's basket would tie the game at four. Lake City would vault into the lead on a couple of shots from Washington Ave. from Jake Wohlers and Reid Gastner before Rowan Nelson hit a three pointer to end the run for Melrose. The Dutchmen also played outstanding defense in the first half, displaying a 2-1-2 zone. Rowan Nelson would also get a three point play following some great inside passing. Josh Matanich would score four consecutive points to tie the game at 12 and spark a 7-0 run that also had the first three pointer from Justin Wohlers. . He would hit a second three that included a 5-0 run. Lake City would get into foul trouble when Matanich picked up his third foul with 5:18 left in the first half. But Lake City didn't miss a beat when Ethan Heitman got a three point play on an inside pass from Nathan Heise. The Tigers had balanced first half scoring when Brady Schurhammer became the seventh player to enter the scorebook. Lake City led 33-25 at halftime.
The Tigers would come out strong to start the second half like a speedboat heading down Lake Pepin. Lake City would open on an 8-0 run where Heitman would score four of the Tigers first six points. The fans also saw a battle of three point shooting with Moscho hitting a pair for Melrose and Gastner, Jake and Justin Wohlers extending te Lake City lead. The Tigers would also score in the post as Heitman fed Nathan Heise and he scored on a left handed layup. The Dutchmen suffered a blow when Moscho picked up his fourth foul with 7:57 left and fouled out 1:56 later. Nathan Heise would go on another four point run as both teams cleared their benches. Melrose would get production from their bench as Cooper Goerdt concluded the game with five straight points.
Justin Wohlers and Heitman were the only other Lake City players in double figures with 11 points apiece. Keaveny led Melrose with 13 points and Moscho added 11.
The Tigers improved their record to 27-2 and will face the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks in the Class AA semifinals on Friday, March 22 at 6 PM at Target Center. Melrose will play the St. Peter Saints in the consolation semifinals, also on the 21st at 6 PM at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Minnehaha Academy Redhawks Stuff St. Peter Saints
The Minnehaha Academey Redhawks inched closer to a third straight Class AA title when Jalen Suggs scored 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to lead them to a 78-47 win over the St. Peter Saints in the quarterfinals Wednesday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Suggs got the Redhawks out of the starting gate early, scoring :10 into the first half. Minnehaha Academy would begin the game on a 7-0 run and the Saints would get their first basket from Wyatt Olson with 15:54 to go in the half. Brock Hanson would hit a three pointer to put St. Peter on a 5-0 run that would end when Prince Aligbe hit a shot from 2nd Ave. and would score five straight points. Chet Holmgren, the Redhawks seven foot center would score on an alley oop from Suggs and hit a left side jumper to spark an 11-0 run that ended on a basket by Josh Johnson. Holmgren got into position after Suggs missed a shot and scored on a dunk. Suggs would hit a three pointer to highlight a 5-0 run that ended on Ethan Volk's three pointer. Suggs got shaken up with 3:04 left in the first half so he went to the bench. The good news was that he was OK and returned to the game :20 later. Foul trouble would hurt the Saints in the first half when Ethan Grant picked up his third foul with 2:23 remaining. The Redhawks led at halftime 35-19.
Minnehaha Academy would score the first seven points of the second half. Aligbe would open the scoring on a pass from Kaden Johnson, followed by a basket from Suggs and Kaden Johnson's three pointer. Wyatt Olson's three pointer would end the Redhawks run. There would also be dueling three pointers. Volk would hit one for St. Peter and Suggs would respond with two more. Siegel Howard, who was a running back on the Class AAAA champion SMB Wolfpack football team, would also break into the scoring column, scoring off a pass from Donovan Smith. Minnehaha Academy would be without Holmgren the remainder of the game when he came off the court limping with 7:35 to go. But the Redhawks got production from Kaden Johnson who scored five straight points and Donovan Smith helped bolster a 7-0 run before the reserves got playing time. One reserve who tallied late for the Saints was Bennett Olson, who scored five straight points.
Other Minnehaha Academy players in double figures were Kaden Johnson and Holmgren with 14 points. Holmgrrn had 12 rebounds and blocked eight shots. St. Peter was led by Wyatt Olson with 17 points. Hanson added 11.
The Redhawks improved their record to 27-2 and advanced to the Class AA semifinals, Friday, March 22 at 6 PM at Target Center. St. Peter dropped to 22-7 and will play in the consolation semifinals, also on the 21st at 8 PM at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul.
Suggs got the Redhawks out of the starting gate early, scoring :10 into the first half. Minnehaha Academy would begin the game on a 7-0 run and the Saints would get their first basket from Wyatt Olson with 15:54 to go in the half. Brock Hanson would hit a three pointer to put St. Peter on a 5-0 run that would end when Prince Aligbe hit a shot from 2nd Ave. and would score five straight points. Chet Holmgren, the Redhawks seven foot center would score on an alley oop from Suggs and hit a left side jumper to spark an 11-0 run that ended on a basket by Josh Johnson. Holmgren got into position after Suggs missed a shot and scored on a dunk. Suggs would hit a three pointer to highlight a 5-0 run that ended on Ethan Volk's three pointer. Suggs got shaken up with 3:04 left in the first half so he went to the bench. The good news was that he was OK and returned to the game :20 later. Foul trouble would hurt the Saints in the first half when Ethan Grant picked up his third foul with 2:23 remaining. The Redhawks led at halftime 35-19.
Minnehaha Academy would score the first seven points of the second half. Aligbe would open the scoring on a pass from Kaden Johnson, followed by a basket from Suggs and Kaden Johnson's three pointer. Wyatt Olson's three pointer would end the Redhawks run. There would also be dueling three pointers. Volk would hit one for St. Peter and Suggs would respond with two more. Siegel Howard, who was a running back on the Class AAAA champion SMB Wolfpack football team, would also break into the scoring column, scoring off a pass from Donovan Smith. Minnehaha Academy would be without Holmgren the remainder of the game when he came off the court limping with 7:35 to go. But the Redhawks got production from Kaden Johnson who scored five straight points and Donovan Smith helped bolster a 7-0 run before the reserves got playing time. One reserve who tallied late for the Saints was Bennett Olson, who scored five straight points.
Other Minnehaha Academy players in double figures were Kaden Johnson and Holmgren with 14 points. Holmgrrn had 12 rebounds and blocked eight shots. St. Peter was led by Wyatt Olson with 17 points. Hanson added 11.
The Redhawks improved their record to 27-2 and advanced to the Class AA semifinals, Friday, March 22 at 6 PM at Target Center. St. Peter dropped to 22-7 and will play in the consolation semifinals, also on the 21st at 8 PM at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul.
East Ridge Raptors Rout Eastview Lightning
Ten years after East Ridge High School opened in Woodbury, the Raptors boys basketball team made it's maiden voyage to the state Class AAAA boys basketball tournament and got a game high 18 points from Courtney Brown to lead them to a 78-41 victory over the Eastview Lightning Wednesday afternoon at Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Raptors flew out of the starting gate with a 9-0 run that including the first four points from Courtney Brown. Patrick Lynott hit a three pointer and Kendall Brown scored after missing his first shot. The Lightning would strike on Steven Crowl's basket with 13:37 left in the first half. East ridge would get a three point play from Zach Zebrowski and Jaylen Jsmes made an inside pass on the right side of the basket to Ryan Thiessen and he would get two points. The Raptors would use the speed and outstanding offense to increase the margin further starting with a shot from Nicollet Mall from Zebrowski, follwed by a Courtney Brown jam. Defense would also be highlighted on Ben Carlson's block. East Ridge would go up by 16 and Eastview would hit their first three pointer late in the half when Jayden James would connect. Courtney Brown would counter with a three pointer and Kendall Brown would score from a Ben Carlson pass that help the Raptors lead 32-17 at halftime.
Carlson, a 6'10" junior would open the second half scoring with a three pointer and block Crowl's shot. Crowl would tally on a one handed dunk. Carlson would also box out well as he tipped in Alex Larson's missed shot. He would also pick up an assist as he made a great post pass to Zebrowski. The bright spot in Eastview's second half was four straight points from Thissen but that was pretty much it for the Lightning when East Ridge would go on a 12-0 run and the game would go into running time due to the 35 point margin 9:00 into the second half. Outstanding passing would also be a factor for the Raptors when Lynott made an outside pass to Zebrowski and he drilled a three pointer. With the outcome decided, Eastview head coach Paul Goetz and East Ridge head coach Bryce Tesdahl cleared their benches and gave their reserves a chance to experience state tournament action.
Other players in double figures for the Raptors were Kendall Brown and Zebrowski with 17 points apiece Kendall Brown had five assists. . Carlson scored 11 points and blocked three shots. Crowl led the Lightning with 17 points and James added 12.
East Ridge improved their record to 28-2 and will face the Hopkins Royals in the Class AAAA semifinals Thursday, March 21 at 8 PM at Target Center. Eastview fell to 18-12 and will play the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets in the consolation semifinals, also on the 21st at noon at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul.
Tesdahl is the grandson of former Chisholm head coach Bob McDonald.
The Raptors flew out of the starting gate with a 9-0 run that including the first four points from Courtney Brown. Patrick Lynott hit a three pointer and Kendall Brown scored after missing his first shot. The Lightning would strike on Steven Crowl's basket with 13:37 left in the first half. East ridge would get a three point play from Zach Zebrowski and Jaylen Jsmes made an inside pass on the right side of the basket to Ryan Thiessen and he would get two points. The Raptors would use the speed and outstanding offense to increase the margin further starting with a shot from Nicollet Mall from Zebrowski, follwed by a Courtney Brown jam. Defense would also be highlighted on Ben Carlson's block. East Ridge would go up by 16 and Eastview would hit their first three pointer late in the half when Jayden James would connect. Courtney Brown would counter with a three pointer and Kendall Brown would score from a Ben Carlson pass that help the Raptors lead 32-17 at halftime.
Carlson, a 6'10" junior would open the second half scoring with a three pointer and block Crowl's shot. Crowl would tally on a one handed dunk. Carlson would also box out well as he tipped in Alex Larson's missed shot. He would also pick up an assist as he made a great post pass to Zebrowski. The bright spot in Eastview's second half was four straight points from Thissen but that was pretty much it for the Lightning when East Ridge would go on a 12-0 run and the game would go into running time due to the 35 point margin 9:00 into the second half. Outstanding passing would also be a factor for the Raptors when Lynott made an outside pass to Zebrowski and he drilled a three pointer. With the outcome decided, Eastview head coach Paul Goetz and East Ridge head coach Bryce Tesdahl cleared their benches and gave their reserves a chance to experience state tournament action.
Other players in double figures for the Raptors were Kendall Brown and Zebrowski with 17 points apiece Kendall Brown had five assists. . Carlson scored 11 points and blocked three shots. Crowl led the Lightning with 17 points and James added 12.
East Ridge improved their record to 28-2 and will face the Hopkins Royals in the Class AAAA semifinals Thursday, March 21 at 8 PM at Target Center. Eastview fell to 18-12 and will play the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets in the consolation semifinals, also on the 21st at noon at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul.
Tesdahl is the grandson of former Chisholm head coach Bob McDonald.
Monday, March 18, 2019
2019 Class A State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview
2019 STATE CLASS A BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
(Games played Thursday, March 21 at Williams Arena, Minneapolis)
11:00 Spring Grove vs. Springfield (Seed 1)
1:00: Christ's Household of Faith (Seed 5) vs. Henning (Seed 4)
3:00: Cromwell-Wright vs. Ada-Borup (Seed 2)
5:00: Westbrook-Walnut Grove vs. North Woods (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Spring is here as the Spring Grove Lions make their first state tournament trip up I-35 to Minneapolis and battle the top seeded Springfield Tigers who are in their fifth trip to state and in the hunt for their first Class A title since 2011. Several members of the state Nine Man football champion Lions also excel on the basketball court, including Ethan Matzke and Alex Folz. Folz, the quarterback of the Spring Grove football team will need to quarterback the Lion hoopsters to a potential upset of the favored Tigers, who have lost two games by an average margin of 2.5 points. Could Tiger fans start celebrating on Saturday when they head home down Highway 14?
The Christ's Household of Faith Lions are in the second trip to state and their first in 18 years. They will go up against the hot Henning Hornets who make their third trip to state and their first since 1966. The Hornets only loss was to the Parkers Prairie Panthers 77-74 in overtime on February 26. CHOF has gone 15-1 since they lost to the St. Paul Academy Spartans 59-57 in overtime January 19. It should be an interesting match up as the Lions and Hornets begin their quest to end long title droughts.
Another school with a state tournament drought plays in the third quarterfinal game as the Cromwell-Wright Cardinals head to Minneapolis for the first time since 1996. They will face the second seeded Ada-Borup Cougars, in their first state tournament in 10 years. The Cardinals have won 15 straight games since they lost to the Esko Eskomos 54-46 on January 25. The Cougars came up one point short of an unbeaten season, losing 78-77 to the Hawley Nuggets on February 19. Ada-Borup has a 6'8" junior center Mason Miller. Be sure and head to The Barn early to hear one of the state's great pep bands.
The quarterfinal session wraps up with the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers facing the third seeded North Woods Grizzlies. The Chargers were the third seeded in Section 3 and beat the fifth seeded Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks in the championship game. The Blackjacks upset the top seeded Minneota Vikings in the quarterfinals. North Woods, located in Cook is back in Minneapolis for the third straight year, hoping to improve on two consecutive second place finishes. They have won 18 straight games since losing to BOLD 77-57 January 12. Can they make it to their third straight title game?
Plenty of exciting basketball action Starting Wednesday.
(Games played Thursday, March 21 at Williams Arena, Minneapolis)
11:00 Spring Grove vs. Springfield (Seed 1)
1:00: Christ's Household of Faith (Seed 5) vs. Henning (Seed 4)
3:00: Cromwell-Wright vs. Ada-Borup (Seed 2)
5:00: Westbrook-Walnut Grove vs. North Woods (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Spring is here as the Spring Grove Lions make their first state tournament trip up I-35 to Minneapolis and battle the top seeded Springfield Tigers who are in their fifth trip to state and in the hunt for their first Class A title since 2011. Several members of the state Nine Man football champion Lions also excel on the basketball court, including Ethan Matzke and Alex Folz. Folz, the quarterback of the Spring Grove football team will need to quarterback the Lion hoopsters to a potential upset of the favored Tigers, who have lost two games by an average margin of 2.5 points. Could Tiger fans start celebrating on Saturday when they head home down Highway 14?
The Christ's Household of Faith Lions are in the second trip to state and their first in 18 years. They will go up against the hot Henning Hornets who make their third trip to state and their first since 1966. The Hornets only loss was to the Parkers Prairie Panthers 77-74 in overtime on February 26. CHOF has gone 15-1 since they lost to the St. Paul Academy Spartans 59-57 in overtime January 19. It should be an interesting match up as the Lions and Hornets begin their quest to end long title droughts.
Another school with a state tournament drought plays in the third quarterfinal game as the Cromwell-Wright Cardinals head to Minneapolis for the first time since 1996. They will face the second seeded Ada-Borup Cougars, in their first state tournament in 10 years. The Cardinals have won 15 straight games since they lost to the Esko Eskomos 54-46 on January 25. The Cougars came up one point short of an unbeaten season, losing 78-77 to the Hawley Nuggets on February 19. Ada-Borup has a 6'8" junior center Mason Miller. Be sure and head to The Barn early to hear one of the state's great pep bands.
The quarterfinal session wraps up with the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers facing the third seeded North Woods Grizzlies. The Chargers were the third seeded in Section 3 and beat the fifth seeded Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks in the championship game. The Blackjacks upset the top seeded Minneota Vikings in the quarterfinals. North Woods, located in Cook is back in Minneapolis for the third straight year, hoping to improve on two consecutive second place finishes. They have won 18 straight games since losing to BOLD 77-57 January 12. Can they make it to their third straight title game?
Plenty of exciting basketball action Starting Wednesday.
2019 Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview
2019 STATE CLASS AA BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
(Games played Wednesday, March 20)
AT TARGET CENTER
6:00: St. Peter vs. Minnehaha Academy (Seed 1)
8:00: Lake City (Seed 5) vs. Melrose (Seed 4)
AT WILLIAMS ARENA
6:00: Esko vs. Minneapolis North (Seed 2)
8:00: Redwood Valley vs. Perham (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
No it's not a rerun. The same two schools that played in the opening Class AA quarterfinal game last Wednesday will battle again. This time the boys teams from the St. Peter Saints and the top seeded and defending Class AA champion Minnehaha Academy Redhawks opening the Target Center portion of the Class AA tournament. It's been a great winter for Saints fans as they headed up Highway 169 to support their boys hockey and girls basketball teams in the state tournament. Now it's the boys basketball team's turn in the spotlight as they make their sixth state tournament trip. However, it will be difficult for the Saints as they take on a Redhawks team that's going for their third consecutive state title in their seventh trip to state. Minnehaha Academy is led by one of Minnesota's most talented junior athletes in Jalen Suggs. He was also the quarterback on the Class AAAA champion SMB Wolfpack football team. But the Redhawks are more than just Suggs. There's also seven footer Chet Holmgren, Siegel Howard and Prince Aligbe. Can Minnehaha Academy accomplish the threepeat?
Concluding the Target Center portion of Wednesday's quarterfinals is the fifth seeded Lake City Tigers and the fourth seeded Melrose Dutchmen. The Tigers make their eight trip to state and have won 17 straight games. They will be tested against another hot team, the Melrose Dutchmen who have won 18 games in a row. Melrose heads down I-94 to Minneapolis for the eighth time and the first since they took home the Class AA title trophy. It should be a exciting climax to 10+ hours of high school boys basketball.
Over at Williams Arena, the Esko Eskomos are headed down I-35 for the eight time and their third in four years. The Eskomos have won nine straight games since they were blown out by the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders 79-50 February 9. As for the Minneapolis North Polars, they re in the state tournament for the 24th time and their first as a Class AA school. Before they moved up to Class AA, they won consecutive Class A championships in 2016 & 2017. They have a shot at becoming one of the few multiple class champions since the four class format began in 1997.
The final game of the day at The Barn features the Redwood Valley Cardinals and the third seeded Perham Yellowjackets. The Cardinals, seeded fourth in Section 3, got hot at the right time with four straight tournament wins, including an upset of the top seeded New London-Spicer Wildcats. The Yellowjackets return to Minneapolis for the first time since 2013 and are in their fourth trip to state. Their only loss this season was to Minnehaha Academy on December 1 78-48. Is a rematch in the Class AA title game a possibility?
Next up: The Class A preview
(Games played Wednesday, March 20)
AT TARGET CENTER
6:00: St. Peter vs. Minnehaha Academy (Seed 1)
8:00: Lake City (Seed 5) vs. Melrose (Seed 4)
AT WILLIAMS ARENA
6:00: Esko vs. Minneapolis North (Seed 2)
8:00: Redwood Valley vs. Perham (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
No it's not a rerun. The same two schools that played in the opening Class AA quarterfinal game last Wednesday will battle again. This time the boys teams from the St. Peter Saints and the top seeded and defending Class AA champion Minnehaha Academy Redhawks opening the Target Center portion of the Class AA tournament. It's been a great winter for Saints fans as they headed up Highway 169 to support their boys hockey and girls basketball teams in the state tournament. Now it's the boys basketball team's turn in the spotlight as they make their sixth state tournament trip. However, it will be difficult for the Saints as they take on a Redhawks team that's going for their third consecutive state title in their seventh trip to state. Minnehaha Academy is led by one of Minnesota's most talented junior athletes in Jalen Suggs. He was also the quarterback on the Class AAAA champion SMB Wolfpack football team. But the Redhawks are more than just Suggs. There's also seven footer Chet Holmgren, Siegel Howard and Prince Aligbe. Can Minnehaha Academy accomplish the threepeat?
Concluding the Target Center portion of Wednesday's quarterfinals is the fifth seeded Lake City Tigers and the fourth seeded Melrose Dutchmen. The Tigers make their eight trip to state and have won 17 straight games. They will be tested against another hot team, the Melrose Dutchmen who have won 18 games in a row. Melrose heads down I-94 to Minneapolis for the eighth time and the first since they took home the Class AA title trophy. It should be a exciting climax to 10+ hours of high school boys basketball.
Over at Williams Arena, the Esko Eskomos are headed down I-35 for the eight time and their third in four years. The Eskomos have won nine straight games since they were blown out by the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders 79-50 February 9. As for the Minneapolis North Polars, they re in the state tournament for the 24th time and their first as a Class AA school. Before they moved up to Class AA, they won consecutive Class A championships in 2016 & 2017. They have a shot at becoming one of the few multiple class champions since the four class format began in 1997.
The final game of the day at The Barn features the Redwood Valley Cardinals and the third seeded Perham Yellowjackets. The Cardinals, seeded fourth in Section 3, got hot at the right time with four straight tournament wins, including an upset of the top seeded New London-Spicer Wildcats. The Yellowjackets return to Minneapolis for the first time since 2013 and are in their fourth trip to state. Their only loss this season was to Minnehaha Academy on December 1 78-48. Is a rematch in the Class AA title game a possibility?
Next up: The Class A preview
Sunday, March 17, 2019
2019 State Class AAA Boys Basketball Tournament Preview
2019 CLASS AAA STATE BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(Games played Wednesday, March 20 at Williams Arena, Minneapolis)
10:00: Bemidji at DeLaSalle (Seed 1)
12:00: Mahtomedi (Seed 5) vs. Princeton (Seed 4)
2:00: Holy Angels vs. Waseca (Seed 2)
4:00: Monticello vs. Austin (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
The Lumberjacks are back! The Bemidji Lumberjacks are playing in their 30th state tournament, their first since 1985. That's the good news. The bad news is they have to face the top seeded DeLaSalle Islanders who are playing in their eight consecutive state tournament and 24th overall. Last time the Lumberjacks won a state title was 1948. They have won seven of their last eight games. The Islanders, led by guard Tyrell Terry have been on a roll, winning 15 of their last 16 games. The Islander girls basketball team took home the Class AAA title trophy with a win over Becker. This week, can the boys make it two straight state titles for the Minneapolis school?
Two teams with long state tournament droughts will battle in the second quarterfinal game as the fifth seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs face the fourth seeded Princeton Tigers. The Zephyrs are in the first state tournament since 1961 and the Tigers head down Highway 169 for the first time since 1932. Mahtomedi enters the tournament with a 12 game winning streak and beat the Totino Grace Eagles in the Section 4 title game. Princeton has a high powered offense anchored by Jon Stimmler. Princeton has a great shot at meeting DelaSalle in the semifinals but can Mahtomedi's momentum carry them past the Tigers.
The Holy Angels Stars make their first state tournament appearance since 2004 and first under head coach Andy Hannan. when the stars last played in the state tournament,Jesse Foley was the head coach. The Stars clinched their state tournament berth with a win over the St. Thomas Academy Cadets. The Bluejays are in their 10th state tournament and have only one loss this season, a 77-73 loss to the Marshall Tigers February 22. Last time Waseca won a state title was 1918 and they have a good shot at their first championship trophy in 101 years.
Wrapping up the Class AAA quarterfinals is the Monticello Magic and the third seeded Austin Packers. There must have been some magic for Monticello in the Section 5 tournament. They were the third seed and beat the second seeded Willmar Cardinals and the fourth seeded Big Lake Hornets to earn their 10th trip down I-94. The Packers packed up their 32nd trip to state and are in the hunt for their first state championship since 1958. Two year ago, they played in the Class AAA final, losing to DeLaSalle. Among the veterans returning for Austin are Dongrin and Ngor Deng and Agwa Nywesh. Can they lead the packers to another Class AAA title game?
Next up: The Class AA preview
(Games played Wednesday, March 20 at Williams Arena, Minneapolis)
10:00: Bemidji at DeLaSalle (Seed 1)
12:00: Mahtomedi (Seed 5) vs. Princeton (Seed 4)
2:00: Holy Angels vs. Waseca (Seed 2)
4:00: Monticello vs. Austin (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
The Lumberjacks are back! The Bemidji Lumberjacks are playing in their 30th state tournament, their first since 1985. That's the good news. The bad news is they have to face the top seeded DeLaSalle Islanders who are playing in their eight consecutive state tournament and 24th overall. Last time the Lumberjacks won a state title was 1948. They have won seven of their last eight games. The Islanders, led by guard Tyrell Terry have been on a roll, winning 15 of their last 16 games. The Islander girls basketball team took home the Class AAA title trophy with a win over Becker. This week, can the boys make it two straight state titles for the Minneapolis school?
Two teams with long state tournament droughts will battle in the second quarterfinal game as the fifth seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs face the fourth seeded Princeton Tigers. The Zephyrs are in the first state tournament since 1961 and the Tigers head down Highway 169 for the first time since 1932. Mahtomedi enters the tournament with a 12 game winning streak and beat the Totino Grace Eagles in the Section 4 title game. Princeton has a high powered offense anchored by Jon Stimmler. Princeton has a great shot at meeting DelaSalle in the semifinals but can Mahtomedi's momentum carry them past the Tigers.
The Holy Angels Stars make their first state tournament appearance since 2004 and first under head coach Andy Hannan. when the stars last played in the state tournament,Jesse Foley was the head coach. The Stars clinched their state tournament berth with a win over the St. Thomas Academy Cadets. The Bluejays are in their 10th state tournament and have only one loss this season, a 77-73 loss to the Marshall Tigers February 22. Last time Waseca won a state title was 1918 and they have a good shot at their first championship trophy in 101 years.
Wrapping up the Class AAA quarterfinals is the Monticello Magic and the third seeded Austin Packers. There must have been some magic for Monticello in the Section 5 tournament. They were the third seed and beat the second seeded Willmar Cardinals and the fourth seeded Big Lake Hornets to earn their 10th trip down I-94. The Packers packed up their 32nd trip to state and are in the hunt for their first state championship since 1958. Two year ago, they played in the Class AAA final, losing to DeLaSalle. Among the veterans returning for Austin are Dongrin and Ngor Deng and Agwa Nywesh. Can they lead the packers to another Class AAA title game?
Next up: The Class AA preview
2019 Class AAAA State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview
2019 CLASS AAAA STATE BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(Games played Wednesday, March 20 at Target Center, Minneapolis)
10:00: Maple Grove vs. Park Center (Seed 1)
12:00: Lakeville North (Seed 5) vs. Eden Prairie (Seed 4)
2:00: Cambridge-Isanti vs. Hopkins (Seed 2)
4:00: Eastview vs. East Ridge (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Minnesota March Madness heads into the homestretch as the 2019 State Boys Basketball Tournament opens up with a Northwest Suburban Conference showdown between the Maple Grove Crimson and the top seeded Park Center Pirates. The two schools played each other in the regular season and the Pirates swept the Crimson. Maple Grove is in their fourth straight state appearance and seventh overall and Park Center heads down I-94 to Minneapolis for the fourth time and their first trip to state since 2013. Park Center is led by 6'10" junior Dain Dainja and their only regular season loss was by six points to the Armstrong Falcons January 8. Could there be a caravan heading down Brooklyn Blvd. late Saturday night if the Pirates get the gold medals?
The fifth seeded Lakeville North Panthers are back at Target Center for the eighth straight year and ninth overall. Once again they denied basketball fans an opportunity to see Matthew Hurt in action with a resounding win over the Rochester John Marshall Rockets in the Section 1 final. Their opponent is the fourth seeded Eden Prairie Eagles who make their 12th trip to state. Eden Prairie is on a six game winning streak following a 62-45 victory over the top seeded Prior Lake Lakers. If this match up sounds familiar, they are the same two teams who played for the Class AAAAAA football championship with the Panthers prevailing. Who will come out on top on the basketball court?
Returning to the state tournament after an 11 year hiatus is the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets. The Bluejackets were seeded third in Section 7 and beat the second seeded Duluth East Greyhounds and the top seeded Blaine Bengals. They face another giant in the second seeded Hopkins Royals. It's been a big week for the Nnaji family. First Maya leads the Royals to the state Class AAAA girls basketball title with a drubbing of the Stillwater Ponies and now her brother Zeke looks to lead the Royals to their 22nd trip to state. Hopkins has won six of their last seven games. Will another title trophy be transported to Lindbergh Center?
No need to head East for the final Class AAAA quarterfinal game as the Eastview Lightning battle the third seeded East Ridge Raptors in their first trip to Target Center. The Lightning head up Highway 77 for the first time since 2012 in their fourth trip to Minneapolis and have won their last five games following an overtime loss to the Shakopee Sabers. If you haven't seen the Raptors in action this season, get off work early to see one of the state's top juniors in 6'10" Ben Carlson. East Ridge has not lost since December 18, losing 55-50 to the Eden Prairie Eagles. They opened the season on December 1 with a 74-65 win over the Hopkins Royals. There's a possible rematch in the works for Thursday night.
Next up: The Class AAA preview
(Games played Wednesday, March 20 at Target Center, Minneapolis)
10:00: Maple Grove vs. Park Center (Seed 1)
12:00: Lakeville North (Seed 5) vs. Eden Prairie (Seed 4)
2:00: Cambridge-Isanti vs. Hopkins (Seed 2)
4:00: Eastview vs. East Ridge (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Minnesota March Madness heads into the homestretch as the 2019 State Boys Basketball Tournament opens up with a Northwest Suburban Conference showdown between the Maple Grove Crimson and the top seeded Park Center Pirates. The two schools played each other in the regular season and the Pirates swept the Crimson. Maple Grove is in their fourth straight state appearance and seventh overall and Park Center heads down I-94 to Minneapolis for the fourth time and their first trip to state since 2013. Park Center is led by 6'10" junior Dain Dainja and their only regular season loss was by six points to the Armstrong Falcons January 8. Could there be a caravan heading down Brooklyn Blvd. late Saturday night if the Pirates get the gold medals?
The fifth seeded Lakeville North Panthers are back at Target Center for the eighth straight year and ninth overall. Once again they denied basketball fans an opportunity to see Matthew Hurt in action with a resounding win over the Rochester John Marshall Rockets in the Section 1 final. Their opponent is the fourth seeded Eden Prairie Eagles who make their 12th trip to state. Eden Prairie is on a six game winning streak following a 62-45 victory over the top seeded Prior Lake Lakers. If this match up sounds familiar, they are the same two teams who played for the Class AAAAAA football championship with the Panthers prevailing. Who will come out on top on the basketball court?
Returning to the state tournament after an 11 year hiatus is the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets. The Bluejackets were seeded third in Section 7 and beat the second seeded Duluth East Greyhounds and the top seeded Blaine Bengals. They face another giant in the second seeded Hopkins Royals. It's been a big week for the Nnaji family. First Maya leads the Royals to the state Class AAAA girls basketball title with a drubbing of the Stillwater Ponies and now her brother Zeke looks to lead the Royals to their 22nd trip to state. Hopkins has won six of their last seven games. Will another title trophy be transported to Lindbergh Center?
No need to head East for the final Class AAAA quarterfinal game as the Eastview Lightning battle the third seeded East Ridge Raptors in their first trip to Target Center. The Lightning head up Highway 77 for the first time since 2012 in their fourth trip to Minneapolis and have won their last five games following an overtime loss to the Shakopee Sabers. If you haven't seen the Raptors in action this season, get off work early to see one of the state's top juniors in 6'10" Ben Carlson. East Ridge has not lost since December 18, losing 55-50 to the Eden Prairie Eagles. They opened the season on December 1 with a 74-65 win over the Hopkins Royals. There's a possible rematch in the works for Thursday night.
Next up: The Class AAA preview
Finally-A Class AAAA State Title for Hopkins Royals
For the last three years, the Hopkins Royals have played in the Class AAAA championship game and have come up short. Not this year. Maya Nnjai scored 19 points and a strong supporting cast in the second half also contributed to the Lake Conference powerhouse's 74-45 win over the Stillwater Ponies Saturday nigh at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
It was the seventh state title for Hopkins in 13 trips to the state tournament.
Dlayla Chakolis got the Royal offense going, scoring three of her team's first four points. Alexis Pratt would score first for the Ponies. Sara Scalia, who will play next season at The Barn as a University of Minnesota Golden Gopher got a taste of her future home court as she scored five straight points. Eighth grader Taylor Woodson would tally to regain the lead for Hopkins. They would go on an 8-0 run that would end on Pratt's basket. Stillwater would even the game at 20 as Mary Fultz and Wagner would contribute. Nnaji would score inside on a great pass from Chakolis to put Hopkins ahead and Sara Scalia would counter to even the game at 22. The Ponies would forge ahead on a 7-0 run that included a three pointer from Delaney Wagner. and they would lead at halftime 29-27.
Stillwater would extend their lead in the second half with four straight points from Sara Scalia. Paige Bueckers would hit a three point play for the Royals. Prat would go to the free throw line for three shots after she was fouled by Amaya Battle on a three point attempt and made two of three free throws. It would be the only bright spot for Stillwater in the second half as Liza Karlen picked up her fourth foul with 13.12 to play, sending Amaya Battle to the free throw line. Her two made free throws would help Hopkins begin a 12-0 run that would vault them into the lead and they would stay in that capacity the remainder of the game. Bueckers, Minnesota's Player of the year would score and also force a turnover. Chakolis, who will play next season in Hampton, VA would get a steal and a score. Also adding to the Royal attack was the outstanding three point shooting of KK Adams who would hit four straight shots from Oak St. Hopkins would outscore Stillwater 17-3 to finally bring home the championship hardware.
Also scoring in double figures for the Royals was Bueckers and Chakolis with 13 points apiece. Bueckers recorded seven assists. Adams added 12 points. Sara Scalia led the Ponies with 24 points and Pratt scored 16.
Hopkins concluded the season a perfect 32-0 and Stillwater wrapped up their year 27-4.
In the third place game played at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul, Sara Stapleton scored a game high 20 points to lead the Centennial Cougars to a 68-53 win over the Eastview Lightning.
It was the seventh state title for Hopkins in 13 trips to the state tournament.
Dlayla Chakolis got the Royal offense going, scoring three of her team's first four points. Alexis Pratt would score first for the Ponies. Sara Scalia, who will play next season at The Barn as a University of Minnesota Golden Gopher got a taste of her future home court as she scored five straight points. Eighth grader Taylor Woodson would tally to regain the lead for Hopkins. They would go on an 8-0 run that would end on Pratt's basket. Stillwater would even the game at 20 as Mary Fultz and Wagner would contribute. Nnaji would score inside on a great pass from Chakolis to put Hopkins ahead and Sara Scalia would counter to even the game at 22. The Ponies would forge ahead on a 7-0 run that included a three pointer from Delaney Wagner. and they would lead at halftime 29-27.
Stillwater would extend their lead in the second half with four straight points from Sara Scalia. Paige Bueckers would hit a three point play for the Royals. Prat would go to the free throw line for three shots after she was fouled by Amaya Battle on a three point attempt and made two of three free throws. It would be the only bright spot for Stillwater in the second half as Liza Karlen picked up her fourth foul with 13.12 to play, sending Amaya Battle to the free throw line. Her two made free throws would help Hopkins begin a 12-0 run that would vault them into the lead and they would stay in that capacity the remainder of the game. Bueckers, Minnesota's Player of the year would score and also force a turnover. Chakolis, who will play next season in Hampton, VA would get a steal and a score. Also adding to the Royal attack was the outstanding three point shooting of KK Adams who would hit four straight shots from Oak St. Hopkins would outscore Stillwater 17-3 to finally bring home the championship hardware.
Also scoring in double figures for the Royals was Bueckers and Chakolis with 13 points apiece. Bueckers recorded seven assists. Adams added 12 points. Sara Scalia led the Ponies with 24 points and Pratt scored 16.
Hopkins concluded the season a perfect 32-0 and Stillwater wrapped up their year 27-4.
In the third place game played at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul, Sara Stapleton scored a game high 20 points to lead the Centennial Cougars to a 68-53 win over the Eastview Lightning.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
DeLaSalle Islanders Win Fourth Class AAA Championship
The evening session of the 2019 Minnesota State High School Girls Basketball Tournament opened with a rematch of the 2007 Class AAA title game as Nora Francois score 14 points to lead the DeLaSalle Islanders to a 56-40 win over the Becker Bulldogs Saturday night at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
It was the fourth state championship and the first since 2013 for the Minneapolis based school in their 10th trip to state. Becker beat DeLaSalle in the 2007 Class AAA final 41-39 for the Sherburne County school's only state title.
The game began with matching shots from Coffman Memorial Union as Sydney Runsewe wouldopen the scoring for the Islanders and Courtney Nuest would tally first for the Bulldogs. Kiani Lockett would DeLaSalle ahead and get an assist on Nurjei Weems basket to put the Islanders on a 4-0 run. It would be a 6-0 run on a score from Runsewe. Becker would then go on a 5-0 run highlighted by a three point play from Courtney Nuest. Mary Claire Francois would end the run for DeLaSalle. Weems would score five straight points, her first coming off a Bulldog turnover. Becker, who ended Cooper's Class AAA title reign Thursday in the semifinals would go on a 5-0 run that would end with an Islander basket from Nora Francois. Megan Gamble would make an outstanding inside pass to Lindquist and she would connect. Foul trouble would plague both teams. Mary Claire Francois picked up her third foul for DeLaSalle with 1:58 left in the half and Becker's Courtney Nuest would also pick up her third foul :14 later. The Islanders would lead at halftime 31-22.
There would be some good news for Bulldogs fans who made the trip down Highway 10 as Becker would open the second half on a 7-0 run to cut the Islander lead to two. DeLaSalle would not hit a second half field goal until Lockett scored 6:00 into the second half. There would also be dueling three pointers from dani Nuest of Becker and Nora Francois of DeLaSalle. Lockett would lock up the game with a three pointer and Weems would score a three point play.
Other Islanders in double figures were Lockett with 12 points, Weems with 11 and Mary Claire Francois with 10. The Bulldogs were led by Courtney Nuest with 11 points.
DeLaSalle concluded their season with a record of 24-5 and Becker ended the year 27-5.
In the third place game played at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul, Francesca Vascellaro scored a game high 28 points to lead the Holy Angels Stars to a 78-69 win over the Cooper Hawks.
It was the fourth state championship and the first since 2013 for the Minneapolis based school in their 10th trip to state. Becker beat DeLaSalle in the 2007 Class AAA final 41-39 for the Sherburne County school's only state title.
The game began with matching shots from Coffman Memorial Union as Sydney Runsewe wouldopen the scoring for the Islanders and Courtney Nuest would tally first for the Bulldogs. Kiani Lockett would DeLaSalle ahead and get an assist on Nurjei Weems basket to put the Islanders on a 4-0 run. It would be a 6-0 run on a score from Runsewe. Becker would then go on a 5-0 run highlighted by a three point play from Courtney Nuest. Mary Claire Francois would end the run for DeLaSalle. Weems would score five straight points, her first coming off a Bulldog turnover. Becker, who ended Cooper's Class AAA title reign Thursday in the semifinals would go on a 5-0 run that would end with an Islander basket from Nora Francois. Megan Gamble would make an outstanding inside pass to Lindquist and she would connect. Foul trouble would plague both teams. Mary Claire Francois picked up her third foul for DeLaSalle with 1:58 left in the half and Becker's Courtney Nuest would also pick up her third foul :14 later. The Islanders would lead at halftime 31-22.
There would be some good news for Bulldogs fans who made the trip down Highway 10 as Becker would open the second half on a 7-0 run to cut the Islander lead to two. DeLaSalle would not hit a second half field goal until Lockett scored 6:00 into the second half. There would also be dueling three pointers from dani Nuest of Becker and Nora Francois of DeLaSalle. Lockett would lock up the game with a three pointer and Weems would score a three point play.
Other Islanders in double figures were Lockett with 12 points, Weems with 11 and Mary Claire Francois with 10. The Bulldogs were led by Courtney Nuest with 11 points.
DeLaSalle concluded their season with a record of 24-5 and Becker ended the year 27-5.
In the third place game played at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul, Francesca Vascellaro scored a game high 28 points to lead the Holy Angels Stars to a 78-69 win over the Cooper Hawks.
Championship Drought Over for Minnehaha Academy Redhawks
The road to the state Class AA championship was paved with a game high 29 points from Taytum Rhoades that led the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks to a 72-63 win over the Caledonia Warriors Saturday afternoon at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
It was the second state title for the Minneapolis based school and their first since 2010 in their seventh state tournament appearance.
Kaitlin Conniff began the scoring for the Warriors :33 into the game with a pair of free throws. Mia Curtis would put the Redhawks in from as she hit from Huron Blvd. Curtis, a junior would pick up an assist as she made an inside bounce pass to Avery New that would help a 7-0 Minnehaha Academy run. Curtis would hit a couple more three pointers for the Redhawks and Rhoades would contribute to a 5-0 run that would end when Katie Tornstrom would hit a three pointer for Caledonia. She converted another one to put the Warriors in front. Caledonia would also play great defense, playing a 1-2-2 zone. The lead would go back and forth like light rail trains on the Green Line tracks until Curtis would hit her fourth and fifth three pointers of the game and pick up another assist on Rhoades' basket to help an 8-0 run. Minnehaha Academy led 33-27 at halftime.
Caledonia would inch closer to Minnehaha Academy in the second half as they went on a 7-0 run which included two free throws from Ashley Schroeder and a three pointer from Tornstrom. Conniff would also convert on a right handed layup. But the Redhawks would bounce back on Rhoades three pointer and pick up an assist on Kate Pryor's basket. Caledonia would regain the lead as Ashley Schroeder would score seven straight points. Ashley Schroeder would keep the Warriors in the game, going 11-11 from the free throw line. Curtis would put Minnehaha Academy ahead with her sixth three pointer and Caledonia would regain the lead on Conniff's basket. Despite picking up her fourth foul, Tornstrom would hit her fifth three pointer of the game and Rhoades would even the score at 53. She would make a bounce pass to Tanna Gallo and she would get a three point play. Rhoades, who will be playing next season at Minnesota-Duluth, would wrap up her Redhawk career with a right handed scoop shot that would solidify the lead.
Other Minnehaha Academy players in double figures were Curtis with 18 and Pryor with 10. Caledonia was led by Ashley Schroeder with 21 points. Tornstrom had 19 points and 16 rebounds. Conniff added 16 points, going 10-10 from the free throw line.
Minnehaha Academy finished the season with a record of 25-6 and Caledonia ended the 2018-19 campaign at 26-5.
In the third place game at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, it was the season finale of "The Borowicz Sisters" with Kacie scoring a game high 37 points and Katie scoring 16 points and 19 assists to lead the Roseau Rams to a 81-43 rout of the Albany Huskies.
It was the second state title for the Minneapolis based school and their first since 2010 in their seventh state tournament appearance.
Kaitlin Conniff began the scoring for the Warriors :33 into the game with a pair of free throws. Mia Curtis would put the Redhawks in from as she hit from Huron Blvd. Curtis, a junior would pick up an assist as she made an inside bounce pass to Avery New that would help a 7-0 Minnehaha Academy run. Curtis would hit a couple more three pointers for the Redhawks and Rhoades would contribute to a 5-0 run that would end when Katie Tornstrom would hit a three pointer for Caledonia. She converted another one to put the Warriors in front. Caledonia would also play great defense, playing a 1-2-2 zone. The lead would go back and forth like light rail trains on the Green Line tracks until Curtis would hit her fourth and fifth three pointers of the game and pick up another assist on Rhoades' basket to help an 8-0 run. Minnehaha Academy led 33-27 at halftime.
Caledonia would inch closer to Minnehaha Academy in the second half as they went on a 7-0 run which included two free throws from Ashley Schroeder and a three pointer from Tornstrom. Conniff would also convert on a right handed layup. But the Redhawks would bounce back on Rhoades three pointer and pick up an assist on Kate Pryor's basket. Caledonia would regain the lead as Ashley Schroeder would score seven straight points. Ashley Schroeder would keep the Warriors in the game, going 11-11 from the free throw line. Curtis would put Minnehaha Academy ahead with her sixth three pointer and Caledonia would regain the lead on Conniff's basket. Despite picking up her fourth foul, Tornstrom would hit her fifth three pointer of the game and Rhoades would even the score at 53. She would make a bounce pass to Tanna Gallo and she would get a three point play. Rhoades, who will be playing next season at Minnesota-Duluth, would wrap up her Redhawk career with a right handed scoop shot that would solidify the lead.
Other Minnehaha Academy players in double figures were Curtis with 18 and Pryor with 10. Caledonia was led by Ashley Schroeder with 21 points. Tornstrom had 19 points and 16 rebounds. Conniff added 16 points, going 10-10 from the free throw line.
Minnehaha Academy finished the season with a record of 25-6 and Caledonia ended the 2018-19 campaign at 26-5.
In the third place game at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, it was the season finale of "The Borowicz Sisters" with Kacie scoring a game high 37 points and Katie scoring 16 points and 19 assists to lead the Roseau Rams to a 81-43 rout of the Albany Huskies.
Minneota Vikings Win Class A Championship
Abby Hennen scored 13 points to lead the Minneota Vikings to a 40-31 win over the Goodhue Wildcats Saturday afternoon in the state Class A championship game at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
It was the second state title of the southwest Minnesota school in their eighth state tournament. The Vikings were unbeaten against in-state teams with their only loss coming to Brandon Valley, South Dakota.
Abby Hennen began the scoring for Minneota with a pair of free throws 1:05 into the game. Kate Opsahl would tie the game for the Wildcats going 2-2 from the line. Opsahl would get into foul trouble early, picking up her second foul 1:59 into the game. Both teams were chilly from the field in the first half though Abby Hennen would score the vikings first three points, all on free throws. Goodhue would tie the game at five and Lydia Sussner would score to regain the lead for Minneota. Once again, foul trouble would plague the Wildcats when Opsahl picked up her third foul with 8:15 left in the first half. Did Goodhue head coach Josh Wieme send her to the bench? Not yet. She was needed to try and defend a high powered Minneota offense but they would go on a 9-0 run after the score was even at nine and lead 20-14 at the half.
Both teams began the second half hitting shots from Dinkytown. Opsah would score for the Wildcats and Lizzy Gillingham for the Vikings. Another member of the Hennen family would be a factor for Minneota as Morgan Hennen would hit a three pointer to spark the Vikings on a 5-0 run. The Vikings would pull away though Lexie Lodermeier, who scored six straight points in the first half would cut the lead to eight but it was all Goodhue could do.
Gillingham was the only other Viking in double figures, scoring 11 points. Morgan Hennen had five assists. Opsahl would be the only Wildcat in double figures, scoring 14 points.
Minneota concluded their season with a record of 30-1. Goodhue finished 26-7.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Taylie Scott scored 21 points to lead the Heritage Christian Academy Eagles to a 60-52 win over the Menagha Braves.
It was the second state title of the southwest Minnesota school in their eighth state tournament. The Vikings were unbeaten against in-state teams with their only loss coming to Brandon Valley, South Dakota.
Abby Hennen began the scoring for Minneota with a pair of free throws 1:05 into the game. Kate Opsahl would tie the game for the Wildcats going 2-2 from the line. Opsahl would get into foul trouble early, picking up her second foul 1:59 into the game. Both teams were chilly from the field in the first half though Abby Hennen would score the vikings first three points, all on free throws. Goodhue would tie the game at five and Lydia Sussner would score to regain the lead for Minneota. Once again, foul trouble would plague the Wildcats when Opsahl picked up her third foul with 8:15 left in the first half. Did Goodhue head coach Josh Wieme send her to the bench? Not yet. She was needed to try and defend a high powered Minneota offense but they would go on a 9-0 run after the score was even at nine and lead 20-14 at the half.
Both teams began the second half hitting shots from Dinkytown. Opsah would score for the Wildcats and Lizzy Gillingham for the Vikings. Another member of the Hennen family would be a factor for Minneota as Morgan Hennen would hit a three pointer to spark the Vikings on a 5-0 run. The Vikings would pull away though Lexie Lodermeier, who scored six straight points in the first half would cut the lead to eight but it was all Goodhue could do.
Gillingham was the only other Viking in double figures, scoring 11 points. Morgan Hennen had five assists. Opsahl would be the only Wildcat in double figures, scoring 14 points.
Minneota concluded their season with a record of 30-1. Goodhue finished 26-7.
In the third place game that was played at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Taylie Scott scored 21 points to lead the Heritage Christian Academy Eagles to a 60-52 win over the Menagha Braves.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Minnehaha Academy Redhawks Rout St. Peter Saints
Taytum Rhoades help pave the road to the Class AA semifinals for the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks with a game high 15 points en route to a 56-37 win over the St. Peter Saints in the Class AA state quarterfinals Wednesday night at Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus.
Tanna Gallo would open the scoring for the Redhawks with a three pointer :31 into the game. Jacey Welp would be an early bright spot for the Saints, scoring St. Peter's first five points. Rhoades would score to regain the lead for Minnehaha Academy and Signe Alger would hit from Cedar-Riverside to tie the game at eight. Grace Remmert and Sarah Conlon would help the Saints on a 7-0 run. The Redhawks would forge into the lead on a couple of three point plays. The first was by Rhoades and the second came from Avery New. Even the Minnehaha Academy bench would contribute as Telia Graham would score four straight points to help the Redhawks lead 27-18 at halftime.
Mia Curtis would begin the scoring for the Redhawks, hitting a three pointer 1:31 into the second half. Rhoades and Navaeh Galloway would help propel Minnehaha Academy on a 7-0 run. Rhoades, a candidate for Ms. basketball, showed outstanding athleticism when she made a right handed scoop shot. The Saints would get some help from conlon but it wasn't enough as the athletic Redhawks would pull away from the Saints.
Other Minnehaha Academy players in double figures were Gallo and Curtis with 11 points. Galloway contributed 10 points. New had 13 rebounds and four assists. Conlon would lead St. Peter with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She was the only Saint in double figures.
The Redhawks improved their record to 21-6 and will face the Albany Huskies in the Class AA semifinals on Friday, March 15 at 8 PM at Williams Arena. The Saints fell to 16-11 and will take on the Holy Family Catholic Fire in the Class AA semifinals on Thursday, March 14 at 8 PM at Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul.
Tanna Gallo would open the scoring for the Redhawks with a three pointer :31 into the game. Jacey Welp would be an early bright spot for the Saints, scoring St. Peter's first five points. Rhoades would score to regain the lead for Minnehaha Academy and Signe Alger would hit from Cedar-Riverside to tie the game at eight. Grace Remmert and Sarah Conlon would help the Saints on a 7-0 run. The Redhawks would forge into the lead on a couple of three point plays. The first was by Rhoades and the second came from Avery New. Even the Minnehaha Academy bench would contribute as Telia Graham would score four straight points to help the Redhawks lead 27-18 at halftime.
Mia Curtis would begin the scoring for the Redhawks, hitting a three pointer 1:31 into the second half. Rhoades and Navaeh Galloway would help propel Minnehaha Academy on a 7-0 run. Rhoades, a candidate for Ms. basketball, showed outstanding athleticism when she made a right handed scoop shot. The Saints would get some help from conlon but it wasn't enough as the athletic Redhawks would pull away from the Saints.
Other Minnehaha Academy players in double figures were Gallo and Curtis with 11 points. Galloway contributed 10 points. New had 13 rebounds and four assists. Conlon would lead St. Peter with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She was the only Saint in double figures.
The Redhawks improved their record to 21-6 and will face the Albany Huskies in the Class AA semifinals on Friday, March 15 at 8 PM at Williams Arena. The Saints fell to 16-11 and will take on the Holy Family Catholic Fire in the Class AA semifinals on Thursday, March 14 at 8 PM at Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul.
An Albany Stunner
The unseeded Albany Huskies were on the right page as Paige Meyer scored 34 points and 16 rebounds to lead them to a 60-49 upset of the second seeded Holy Family Catholic Fire Wednesday night in the Class AA girls basketball quarterfinals at Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus.
It took a while to erase the zeros from the scoreboard but the Huskies got off to a 4-0 run led by a couple of Paiges, Meyer and Rueter. The Fire showed their Grace with a couple of Graces sparking a 4-0 run Elander and Conroy. But it wasn't just the Graces who sparked Holy Family's early run. Leigh Steiner would score four straight points. Meyer, a sophomore would lead the Albany attack as she score seven of the Huskies first nine points. She would go 3-3 from Stadium Village. The lead would swing back and forth until Holy Family's Nicole Bowlin would hit a three pointer to highlight a 5-0 run. With the score even at 23 late in the half, Bowlin would convert another three pointer as time expired to give the Fire a 26-34 halftime lead.
The Huskies would strike early in the second half with four straight points from Hannah Litchy. Foul trouble would plague the Fire when Julia Geurs and Steiner picked up their third fouls. Albany would extend their lead as they went on a 7-0 run that also included bench scoring from Rachel Neu. When Steiner returned to the game for Holy Family, she would be a spark for the Fire offense as she would score seven straight points. But it wasn't enough for the Victoria based school to catch up as they had to foul Albany and they would put the game away at the free throw line.
Amanda Kollodge was the only other Albany player in double figures, scoring 15 points. Steiner led Holy Family with 20 points and Elander added 11.
The Huskies improved their record to 19-10 and will play in the Class AA semifinals on Friday, March 15 at 8 PM at Williams Arena. Holy Family with play in the Class AA consolation semifinals on Thursday, March 14 at 6 PM.
Prior to the start of the game, a moment of silence was held for former Albany head coach Jon Noreen, who passed away February 1 at the age of 67. Noreen led the Huskies to the 2008 state Class AA championship.
Following the game, Huskies fan Michael Hertwig gave his memories of Noreen and the legacy he left on Huskie basketball.
"Jon put his heart out every day he went out there. A great mentor and a better friend. Everybody wanted to be like the girls he coached.
It took a while to erase the zeros from the scoreboard but the Huskies got off to a 4-0 run led by a couple of Paiges, Meyer and Rueter. The Fire showed their Grace with a couple of Graces sparking a 4-0 run Elander and Conroy. But it wasn't just the Graces who sparked Holy Family's early run. Leigh Steiner would score four straight points. Meyer, a sophomore would lead the Albany attack as she score seven of the Huskies first nine points. She would go 3-3 from Stadium Village. The lead would swing back and forth until Holy Family's Nicole Bowlin would hit a three pointer to highlight a 5-0 run. With the score even at 23 late in the half, Bowlin would convert another three pointer as time expired to give the Fire a 26-34 halftime lead.
The Huskies would strike early in the second half with four straight points from Hannah Litchy. Foul trouble would plague the Fire when Julia Geurs and Steiner picked up their third fouls. Albany would extend their lead as they went on a 7-0 run that also included bench scoring from Rachel Neu. When Steiner returned to the game for Holy Family, she would be a spark for the Fire offense as she would score seven straight points. But it wasn't enough for the Victoria based school to catch up as they had to foul Albany and they would put the game away at the free throw line.
Amanda Kollodge was the only other Albany player in double figures, scoring 15 points. Steiner led Holy Family with 20 points and Elander added 11.
The Huskies improved their record to 19-10 and will play in the Class AA semifinals on Friday, March 15 at 8 PM at Williams Arena. Holy Family with play in the Class AA consolation semifinals on Thursday, March 14 at 6 PM.
Prior to the start of the game, a moment of silence was held for former Albany head coach Jon Noreen, who passed away February 1 at the age of 67. Noreen led the Huskies to the 2008 state Class AA championship.
Following the game, Huskies fan Michael Hertwig gave his memories of Noreen and the legacy he left on Huskie basketball.
"Jon put his heart out every day he went out there. A great mentor and a better friend. Everybody wanted to be like the girls he coached.
Defending Class AAAA Champion Eastview Lightning Remains Alive With Win
The defending Class AAAA champions the Eastview Lightning didn't miss a beat Wednesday afternoon as Macy Guebert scored a game high 15 points to lead the Apple Valley school to a 48-37 win over the Forest Lake Rangers in the quarterfinals at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
The Lightning got off to a good start as they began the game with a 5-0 run that began with Guebert, the daughter of former Eastview head coach Melissa Guebert hitting a shot from Dinkytown and Lauren Glas' lay up. The Rangers broke into the scoring column on a pair of free throws from Amy Leach with 15:33 to go. But :13 later, Eastview's Emma Carpenter picked up her second foul, sending her to the bench. Not only did the Lightning shine on offense as Guebert would convert a high shot off the backboard, Brynn Schwanz made a three pointer and Cassidy Carson would score to put the Lightning on a 7-0 run but they would also play outstanding defense. Eastview would switch between a 1-2-2 diagonal zone and a 2-1-2 zone toward the middle of the lane. They would also get another three pointer from Guebert and Carpenter would hit another at the horn to give the Lightning a 24-13 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Lightning would be without Glas after she picked up her third foul :23 into the half. Forest Lake would strike first on Lexie Hultman's basket 1:25 into the half. It would be one of the few highlights for the Rangers as Eastview would pull away with a 9-0 run that would include an excellent inside bounce pass from Guebert to Schwanz and Carpenter converting a three point play. Eastview would get good news when Glas reentered with 9:39 to play. The Lightning would pull away again on an 8-0 run and Forest Lake would trim the the lead to eight on Maddy Rice's three pointer and Forest Lake would be forced to foul to keep Eastview from taking time off the clock and the Lightning would wrap up a semifinal berth by going 10-13 from the free throw line in the second half.
Schwanz was the only other Eastview player in double figures, scoring 14 points. Carson added 11 rebounds. Forest Lake was led by Abby Groeneweg with 13 points and Rice added 11.
The Lightning improved their record to 25-5 and will face the Stillwater Ponies in the Class AAAA semifinals Thursday, March 14 at 8 PM at Williams Arena. Forest Lake will battle the Shakopee Sabers in the Class AAAA consolation semifinals, also on the 14th at noon at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul.
The Lightning got off to a good start as they began the game with a 5-0 run that began with Guebert, the daughter of former Eastview head coach Melissa Guebert hitting a shot from Dinkytown and Lauren Glas' lay up. The Rangers broke into the scoring column on a pair of free throws from Amy Leach with 15:33 to go. But :13 later, Eastview's Emma Carpenter picked up her second foul, sending her to the bench. Not only did the Lightning shine on offense as Guebert would convert a high shot off the backboard, Brynn Schwanz made a three pointer and Cassidy Carson would score to put the Lightning on a 7-0 run but they would also play outstanding defense. Eastview would switch between a 1-2-2 diagonal zone and a 2-1-2 zone toward the middle of the lane. They would also get another three pointer from Guebert and Carpenter would hit another at the horn to give the Lightning a 24-13 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Lightning would be without Glas after she picked up her third foul :23 into the half. Forest Lake would strike first on Lexie Hultman's basket 1:25 into the half. It would be one of the few highlights for the Rangers as Eastview would pull away with a 9-0 run that would include an excellent inside bounce pass from Guebert to Schwanz and Carpenter converting a three point play. Eastview would get good news when Glas reentered with 9:39 to play. The Lightning would pull away again on an 8-0 run and Forest Lake would trim the the lead to eight on Maddy Rice's three pointer and Forest Lake would be forced to foul to keep Eastview from taking time off the clock and the Lightning would wrap up a semifinal berth by going 10-13 from the free throw line in the second half.
Schwanz was the only other Eastview player in double figures, scoring 14 points. Carson added 11 rebounds. Forest Lake was led by Abby Groeneweg with 13 points and Rice added 11.
The Lightning improved their record to 25-5 and will face the Stillwater Ponies in the Class AAAA semifinals Thursday, March 14 at 8 PM at Williams Arena. Forest Lake will battle the Shakopee Sabers in the Class AAAA consolation semifinals, also on the 14th at noon at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
2019 State Class A Girls Basketball Tournament Preview
2019 STATE CLASS A GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(Games played Thursday, March 14 at Maturi Pavilion, Minneapolis)
11:00: Red Lake vs. Minneota (Seed 1)
1:00: Ada-Borup (Seed 5) vs. Heritage Christian Academy (Seed 4)
3:00: Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. Goodhue (Seed 2)
5:00: BOLD vs. Menagha (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Just before the Class AAA semifinal session begins next door at Williams Arena, the first of four Class A quarterfinal games gets underway at Maturi Pavilion with the Red Lake Warriors facing the top seeded Minneota Vikings. The Warriors got back on track after losing their last two regular season games to Roseau and Pine River-Backus and make their first trip to state since 2017. They have a tough task ahead against the top seeded Vikings, who are in their eight state tournament appearance and have been a dominant force in Class A girls basketball season. Their only loss was on February 5 to Brandon Valley of South Dakota. It's been five years since Minneota played in the Class A title game. Can head coach Chad Johnston bring home another state title in girls basketball as well as football?
The fifth seeded Ada-Borup Cougars head to Minneapolis for the 11th time and fourth in their last five years. They clinched the Section 6 title with a 49-46 win over the top seeded Pelican Rapids Vikings. Fans in attendance will get to he one of the state's best pep bands under the direction of Richard Tuttle. The cougars face one of the top teams a lot of people haven't heard of, the fourth seeded Heritage Christian Academy Eagles. The Maple Grove based school makes their second straight trip to state and has not lost a game since Maranatha Christian Academy beat them 58-46 on January 22. It has the makings of an interesting match up.
They're back! The Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers return to Minneapolis for the ninth consecutive year but head coach Jeff Buffeta has not taken any title trophies to the Iron Range. But it won't be an easy task for the Rangers as they battle the second seeded Goodhue Wildcats, who head up Highway 52 for the eighth time and go for their first state title since 2017. Goodhue is a team that will probably head back to the Twin Cities in the next few years since their roster has five sophomores and four freshmen. Will Goodhue's future begin in the present with a possible state title run?
The last quarterfinal game pits the BOLD Warriors and the third seeded Menagha Braves. The Warriors have won five straight games since they lost to Sauk Centre 68-51 on February 18. The Braves are back in the Class A field for the second straight year and have only lost one game, falling to Eden Valley Watkins 53-42 on February 9. They have a really good chance to set up a possible semifinal showdown with Goodhue.
Lots of exciting girls basketball action coming up at the University of Minnesota. It all begins Wednesday morning.
Bloggers Note: Research information from mshsl.org and minnesota-scores.net.
(Games played Thursday, March 14 at Maturi Pavilion, Minneapolis)
11:00: Red Lake vs. Minneota (Seed 1)
1:00: Ada-Borup (Seed 5) vs. Heritage Christian Academy (Seed 4)
3:00: Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. Goodhue (Seed 2)
5:00: BOLD vs. Menagha (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Just before the Class AAA semifinal session begins next door at Williams Arena, the first of four Class A quarterfinal games gets underway at Maturi Pavilion with the Red Lake Warriors facing the top seeded Minneota Vikings. The Warriors got back on track after losing their last two regular season games to Roseau and Pine River-Backus and make their first trip to state since 2017. They have a tough task ahead against the top seeded Vikings, who are in their eight state tournament appearance and have been a dominant force in Class A girls basketball season. Their only loss was on February 5 to Brandon Valley of South Dakota. It's been five years since Minneota played in the Class A title game. Can head coach Chad Johnston bring home another state title in girls basketball as well as football?
The fifth seeded Ada-Borup Cougars head to Minneapolis for the 11th time and fourth in their last five years. They clinched the Section 6 title with a 49-46 win over the top seeded Pelican Rapids Vikings. Fans in attendance will get to he one of the state's best pep bands under the direction of Richard Tuttle. The cougars face one of the top teams a lot of people haven't heard of, the fourth seeded Heritage Christian Academy Eagles. The Maple Grove based school makes their second straight trip to state and has not lost a game since Maranatha Christian Academy beat them 58-46 on January 22. It has the makings of an interesting match up.
They're back! The Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers return to Minneapolis for the ninth consecutive year but head coach Jeff Buffeta has not taken any title trophies to the Iron Range. But it won't be an easy task for the Rangers as they battle the second seeded Goodhue Wildcats, who head up Highway 52 for the eighth time and go for their first state title since 2017. Goodhue is a team that will probably head back to the Twin Cities in the next few years since their roster has five sophomores and four freshmen. Will Goodhue's future begin in the present with a possible state title run?
The last quarterfinal game pits the BOLD Warriors and the third seeded Menagha Braves. The Warriors have won five straight games since they lost to Sauk Centre 68-51 on February 18. The Braves are back in the Class A field for the second straight year and have only lost one game, falling to Eden Valley Watkins 53-42 on February 9. They have a really good chance to set up a possible semifinal showdown with Goodhue.
Lots of exciting girls basketball action coming up at the University of Minnesota. It all begins Wednesday morning.
Bloggers Note: Research information from mshsl.org and minnesota-scores.net.
2019 Class AA State Girls Basketball Tournament
2019 STATE CLASS AA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(Games played Wednesday, March 13)
AT WILLIAMS ARENA
6:00: Redwood Valley vs. Roseau (Seed 1)
8:00: Proctor (Seed 5) vs. Caledonia (Seed 4)
AT MATURI PAVILION
6:00: Albany vs. Holy Family Catholic (Seed 2)
8:00: St. Peter vs. Minnehaha Academy (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
If you've missed any of the first four state tournament games because you were at work or didn't catch the webcasts, there's plenty of outstanding basketball in the evening sessions. First up at Williams Arena is the Redwood Valley Cardinals, the second seed in Section 3, battling the top seeded Roseau Rams. The Cardinals clinched their first trip to state since 2014 with a 62-58 win over the top seeded Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles. The Rams are back in Minneapolis for the fifth consecutive year under the leadership of Kelsey Didrikson and look to make their third straight appearance in the Class AA finals. Last year, Roseau lost to the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters in the Class AA championship game. The Borowicz Sisters are still a factor in the Rams success, Katie and Kacie. Keep an eye on the Green and White.They are a favorite to bring home the gold.
Wrapping up the day at The Barn is the fifth seeded Proctor Rails and the fourth seeded Caledonia Warriors. The Rails are on board to Minneapolis for the first time since 2001 and their third overall trip. They have not lost a game since February 4, when they lost to the Cromwell-Wright Cardinals 66-46. The Warriors make their ninth state tournament appearance and look to bring the championship trophy to the town of 2,752 inhabitants for the first time in 10 years. The second seed in Section 1, Caledonia beat the fourth seeded Winona Cotter Ramblers 48-39 in the championship game. It should be an outstanding climax to a great day of basketball at The Barn.
Next door at Maturi Pavilion, the Albany Huskies head down I-94 for their 13th tournament appearance and their first since they won the 2008 Class AA title. But the man who led them to the title, head coach Jon Noreen won't be present in Minneapolis. Noreen passed away February 1 at the age of 67. Hearts will be heavy for the Huskies players and fans as they go for a state title in memory of the veteran head coach. It won't be easy for Albany as they go up against the second seeded Holy Family Catholic Fire who has played like the Victoria based school's nickname, winning 11 of their last 12 games. Holy Family earn their second state tournament berth with a 47-32 win over the Annandale Cardinals in the Section 5AA final. Can the Fire stay on fire?
Ending the day's festivities will be the St. Peter Saints taking on the third seeded Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. So far, it's been a big week for St. Peter fans. Last Thursday, the Minnesota River Bulldogs made their first trip to the State Boys Hockey Tournament, losing to East Grand Forks in the Class A quarterfinals. This coming Wednesday, Saints fans will be heading up Highway 169 to see the girls basketball team make their seventh trip to state and first since 2011. The Saints have a tough task ahead against the Redhawks, who are making their sixth straight appearance and 12th overall. Minnehaha Academy has won 17 of their last 18 games. They are a young team with three seniors and three seventh graders, including the sister of Redhawks boys basketball star Jalen, Jennica. Will she be a factor toward the Redhawks first state title since 2010?
Next: The Class A preview.
(Games played Wednesday, March 13)
AT WILLIAMS ARENA
6:00: Redwood Valley vs. Roseau (Seed 1)
8:00: Proctor (Seed 5) vs. Caledonia (Seed 4)
AT MATURI PAVILION
6:00: Albany vs. Holy Family Catholic (Seed 2)
8:00: St. Peter vs. Minnehaha Academy (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
If you've missed any of the first four state tournament games because you were at work or didn't catch the webcasts, there's plenty of outstanding basketball in the evening sessions. First up at Williams Arena is the Redwood Valley Cardinals, the second seed in Section 3, battling the top seeded Roseau Rams. The Cardinals clinched their first trip to state since 2014 with a 62-58 win over the top seeded Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles. The Rams are back in Minneapolis for the fifth consecutive year under the leadership of Kelsey Didrikson and look to make their third straight appearance in the Class AA finals. Last year, Roseau lost to the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters in the Class AA championship game. The Borowicz Sisters are still a factor in the Rams success, Katie and Kacie. Keep an eye on the Green and White.They are a favorite to bring home the gold.
Wrapping up the day at The Barn is the fifth seeded Proctor Rails and the fourth seeded Caledonia Warriors. The Rails are on board to Minneapolis for the first time since 2001 and their third overall trip. They have not lost a game since February 4, when they lost to the Cromwell-Wright Cardinals 66-46. The Warriors make their ninth state tournament appearance and look to bring the championship trophy to the town of 2,752 inhabitants for the first time in 10 years. The second seed in Section 1, Caledonia beat the fourth seeded Winona Cotter Ramblers 48-39 in the championship game. It should be an outstanding climax to a great day of basketball at The Barn.
Next door at Maturi Pavilion, the Albany Huskies head down I-94 for their 13th tournament appearance and their first since they won the 2008 Class AA title. But the man who led them to the title, head coach Jon Noreen won't be present in Minneapolis. Noreen passed away February 1 at the age of 67. Hearts will be heavy for the Huskies players and fans as they go for a state title in memory of the veteran head coach. It won't be easy for Albany as they go up against the second seeded Holy Family Catholic Fire who has played like the Victoria based school's nickname, winning 11 of their last 12 games. Holy Family earn their second state tournament berth with a 47-32 win over the Annandale Cardinals in the Section 5AA final. Can the Fire stay on fire?
Ending the day's festivities will be the St. Peter Saints taking on the third seeded Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. So far, it's been a big week for St. Peter fans. Last Thursday, the Minnesota River Bulldogs made their first trip to the State Boys Hockey Tournament, losing to East Grand Forks in the Class A quarterfinals. This coming Wednesday, Saints fans will be heading up Highway 169 to see the girls basketball team make their seventh trip to state and first since 2011. The Saints have a tough task ahead against the Redhawks, who are making their sixth straight appearance and 12th overall. Minnehaha Academy has won 17 of their last 18 games. They are a young team with three seniors and three seventh graders, including the sister of Redhawks boys basketball star Jalen, Jennica. Will she be a factor toward the Redhawks first state title since 2010?
Next: The Class A preview.
2019 State Class AAA Girls Basketball Tournament Preview
2019 STATE CLASS AAA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(Games played Wednesday, March 13 at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis)
10:00: Hibbing vs. DeLaSalle (Seed 1)
12:00: Fergus Falls (Seed 5) vs. Holy Angels (Seed 4)
2:00: Austin vs. Cooper (Seed 2)
4:00: Marshall vs. Becker (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Leading off the action at Maturi Pavilion is the Hibbing Bluejackets, playing in their first state tournament since 2007. Second seeded Hibbing beat the top seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks 55-48 in the Section 7 final. They will go up against the top seeded DeLaSalle Islanders, in their 10th trip to state. The Islanders have gone 20-2 since they started the season 1-3. Former St. Paul Central and Gopher standout Ashley Ellis-Milan is an assistant to current head coach Tanysha Scott. Will it be a happy homecoming with a state title?
Get ready for an influx of maroon and gold fans entering the Maturi Pavilion as the fifth seeded Fergus Falls Otters make their fifth trip to state and first since 2014. But can they be as successful as the girls hockey team who got shut out by Breck in the Class A quarterfinals? Brad Strand's bunch is on a roll with 15 wins in their last 16 games as they face the fourth seeded Holy Angels Stars who are making their fourth straight trip to Minneapolis and eight overall. Head coach Danny Woods has a young and talented team with eight sophomores. It's a team with a very sold future and they could have a third chance to beat the Islanders, something they haven't done in the regular season.
It's been 40 years since the Austin Packers played in the state tournament and they clinched a state tournament berth with an upset win over the top ranked team in Class AAA the Red Wing Wingers and a section final victory over the second seeded Northfield Raiders. Is another miracle possible? First they have to face the second seeded and defending state Class AAA champion Cooper Hawks. Under the leadership of former Gopher Kiara Buford, the Hawks make their second straight trip to state after starting the season 1-5 and have gone 19-3 since then. Is another state final trip in the works?
Concluding the Class AAA quarterfinals is the Marshall Tigers and the third seeded Becker Bulldogs. The Tigers make their 12th trip to Minneapolis and look to return to the title game for the sixth time. The Tigers, seeded third in Section 2, beat the top seeded Waseca Bluejays. They have gone 2-3 in state championship games. The Bulldogs make their third trip down Highway 10 to state and their first since 2016. Becker has won eight straight games since they lostto Hopkins by 35 points February 11. It should be an interesting finish to the Class AAA quarterfinals.
Next will be the Class AA quarterfinals.
(Games played Wednesday, March 13 at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis)
10:00: Hibbing vs. DeLaSalle (Seed 1)
12:00: Fergus Falls (Seed 5) vs. Holy Angels (Seed 4)
2:00: Austin vs. Cooper (Seed 2)
4:00: Marshall vs. Becker (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Leading off the action at Maturi Pavilion is the Hibbing Bluejackets, playing in their first state tournament since 2007. Second seeded Hibbing beat the top seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks 55-48 in the Section 7 final. They will go up against the top seeded DeLaSalle Islanders, in their 10th trip to state. The Islanders have gone 20-2 since they started the season 1-3. Former St. Paul Central and Gopher standout Ashley Ellis-Milan is an assistant to current head coach Tanysha Scott. Will it be a happy homecoming with a state title?
Get ready for an influx of maroon and gold fans entering the Maturi Pavilion as the fifth seeded Fergus Falls Otters make their fifth trip to state and first since 2014. But can they be as successful as the girls hockey team who got shut out by Breck in the Class A quarterfinals? Brad Strand's bunch is on a roll with 15 wins in their last 16 games as they face the fourth seeded Holy Angels Stars who are making their fourth straight trip to Minneapolis and eight overall. Head coach Danny Woods has a young and talented team with eight sophomores. It's a team with a very sold future and they could have a third chance to beat the Islanders, something they haven't done in the regular season.
It's been 40 years since the Austin Packers played in the state tournament and they clinched a state tournament berth with an upset win over the top ranked team in Class AAA the Red Wing Wingers and a section final victory over the second seeded Northfield Raiders. Is another miracle possible? First they have to face the second seeded and defending state Class AAA champion Cooper Hawks. Under the leadership of former Gopher Kiara Buford, the Hawks make their second straight trip to state after starting the season 1-5 and have gone 19-3 since then. Is another state final trip in the works?
Concluding the Class AAA quarterfinals is the Marshall Tigers and the third seeded Becker Bulldogs. The Tigers make their 12th trip to Minneapolis and look to return to the title game for the sixth time. The Tigers, seeded third in Section 2, beat the top seeded Waseca Bluejays. They have gone 2-3 in state championship games. The Bulldogs make their third trip down Highway 10 to state and their first since 2016. Becker has won eight straight games since they lostto Hopkins by 35 points February 11. It should be an interesting finish to the Class AAA quarterfinals.
Next will be the Class AA quarterfinals.
2019 Class AAAA State Girls Basketball Tournament Preview
2019 STATE CLASS AAAA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(Games Played Wednesday, March 13 at Williams Arena, Minneapolis)
10:00: Lakeville North vs. Hopkins (Seed 1)
12:00: Maple Grove (Seed 5) vs. Centennial (Seed 4)
2:00: Shakopee vs. Stillwater (Seed 2)
4:00: Forest Lake vs. Eastview (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
A brief prologue. This year's state girls basketball tournament is being held at The Barn and Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus due to Target Center being booked for Disney on Ice.
Now to the pairings. The day's festivities begin with the Lakeville North Panthers making their fourth consecutive trip to state and ninth overall as the second seeded Panthers beat the top seeded Farmington Tigers in the Section 1 title game 37-35. It gets even tougher since they will battle the top seeded and unbeaten Hopkins Royals. The Royals have a lot of offensive weapons, including Minnesota's Player of the Year Paige Bueckers. It's not just Bueckers that carries the Royal offense. She gets support from Dlayla Chakolis and 6'3" freshman Maya Nnjai. Hopkins has finished second in Class AAAA the last three years. Can the Royal Blue and Silver finally bring home the gold medals?
Next up will be a "Battle of the Northwest Suburban Conference" featuring the fifth seeded Maple Grove Crimson from Section 8 and the Centennial Cougars in Section 5. Both schools were seeded second in their respective sections. Maple Grove, in their second straight trip to Minneapolis beat the top seeded St. Michael Albertville Knights and Centennial,in their seven state tournament appearance beat the fourth seeded Spring Lake Park Panthers, who upset the top seeded Park Center Pirates. The two schools played each other February 11 with the Cougars coming out on top 56-40. Centennial is hot, winning 17 straight games. Can they get close to 20?
Another section giant killer takes the floor in the third game as the Shakopee Sabers, seeded third in Section 2 eliminated the top seeded Eden Prairie Eagles 41-39 in the section final. It's the sixth trip to state for the Sabers who go up against the second seeded Stillwater Ponies. The Ponies make their first trip to state since 1988. It could be the first opportunity for basketball fans to see future Gopher Sara Scalia in action. Will head coach Lindsey Whalen be in attendance looking on her first in-state recruit en route to the Class AAAA title game?
Wrapping up the Class AAAA quarterfinals will be the Forest Lake Rangers facing the third seeded and defending state Class AAAA champion Eastview Lightning. The Rangers make their second straight and fourth overall trip to Minneapolis and have won 10 of their last 11 games. The Lightning make their eight consecutive tournament appearance and have not missed a beat under head coach Molly Kasper. It's a safe bet to say that former head coach Melissa Guebert will be in attendance at The Barn. Her daughter Macy is one of seven Lightning seniors. Don't count the Lightning out of a possible return to the Class AAAA finals. They are on a 10 game winning streak.
Next up: The Class AAA preview.
(Games Played Wednesday, March 13 at Williams Arena, Minneapolis)
10:00: Lakeville North vs. Hopkins (Seed 1)
12:00: Maple Grove (Seed 5) vs. Centennial (Seed 4)
2:00: Shakopee vs. Stillwater (Seed 2)
4:00: Forest Lake vs. Eastview (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
A brief prologue. This year's state girls basketball tournament is being held at The Barn and Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus due to Target Center being booked for Disney on Ice.
Now to the pairings. The day's festivities begin with the Lakeville North Panthers making their fourth consecutive trip to state and ninth overall as the second seeded Panthers beat the top seeded Farmington Tigers in the Section 1 title game 37-35. It gets even tougher since they will battle the top seeded and unbeaten Hopkins Royals. The Royals have a lot of offensive weapons, including Minnesota's Player of the Year Paige Bueckers. It's not just Bueckers that carries the Royal offense. She gets support from Dlayla Chakolis and 6'3" freshman Maya Nnjai. Hopkins has finished second in Class AAAA the last three years. Can the Royal Blue and Silver finally bring home the gold medals?
Next up will be a "Battle of the Northwest Suburban Conference" featuring the fifth seeded Maple Grove Crimson from Section 8 and the Centennial Cougars in Section 5. Both schools were seeded second in their respective sections. Maple Grove, in their second straight trip to Minneapolis beat the top seeded St. Michael Albertville Knights and Centennial,in their seven state tournament appearance beat the fourth seeded Spring Lake Park Panthers, who upset the top seeded Park Center Pirates. The two schools played each other February 11 with the Cougars coming out on top 56-40. Centennial is hot, winning 17 straight games. Can they get close to 20?
Another section giant killer takes the floor in the third game as the Shakopee Sabers, seeded third in Section 2 eliminated the top seeded Eden Prairie Eagles 41-39 in the section final. It's the sixth trip to state for the Sabers who go up against the second seeded Stillwater Ponies. The Ponies make their first trip to state since 1988. It could be the first opportunity for basketball fans to see future Gopher Sara Scalia in action. Will head coach Lindsey Whalen be in attendance looking on her first in-state recruit en route to the Class AAAA title game?
Wrapping up the Class AAAA quarterfinals will be the Forest Lake Rangers facing the third seeded and defending state Class AAAA champion Eastview Lightning. The Rangers make their second straight and fourth overall trip to Minneapolis and have won 10 of their last 11 games. The Lightning make their eight consecutive tournament appearance and have not missed a beat under head coach Molly Kasper. It's a safe bet to say that former head coach Melissa Guebert will be in attendance at The Barn. Her daughter Macy is one of seven Lightning seniors. Don't count the Lightning out of a possible return to the Class AAAA finals. They are on a 10 game winning streak.
Next up: The Class AAA preview.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Granite City Celebration
The City of St. Cloud has been represented 24 times in the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament and has never taken home the championship hardware. The 25th time turned out to be the charm as Jackson Savoie scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders to a 5-2 win over the Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin Raiders in the Class A Championship Game Saturday afternoon at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
It was he first state title for the Crusaders in their ninth trip to state.
The first period scoring went back and forth like a pendulum on a grandfather clock. The Raiders, who knocked out perennial power Hermantown in the Section 7A championship game would strike first. It would come while Cullen Hiltner was serving a two minute hooking penalty as Donte Lawson got a pass from Cameron Lantz on the left doorstep and he would connect for the early lead.
It looked like Greenway would take a two goal lead but the red light did not go on so play would continue until Luke Schmidt lined a shot following a pass from CJ Zins. After the replay officials examined the scoring plays, they disallowed the Greenway goal and let the Cathedral goal stand.
Zins would also spend a couple of minutes in the penalty box for slashing and the Crusaders would cash on as Nate Warner went around the right side of the net, made a centering pass to Savoie and he would score the short handed goal. The Raiders would eventually get a power play goal :25 later when Ben Troumbly passed to Lantz inside the blue line and he would drive it to the net to tie the game at two.
Greenway would start the second period with three straight shots on goal but none would cross the goal line. But St. Cloud Cathedral would tally twice. The first would come after Hiltner forced a Raider turnover and he would send the puck to Savoie who would go top shelf to put the Crusaders in the lead. They would add a power play goal to their ledge while the Raiders Micah Gernander, son of former Raider Ken Gernander was serving a tripping penalty. Savoie's pass deflected off of Blake Perbix's stick and Jack Smith put the finishing touch on the goal to put St. Cloud Cathedral ahead 4-2.
The way the third period went, it looked like there wouldn't be any scoring. Wrong. With 3:47 left to play, Raider head coach Grant Clafton pulled goalie Logan Wright for a sixth attacker. Two minutes later, Grenway would lose the extra man due to a tripping penalty on Troumbly. That meant that Clafton would have to put a player in the net and it would be back up netminder Tyler Penney. Penney's stint in the Greenway goal didn't last long when he was pulled for another attacker. Savoie would make a centering pass to Warner and he found the empty net.
Greenway out shot St. Cloud Cathedral 29-26.
Lawson would also receive the Class A Herb Brooks Award which goes to the player who best exemplifies the characteristics of the late coach.
The Crusaders ended their season with a record of 27-4 and the Raiders finished 17-14.
In the Class A third place game, Colin Hagstrom got the hat trick to lead the Mahtomedi Zephyrs to a 7-3 win over the East Grand Forks Green Wave. In the Class A consolation game that took place at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus, the Delano Tigers downed the North Branch Vikings 2-1.
Attendance for the Class A championship session was 8,141.
It was he first state title for the Crusaders in their ninth trip to state.
The first period scoring went back and forth like a pendulum on a grandfather clock. The Raiders, who knocked out perennial power Hermantown in the Section 7A championship game would strike first. It would come while Cullen Hiltner was serving a two minute hooking penalty as Donte Lawson got a pass from Cameron Lantz on the left doorstep and he would connect for the early lead.
It looked like Greenway would take a two goal lead but the red light did not go on so play would continue until Luke Schmidt lined a shot following a pass from CJ Zins. After the replay officials examined the scoring plays, they disallowed the Greenway goal and let the Cathedral goal stand.
Zins would also spend a couple of minutes in the penalty box for slashing and the Crusaders would cash on as Nate Warner went around the right side of the net, made a centering pass to Savoie and he would score the short handed goal. The Raiders would eventually get a power play goal :25 later when Ben Troumbly passed to Lantz inside the blue line and he would drive it to the net to tie the game at two.
Greenway would start the second period with three straight shots on goal but none would cross the goal line. But St. Cloud Cathedral would tally twice. The first would come after Hiltner forced a Raider turnover and he would send the puck to Savoie who would go top shelf to put the Crusaders in the lead. They would add a power play goal to their ledge while the Raiders Micah Gernander, son of former Raider Ken Gernander was serving a tripping penalty. Savoie's pass deflected off of Blake Perbix's stick and Jack Smith put the finishing touch on the goal to put St. Cloud Cathedral ahead 4-2.
The way the third period went, it looked like there wouldn't be any scoring. Wrong. With 3:47 left to play, Raider head coach Grant Clafton pulled goalie Logan Wright for a sixth attacker. Two minutes later, Grenway would lose the extra man due to a tripping penalty on Troumbly. That meant that Clafton would have to put a player in the net and it would be back up netminder Tyler Penney. Penney's stint in the Greenway goal didn't last long when he was pulled for another attacker. Savoie would make a centering pass to Warner and he found the empty net.
Greenway out shot St. Cloud Cathedral 29-26.
Lawson would also receive the Class A Herb Brooks Award which goes to the player who best exemplifies the characteristics of the late coach.
The Crusaders ended their season with a record of 27-4 and the Raiders finished 17-14.
In the Class A third place game, Colin Hagstrom got the hat trick to lead the Mahtomedi Zephyrs to a 7-3 win over the East Grand Forks Green Wave. In the Class A consolation game that took place at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus, the Delano Tigers downed the North Branch Vikings 2-1.
Attendance for the Class A championship session was 8,141.
Monday, March 4, 2019
2019 Class A Boys Basketball Section Preview
The final section basketball preview of 2019 examines the eight Class A sections. Some are already underway.
Section 1 has started and the top seeded Spring Grove Lions look to duplicate their championship success in Nine Man Football on the basketball court with Alex Folz, who quarterbacked the Lions to the state title. But there's plenty of competition ahead with the second seeded Randolph Rockets, the third seeded Rushford-Peterson Trojans who are looking for their 16th trip up Highway 52 and the fourth seeded Hayfield Vikings who enter section play on an eight game winning streak.
In Section 2, the top seed in the North Subsection is another school who had success on the gridiron, the BOLD Warriors. The Warriors lost to Mahnomen/Waubun by one point in the Class A final but they have a shot at state in basketball if they can get past the second seeded Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers or the third seeded Mayer Lutheran Crusaders. The South Subsection will be a three team race between the top seeded Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers, the second seeded Springfield Trojans and the third seeded Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey Wolverines.
What a season for basketball in Minneota. First the girls are the top ranked team in Class A and the boys are the top seeded team in the North Subsection as they lost their only two games by two points to second seeded Lac Qui Parle Valley and the Yellow Medicine East Sting. The Southwest MN Christian Eagles are the top seed in the South Subsection which also has the second seeded Murray county Central Rebels and the third seeded Westbrook/Walnut Grove Chargers.
Heading to Section 4, the top seeded Christ's Household of Faith Lions look to return to their first state tournament since 2001 when they lost in the Class A final to the Southwest MN Christian Eagles. But there are a couple of teams you've probably never heard of that could keep CHOF in St. Paul. They play in the Twin Cities Athletic Conference and they are the second seeded Avail Academy Valor and the third seeded Liberty Classical Academy Lions who are on a seven game winning streak. Avail Academy is based in Fridley and formerly known as Calvin Christian and Liberty Classical Academy is headquartered in White Bear Lake. No TCAC school has ever advanced to the state tournament. Could this be the year?
A couple of hot teams are the top two seeds in the North Subsection of Section 5. The top seeded Cromwell-Wright Cardinals enter section play with an 11 game winning streak and the second seeded Pine River-Backus Tigers have won eight straight. The Tigers are on a quest to return to Minneapolis for the first time since 2001. The South Subsection final could be a "Battle of the Jaguars" with top seeded Hinckley-Finlayson battling Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. Looking to crash the battle is the third seeded Upsala Cardinals, who are looking up into section play after finishing the season with a four game winning streak.
Now to Section 6, where the top seed in the North Section the Henning Hornets could head to the state tournament for the first time since 1966. The town of 802 inhabitants can celebrate if the get past second seeded Mahnomen/Waubun and the top seeded team in the South Subsection their only loss, the Parkers Prairie Bulldogs. The Bulldogs beat the Hornets in their final regular season game 77-74 in overtime. Could another overtime game be possible in the section final?
In Section 7, the top seeded North Woods Grizzlies lost their second straight Class A title game last season and being a 14 game win streak into section play. But the second seeded Nashwauk-Keewatin Spartans and the third seeded Lakeview Christian Lions, who are looking for their first trip down I-35 to Minneapolis since 2013 could keep the Iron Range team back in the range.
Wrapping up the section preview is Section 8 with the top seed in the East Subsection, the Cass Lake Panthers who are in the hunt for their eighth state tournament appearance. The Panthers only loss was to Mahnomen/Waubun on February 5 64-36. First they have to get past the second seeded Win-E-Mac Patriots, in the hunt for their first trip to state since 2000. In the West Subsection, the top seeded Ada-Borup West Cougars are the top seed and it could mean that fans could see one of the great pep bands in the state for the second state week if the girls head to Minneapolis the preceding week. It could be tough for the Cougars as the second seeded Sacred Heart Eagles from East Grand Forks enter section play winning their last four games and the third seeded Fertile-Beltrami Falcons could end their 18 year tournament drought.
There you have it. The four section previews in each class. Plenty of drama and excitement coming up.
Section 1 has started and the top seeded Spring Grove Lions look to duplicate their championship success in Nine Man Football on the basketball court with Alex Folz, who quarterbacked the Lions to the state title. But there's plenty of competition ahead with the second seeded Randolph Rockets, the third seeded Rushford-Peterson Trojans who are looking for their 16th trip up Highway 52 and the fourth seeded Hayfield Vikings who enter section play on an eight game winning streak.
In Section 2, the top seed in the North Subsection is another school who had success on the gridiron, the BOLD Warriors. The Warriors lost to Mahnomen/Waubun by one point in the Class A final but they have a shot at state in basketball if they can get past the second seeded Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers or the third seeded Mayer Lutheran Crusaders. The South Subsection will be a three team race between the top seeded Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers, the second seeded Springfield Trojans and the third seeded Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey Wolverines.
What a season for basketball in Minneota. First the girls are the top ranked team in Class A and the boys are the top seeded team in the North Subsection as they lost their only two games by two points to second seeded Lac Qui Parle Valley and the Yellow Medicine East Sting. The Southwest MN Christian Eagles are the top seed in the South Subsection which also has the second seeded Murray county Central Rebels and the third seeded Westbrook/Walnut Grove Chargers.
Heading to Section 4, the top seeded Christ's Household of Faith Lions look to return to their first state tournament since 2001 when they lost in the Class A final to the Southwest MN Christian Eagles. But there are a couple of teams you've probably never heard of that could keep CHOF in St. Paul. They play in the Twin Cities Athletic Conference and they are the second seeded Avail Academy Valor and the third seeded Liberty Classical Academy Lions who are on a seven game winning streak. Avail Academy is based in Fridley and formerly known as Calvin Christian and Liberty Classical Academy is headquartered in White Bear Lake. No TCAC school has ever advanced to the state tournament. Could this be the year?
A couple of hot teams are the top two seeds in the North Subsection of Section 5. The top seeded Cromwell-Wright Cardinals enter section play with an 11 game winning streak and the second seeded Pine River-Backus Tigers have won eight straight. The Tigers are on a quest to return to Minneapolis for the first time since 2001. The South Subsection final could be a "Battle of the Jaguars" with top seeded Hinckley-Finlayson battling Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. Looking to crash the battle is the third seeded Upsala Cardinals, who are looking up into section play after finishing the season with a four game winning streak.
Now to Section 6, where the top seed in the North Section the Henning Hornets could head to the state tournament for the first time since 1966. The town of 802 inhabitants can celebrate if the get past second seeded Mahnomen/Waubun and the top seeded team in the South Subsection their only loss, the Parkers Prairie Bulldogs. The Bulldogs beat the Hornets in their final regular season game 77-74 in overtime. Could another overtime game be possible in the section final?
In Section 7, the top seeded North Woods Grizzlies lost their second straight Class A title game last season and being a 14 game win streak into section play. But the second seeded Nashwauk-Keewatin Spartans and the third seeded Lakeview Christian Lions, who are looking for their first trip down I-35 to Minneapolis since 2013 could keep the Iron Range team back in the range.
Wrapping up the section preview is Section 8 with the top seed in the East Subsection, the Cass Lake Panthers who are in the hunt for their eighth state tournament appearance. The Panthers only loss was to Mahnomen/Waubun on February 5 64-36. First they have to get past the second seeded Win-E-Mac Patriots, in the hunt for their first trip to state since 2000. In the West Subsection, the top seeded Ada-Borup West Cougars are the top seed and it could mean that fans could see one of the great pep bands in the state for the second state week if the girls head to Minneapolis the preceding week. It could be tough for the Cougars as the second seeded Sacred Heart Eagles from East Grand Forks enter section play winning their last four games and the third seeded Fertile-Beltrami Falcons could end their 18 year tournament drought.
There you have it. The four section previews in each class. Plenty of drama and excitement coming up.
Kaleidoscope Charter Comets Rout Groves Academy Griffins
On a chilly Monday night in St. Louis Park, Jacob Donnett heated up and scored a game high 47 points to lead the Kaleidoscope/Holy Spirit Comets to a 103-65 drubbing of the Groves Academy Griffins in the opening round of the 2019 Section 4A Boys Basketball Tournament.
There was good news for the Griffins early when Nick Maiers began the first half scoring on a three pointer :10 into the game. AJ Kargel would score first for the Comets and Goldstein would put Groves Academy ahead. Jacob Donnet would score five of the Comets first seven points and also hit a three pointer to help energize a 6-0 run. Goldstein would end the run for the Griffins and Noah Yager would hit to tie the game at 14. The Comets would forge ahead on a 12-0 run and they would stay in the lead the remainder of the game as Goldstein would end another run. Donnett would hit six shots from Minnetonka Blvd. and he would score 35 first half points to lead the Comets at halftime 62-35.
A brief glimmer of hope for the Griffins came in the second half as they went on a 4-0 run. That would be the only bright spot for Groves Academy in the second half as Kargel would score seven consecutive points as Donnett would go cold, missing several shots. he would hit his first second half basket with 11:24 to play. The Kargel and Donnett tandem would send the game into running time halfway through the second half. With the margin already decided, Griffins head coach Peter Shutte gave reserves an Ethan Ellertson and Jake Anderson some playing time as the season was winding down.
Kargel would finish the game with 41 points for the Comets. Goldstein would lead Groves Academy with 19 points. Larry Mohamed would add 18.
The Comets improved their record to 8-14 and will head to Maple Grove on Tuesday, March 5 to face the Heritage Christian Academy Eagles at 5:30 in the Section 4A Round of 16. The Griffins ended their season with a 5-18 record.
There was good news for the Griffins early when Nick Maiers began the first half scoring on a three pointer :10 into the game. AJ Kargel would score first for the Comets and Goldstein would put Groves Academy ahead. Jacob Donnet would score five of the Comets first seven points and also hit a three pointer to help energize a 6-0 run. Goldstein would end the run for the Griffins and Noah Yager would hit to tie the game at 14. The Comets would forge ahead on a 12-0 run and they would stay in the lead the remainder of the game as Goldstein would end another run. Donnett would hit six shots from Minnetonka Blvd. and he would score 35 first half points to lead the Comets at halftime 62-35.
A brief glimmer of hope for the Griffins came in the second half as they went on a 4-0 run. That would be the only bright spot for Groves Academy in the second half as Kargel would score seven consecutive points as Donnett would go cold, missing several shots. he would hit his first second half basket with 11:24 to play. The Kargel and Donnett tandem would send the game into running time halfway through the second half. With the margin already decided, Griffins head coach Peter Shutte gave reserves an Ethan Ellertson and Jake Anderson some playing time as the season was winding down.
Kargel would finish the game with 41 points for the Comets. Goldstein would lead Groves Academy with 19 points. Larry Mohamed would add 18.
The Comets improved their record to 8-14 and will head to Maple Grove on Tuesday, March 5 to face the Heritage Christian Academy Eagles at 5:30 in the Section 4A Round of 16. The Griffins ended their season with a 5-18 record.
2019 Class AA Boys Basketball Section Preview
Two classes have been previewed and two left to go. Some of the eight Class AA sections are already underway. Who's left standing? Here's who is left and who is about to start section play.
Section 1 has already started and the top seeded Lake City Tigers are the top seed, 40 years after a seven footer named Randy Breuer led them to their second straight Class A title. Looking to keep the Lake city fan buses from heading down the Great River Road are the second seeded Caledonia Warriors, which includes several players from the powerhouse Class AA football championship team, the third seeded Stewartville Trojans and the fourth seeded La Crescent Lancers.
There are only two teams with winning records in Section 2. In the North Subsection, the top seed is the Jordan Hubmen and in the South Subsection, the top seed is the St. Peter Saints. Jordan or St. Peter? Which team will make the trip up Highway 169 to Target Center?
Over in Section 3, the North Subsection's top seed is the New London-Spicer Wildcats, on the trail to their first trip to state since 2014 and their ninth overall. They will have to get past the second seeded Minnewaska Area Lakers or the third seeded Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Tigers. To the South Subsection where the top seeded St. James Saints look to head to Minneapolis for the first time since 2003. The Jackson County Central Huskies occupy the second seed.
The top seed in Section 4 is the winner of two consecutive Class AA state titles the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. The Redhawks are on a 16 game winning streak and have a very talented team led by Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren. They may be the odds on favorites to go for the threepeat but look out for the second seeded St. Croix Prep Lions and the third seeded Cristo Rey Jesuit Pumas who could ground the Redhawks chances and earn their first trip to Target Center.
In Section 5, the top seeded Minneapolis North Polars were a dominant team in Class A but now that they are in Class AA, it will be a tough road for the Polars with the second seeded Breck Mustangs who are led by Colorado State bound David Roddy, the third seeded Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs and the fourth seeded Litchfield Dragons. Can the Polars freeze the opposition or there be an upset along the way?
There's some really good basketball coming up in Section 6 as the top seeded Melrose Dutchmen look to return to state for the first time since they won the Class AA title in 2015 and on the 45th anniversary of the team led by Mark Olberding that won the Class A championship. But before Melrose fans can make the trip down I-94, they are a number of hot teams that could dethrone the Dutchmen. They are the second seeded Albany Huskies, who enter section play with a nine game winning streak, the third seeded St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders who finished the season with four wins in a row plus the fourth seeded Spectrum Sting from Elk River that's won 12 of their last 14 games. But wait, there's more. There is also the fifth seeded Pine City Dragons who have not lost a game since the Blake Bears defeated them 68-66 on January 5. The Dragons are in the hunt for their first state tournament berth since 1980? Who will come out of this section? Head up to St. Cloud State March 15 to find out.
Up north to Section 7 where the top seed in Subsection 1 is the Esko Eskomos, en route to their sixth trip down I-35 to Minneapolis in seven years. But look out for the second seeded Crosby-Ironton Rangers and the third seeded Pequot Lakes Patriots. Fans in the Iron Range could be celebrating again, especially in the small town of Coleraine where the top seeded Greenway Raiders have a shot at their first state tournament berth since 1985. It comes after the boys hockey team sent the Hermantown Hawks home with a double overtime win in the Section 7A final. Greenway is hot while the second seeded Proctor Rails and the third seeded Virginia Blue Devils are not, ending the regualr season with losing streaks of seven and five games.
Concluding the Class AA preview is Section 8, with the North Subsection's top seed the Hawley Nuggets who look to win their first gold medals since 2000. They will have to get past a couple of hot teams, the second seeded East Grand Forks Green Wave, the third seeded Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebelss and the fourth seeded Roseau Rams. The top two seeds in the South Subsection have identical 25-1 records and could mead in the subsection final. The Perham Yellowjackets and the Osakis Silverstreaks. Some great basketball coming up in a region known for hockey.
next up: The eight Class A sections.
Section 1 has already started and the top seeded Lake City Tigers are the top seed, 40 years after a seven footer named Randy Breuer led them to their second straight Class A title. Looking to keep the Lake city fan buses from heading down the Great River Road are the second seeded Caledonia Warriors, which includes several players from the powerhouse Class AA football championship team, the third seeded Stewartville Trojans and the fourth seeded La Crescent Lancers.
There are only two teams with winning records in Section 2. In the North Subsection, the top seed is the Jordan Hubmen and in the South Subsection, the top seed is the St. Peter Saints. Jordan or St. Peter? Which team will make the trip up Highway 169 to Target Center?
Over in Section 3, the North Subsection's top seed is the New London-Spicer Wildcats, on the trail to their first trip to state since 2014 and their ninth overall. They will have to get past the second seeded Minnewaska Area Lakers or the third seeded Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Tigers. To the South Subsection where the top seeded St. James Saints look to head to Minneapolis for the first time since 2003. The Jackson County Central Huskies occupy the second seed.
The top seed in Section 4 is the winner of two consecutive Class AA state titles the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. The Redhawks are on a 16 game winning streak and have a very talented team led by Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren. They may be the odds on favorites to go for the threepeat but look out for the second seeded St. Croix Prep Lions and the third seeded Cristo Rey Jesuit Pumas who could ground the Redhawks chances and earn their first trip to Target Center.
In Section 5, the top seeded Minneapolis North Polars were a dominant team in Class A but now that they are in Class AA, it will be a tough road for the Polars with the second seeded Breck Mustangs who are led by Colorado State bound David Roddy, the third seeded Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs and the fourth seeded Litchfield Dragons. Can the Polars freeze the opposition or there be an upset along the way?
There's some really good basketball coming up in Section 6 as the top seeded Melrose Dutchmen look to return to state for the first time since they won the Class AA title in 2015 and on the 45th anniversary of the team led by Mark Olberding that won the Class A championship. But before Melrose fans can make the trip down I-94, they are a number of hot teams that could dethrone the Dutchmen. They are the second seeded Albany Huskies, who enter section play with a nine game winning streak, the third seeded St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders who finished the season with four wins in a row plus the fourth seeded Spectrum Sting from Elk River that's won 12 of their last 14 games. But wait, there's more. There is also the fifth seeded Pine City Dragons who have not lost a game since the Blake Bears defeated them 68-66 on January 5. The Dragons are in the hunt for their first state tournament berth since 1980? Who will come out of this section? Head up to St. Cloud State March 15 to find out.
Up north to Section 7 where the top seed in Subsection 1 is the Esko Eskomos, en route to their sixth trip down I-35 to Minneapolis in seven years. But look out for the second seeded Crosby-Ironton Rangers and the third seeded Pequot Lakes Patriots. Fans in the Iron Range could be celebrating again, especially in the small town of Coleraine where the top seeded Greenway Raiders have a shot at their first state tournament berth since 1985. It comes after the boys hockey team sent the Hermantown Hawks home with a double overtime win in the Section 7A final. Greenway is hot while the second seeded Proctor Rails and the third seeded Virginia Blue Devils are not, ending the regualr season with losing streaks of seven and five games.
Concluding the Class AA preview is Section 8, with the North Subsection's top seed the Hawley Nuggets who look to win their first gold medals since 2000. They will have to get past a couple of hot teams, the second seeded East Grand Forks Green Wave, the third seeded Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebelss and the fourth seeded Roseau Rams. The top two seeds in the South Subsection have identical 25-1 records and could mead in the subsection final. The Perham Yellowjackets and the Osakis Silverstreaks. Some great basketball coming up in a region known for hockey.
next up: The eight Class A sections.
Sunday, March 3, 2019
2019 Class AAA Boys Basketball Section Preview
After examining eight Class AAAA sections, here's a preview of the eight Class AAA sections.
In Section 1, the top seeded Austin Packers are looking for their third straight trip up I-35 to Minneapolis. They have won nine of their last ten games and have a great chance to make their 32nd trip to state as well compete for their first state title since 1958. Austin has finished second six times since then. But first they will have to get past the second seeded Winona Winhawks or the third seeded Northfield Raiders.
Over in Section 2, the top seeded Waseca Blue Jays got off to a great start with 23 straight wins until they lost to the Marshall Tigers 77-73 on February 22. Waseca could get a rematch with the third seeded Tigers or the second seeded Mankato East Cougars who are on a seven game winning streak after losing three in a row.
Now to Section 3 where the top seeded Holy Angels Stars could follow in the footsteps of the girls team that's playing for a state tournament berth March 7. But there could be three other teams that could dim the Stars state tournament path. The second seeded St. Thomas Academy Cadets, the third seeded St. Paul Harding Knights, which is looking for it's first state tournament trip since the school opened in 1932 and the fourth seeded St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders.
Section 4 has the top seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs, who are on a nine game winning streak and hope to extend it to a dozen to earn their first trip to state since 1961. Looking to end the Zephyrs win streak are the second seeded Totino-Grace Eagles and the third seeded St. Paul Johnson Governors. The only other team at.500 is the fourth seeded St. Anthony Village Huskies.
The good news in Section 5 is that the defending state Class AAA champion Delano Tigers are the top seed. The bad news is they ended the season on a four game losing streak. It could also be a wide open race between the second seeded Willmar Cardinals, the third seeded Monticello Magic and the fourth seeded Big Lake Hornets.
Now here's a familiar refrain. the top seed in Section 6 is the DeLaSalle Islanders, who ended their six year championship reign last season with a loss to the Columbia Heights Hylanders in the Class AAA finals. It won't be easy with contenders that include the second seeded Cooper Hawks, the third seeded Waconia Wildcats and a team that's won 12 straight games and in the hunt for their first state tournament berth since 1974, the fourth seeded Mound-Westonka Whitehawks. Keep an eye on this section. It could get interesting.
Heading up north to Section 7, could this finally be the year the top seeded Princeton Tigers make their first trip down highway 169 to Minneapolis since 1932? Head coach Brett Cloutier has built an outstanding program that is led by Jon Stimmler. But before the Orange and Black fans descend on Minneapolis, there's another hot team to contend with, the second seeded Hibbing Bluejackets. The Bluejackets are on a 14 game winning streak as the vie for the first trip to state in 30 years. It has the makings of an outstanding section final.
Finishing the Class AAA preview is Section 8 as the top seeded Bemidji Lumberjacks are on a quest for their first state tournament trip since 1985. But in their path is the second seeded Sartell-St. Stephen Sabers and the third seeded Alexandria Cardinals.
Next up: The eight Class AA sections.
In Section 1, the top seeded Austin Packers are looking for their third straight trip up I-35 to Minneapolis. They have won nine of their last ten games and have a great chance to make their 32nd trip to state as well compete for their first state title since 1958. Austin has finished second six times since then. But first they will have to get past the second seeded Winona Winhawks or the third seeded Northfield Raiders.
Over in Section 2, the top seeded Waseca Blue Jays got off to a great start with 23 straight wins until they lost to the Marshall Tigers 77-73 on February 22. Waseca could get a rematch with the third seeded Tigers or the second seeded Mankato East Cougars who are on a seven game winning streak after losing three in a row.
Now to Section 3 where the top seeded Holy Angels Stars could follow in the footsteps of the girls team that's playing for a state tournament berth March 7. But there could be three other teams that could dim the Stars state tournament path. The second seeded St. Thomas Academy Cadets, the third seeded St. Paul Harding Knights, which is looking for it's first state tournament trip since the school opened in 1932 and the fourth seeded St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders.
Section 4 has the top seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs, who are on a nine game winning streak and hope to extend it to a dozen to earn their first trip to state since 1961. Looking to end the Zephyrs win streak are the second seeded Totino-Grace Eagles and the third seeded St. Paul Johnson Governors. The only other team at.500 is the fourth seeded St. Anthony Village Huskies.
The good news in Section 5 is that the defending state Class AAA champion Delano Tigers are the top seed. The bad news is they ended the season on a four game losing streak. It could also be a wide open race between the second seeded Willmar Cardinals, the third seeded Monticello Magic and the fourth seeded Big Lake Hornets.
Now here's a familiar refrain. the top seed in Section 6 is the DeLaSalle Islanders, who ended their six year championship reign last season with a loss to the Columbia Heights Hylanders in the Class AAA finals. It won't be easy with contenders that include the second seeded Cooper Hawks, the third seeded Waconia Wildcats and a team that's won 12 straight games and in the hunt for their first state tournament berth since 1974, the fourth seeded Mound-Westonka Whitehawks. Keep an eye on this section. It could get interesting.
Heading up north to Section 7, could this finally be the year the top seeded Princeton Tigers make their first trip down highway 169 to Minneapolis since 1932? Head coach Brett Cloutier has built an outstanding program that is led by Jon Stimmler. But before the Orange and Black fans descend on Minneapolis, there's another hot team to contend with, the second seeded Hibbing Bluejackets. The Bluejackets are on a 14 game winning streak as the vie for the first trip to state in 30 years. It has the makings of an outstanding section final.
Finishing the Class AAA preview is Section 8 as the top seeded Bemidji Lumberjacks are on a quest for their first state tournament trip since 1985. But in their path is the second seeded Sartell-St. Stephen Sabers and the third seeded Alexandria Cardinals.
Next up: The eight Class AA sections.
2019 Class AAAA Boys Basketball Section Preview
The second and last four part section preview looks at the eight boys basketball sections in the four classes. First up is Class AAAA.
Heading south to Section 1 where once again head coach John Oxton has led the Lakeville North Panthers to the top seed. Last season, the Panthers took home the Class AAAA third place trophy. But this year could be the end of the Lakeville monopoly in Section 1 with the hot, second seeded Rochester John Marshall Rockers, winners of 12 straight games. The Rockets have the state's best player in Matthew Hurt, who has not led his team to Target Center. This could be the be the year basketball fans can finally see this talented youngster before some Division I power outside Minnesota keeps him from playing along side his brother Michael at The Barn.
Over in Section 2, the top ranked team in Class AAAA is the top seeded Prior Lake Lakers. Section play, in the words of Ringo Starr "It Don't Come Easy" because there are five other teams that could dethrone Prior Lake. Two teams from the Lake Conference, the second seeded Eden Prairie Eagles and the third seeded Edina Hornets followed by the fourth seeded Shakopee Sabers, the fifth seeded Chaska Hawks who are on an 11 game winning streak and look out for the sixith seeded Chanhassen Storm. Who will it be? Find out in the section final, March 15.
What's up with Section 3? There's only one team with a winning record, the top seeded Eastview Lightning. They enter section play with four wins in their last five games. Looking to pull the upset are the second seeded Burnsville Blaze and the third seeded Eagan Wildcats.
Now to Section 4 which has the best team in Class AAAA besides Prior Lake, the top seeded East Ridge Raptors. The City of Woodbury has had some outstanding team when the Royals were the lone high school team going back to the days of Del Schifffler and on the girls side, Dave Preller but it could be a first for Bryce Texdahl's bunch, led by Ben Carlson and Alex Larson. But first they have to get past the second seeded Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders or the hot third seed, the Tartan Titans who have won 17 games in a row. It should be an outstanding section.
In Section 5, it could be a two team race with a couple of Northwest Suburban Conference teams, the top seeded Park Center Pirates and the second seeded Champlin Park Rebels, who are on a nine game winning streak. The Pirates only loss this season was to the Armstrong Falcons January 8. They have a very talented junior in 6'10" Dain Dainja. Remember Theo John, who led the Rebels to the 2017 Class AAAA final and now plays for Marquette? His brother Alex is a 6'8" senior. Can he lead the Rebels to another trip to Target Center? First they will likely deal with the third seeded Spring Lake Park Panthers.
As of this writing, the Section 6 pairings have not yet been released but it is likely that the top seeds, just like their female counterparts will be Hopkins and Wayzata. As for the St. Louis Park Orioles, they could go fourth or fifth.
Heading north to Section 7 where it has been a great winter season for the blue and white clad Blaine fans. First, the boys hockey team got the number two seed in the state tournament and now the boys basketball team has the top seed. Another school that's also battling for the Class AA boys hockey title is the second seeded Duluth East Greyhounds. Also in the hunt is the third seeded Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets.
Concluding the Class AAAA Preview is Section 8 as the top seeded Maple Grove Crimson hasn't missed a beat since they lost Brad Davison to graduation and the Wisconsin Badgers. A memo to Nick Schroeder, you've got tough competition in your path down I-94 to downtown Minneapolis as the second seeded Buffalo Bison, the third seeded Moorhead Spuds and the fourth seeded St. Michael-Albertville Knights battle the Crimson. Another tough section.
Next up, the eight Class AAA sections.
Heading south to Section 1 where once again head coach John Oxton has led the Lakeville North Panthers to the top seed. Last season, the Panthers took home the Class AAAA third place trophy. But this year could be the end of the Lakeville monopoly in Section 1 with the hot, second seeded Rochester John Marshall Rockers, winners of 12 straight games. The Rockets have the state's best player in Matthew Hurt, who has not led his team to Target Center. This could be the be the year basketball fans can finally see this talented youngster before some Division I power outside Minnesota keeps him from playing along side his brother Michael at The Barn.
Over in Section 2, the top ranked team in Class AAAA is the top seeded Prior Lake Lakers. Section play, in the words of Ringo Starr "It Don't Come Easy" because there are five other teams that could dethrone Prior Lake. Two teams from the Lake Conference, the second seeded Eden Prairie Eagles and the third seeded Edina Hornets followed by the fourth seeded Shakopee Sabers, the fifth seeded Chaska Hawks who are on an 11 game winning streak and look out for the sixith seeded Chanhassen Storm. Who will it be? Find out in the section final, March 15.
What's up with Section 3? There's only one team with a winning record, the top seeded Eastview Lightning. They enter section play with four wins in their last five games. Looking to pull the upset are the second seeded Burnsville Blaze and the third seeded Eagan Wildcats.
Now to Section 4 which has the best team in Class AAAA besides Prior Lake, the top seeded East Ridge Raptors. The City of Woodbury has had some outstanding team when the Royals were the lone high school team going back to the days of Del Schifffler and on the girls side, Dave Preller but it could be a first for Bryce Texdahl's bunch, led by Ben Carlson and Alex Larson. But first they have to get past the second seeded Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders or the hot third seed, the Tartan Titans who have won 17 games in a row. It should be an outstanding section.
In Section 5, it could be a two team race with a couple of Northwest Suburban Conference teams, the top seeded Park Center Pirates and the second seeded Champlin Park Rebels, who are on a nine game winning streak. The Pirates only loss this season was to the Armstrong Falcons January 8. They have a very talented junior in 6'10" Dain Dainja. Remember Theo John, who led the Rebels to the 2017 Class AAAA final and now plays for Marquette? His brother Alex is a 6'8" senior. Can he lead the Rebels to another trip to Target Center? First they will likely deal with the third seeded Spring Lake Park Panthers.
As of this writing, the Section 6 pairings have not yet been released but it is likely that the top seeds, just like their female counterparts will be Hopkins and Wayzata. As for the St. Louis Park Orioles, they could go fourth or fifth.
Heading north to Section 7 where it has been a great winter season for the blue and white clad Blaine fans. First, the boys hockey team got the number two seed in the state tournament and now the boys basketball team has the top seed. Another school that's also battling for the Class AA boys hockey title is the second seeded Duluth East Greyhounds. Also in the hunt is the third seeded Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets.
Concluding the Class AAAA Preview is Section 8 as the top seeded Maple Grove Crimson hasn't missed a beat since they lost Brad Davison to graduation and the Wisconsin Badgers. A memo to Nick Schroeder, you've got tough competition in your path down I-94 to downtown Minneapolis as the second seeded Buffalo Bison, the third seeded Moorhead Spuds and the fourth seeded St. Michael-Albertville Knights battle the Crimson. Another tough section.
Next up, the eight Class AAA sections.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
2019 State Class AA Boys Hockey Tournament Preview
2019 STATE CLASS AA BOYS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
(GAMES PLAYED THURSDAY, MARCH 7 AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER, ST. PAUL)
11:00: White Bear Lake vs. Blaine (Seed 2)
1:00: Lakeville South vs. Eden Prairie (Seed 3)
6:00: Moorhead vs. Edina (Seed 1)
8:00: Duluth East (Seed 5) vs. St. Thomas Academy (Seed 4)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Hey fans, get ready to pack the Xcel Energy Center's green seats as the Class AA quarterfinals begin with the White Bear Lake Bears head to state for the 19th time against the second seeded Blaine Bengals.who head down Highway 65 for their 12th trip to St. Paul. The Bears earned their trip down White Bear Way with a 3-2 win in the Section 4AA final against perennial power Hill-Murray. White Bear Lake has not brought home a championship trophy in their 18 previous trips to state. It won't be easy against the Bengals, who have not lost a game since they fell to the Eden Prairie Eagles 7-6 on December 22.
And speaking of Eden Prairie, the Eagles are the third seed and are in the tournament for the 11th time. They clinched their trip to the X with a 2-1 win over the Holy Family Catholic Fire. Hopefully Casey Mittelstadt will be watching on prep45.com because his brothers John and Luke are playing on the varsity. They will go against the Lakeville South Cougars, who were the fourth seed in Section 1AA and beat the top seeded Hastings Raiders and their city rival, the second seeded Lakeville North Panthers. It's the fourth trip to the X for the Cougars and 14th for a team from the growing metropolis of Lakeville. Can they beat another top seeded team.
Now to the evening session as the Moorhead Spuds are back at the X for their 16th trip to state but they have never won a state title. The Spuds have seven second place finishes and it gets even tougher going up against the top seeded and top ranked team in Class AA the Edina Hornets. The Hornets played Moorhead during the regular season, downing the Spuds 6-5 on December 27. Since the calendar changed to 2019, Edina has gone 15-1-1, including a come from behind win against the Minnetonka Skippers that lofted the Hornets to the top of the Class AA rankings. It's the 38th trip to state for a team from edina. Can they add another trophy to their crowded trophy case?
Concluding the Class AA quarterfinals is the fifth seeded Duluth East Greyhounds, making their 24th trip down I-35 against the St. Thomas Academy Cadets, who head to the X for the 12th time. It's a battle featuring two outstanding coaches, Mike Randolph of the Greyhounds and Tom and Greg Vannelli of the Cadets. The Brothers Vannelli are wrapping up their coaching career looking to win a Class AA title but first they will likely face the Hornets if they win. They lost to Edina 6-2 December 28. Is a rematch in the works?
Outstanding high school hockey coming up in the state tournament's 75th year.
(GAMES PLAYED THURSDAY, MARCH 7 AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER, ST. PAUL)
11:00: White Bear Lake vs. Blaine (Seed 2)
1:00: Lakeville South vs. Eden Prairie (Seed 3)
6:00: Moorhead vs. Edina (Seed 1)
8:00: Duluth East (Seed 5) vs. St. Thomas Academy (Seed 4)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
Hey fans, get ready to pack the Xcel Energy Center's green seats as the Class AA quarterfinals begin with the White Bear Lake Bears head to state for the 19th time against the second seeded Blaine Bengals.who head down Highway 65 for their 12th trip to St. Paul. The Bears earned their trip down White Bear Way with a 3-2 win in the Section 4AA final against perennial power Hill-Murray. White Bear Lake has not brought home a championship trophy in their 18 previous trips to state. It won't be easy against the Bengals, who have not lost a game since they fell to the Eden Prairie Eagles 7-6 on December 22.
And speaking of Eden Prairie, the Eagles are the third seed and are in the tournament for the 11th time. They clinched their trip to the X with a 2-1 win over the Holy Family Catholic Fire. Hopefully Casey Mittelstadt will be watching on prep45.com because his brothers John and Luke are playing on the varsity. They will go against the Lakeville South Cougars, who were the fourth seed in Section 1AA and beat the top seeded Hastings Raiders and their city rival, the second seeded Lakeville North Panthers. It's the fourth trip to the X for the Cougars and 14th for a team from the growing metropolis of Lakeville. Can they beat another top seeded team.
Now to the evening session as the Moorhead Spuds are back at the X for their 16th trip to state but they have never won a state title. The Spuds have seven second place finishes and it gets even tougher going up against the top seeded and top ranked team in Class AA the Edina Hornets. The Hornets played Moorhead during the regular season, downing the Spuds 6-5 on December 27. Since the calendar changed to 2019, Edina has gone 15-1-1, including a come from behind win against the Minnetonka Skippers that lofted the Hornets to the top of the Class AA rankings. It's the 38th trip to state for a team from edina. Can they add another trophy to their crowded trophy case?
Concluding the Class AA quarterfinals is the fifth seeded Duluth East Greyhounds, making their 24th trip down I-35 against the St. Thomas Academy Cadets, who head to the X for the 12th time. It's a battle featuring two outstanding coaches, Mike Randolph of the Greyhounds and Tom and Greg Vannelli of the Cadets. The Brothers Vannelli are wrapping up their coaching career looking to win a Class AA title but first they will likely face the Hornets if they win. They lost to Edina 6-2 December 28. Is a rematch in the works?
Outstanding high school hockey coming up in the state tournament's 75th year.
2019 State Class A Boys Hockey Tournament Preview
2019 STATE CLASS A BOYS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
(GAMES PLAYED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER, ST. PAUL)
11:00: North Branch vs. St. Cloud Cathedral (Seed 2)
1:00: Minnesota River Bulldogs vs. East Grand Forks (Seed 3)
6:00: New Ulm vs. Mahtomedi (Seed 1)
8:00: Delano (Seed 5) vs. Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin (Seed 4)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
For the first time in program history, the North Branch Vikings will be headed down I-35 to St. Paul as they open up the 75th edition of the Minnesota State High Boys Hockey Tournament. The Vikings are on a six game winning streak after they beat the Chisago Lakes Wildcats in the Section 5A Finals. The Red and White had a tough draw as they got the second seeded St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders. The Crusaders have made their ninth trip to state and their third in four years. It's also the combined 25th state tournament appearance by a Granite City school and there have been no state championships. Could this be the year for the Crusaders? They got off to a 12-0 start before falling to the Hermantown Hawks. It could be a big week of hockey for St. Cloud fans.
Concluding the afternoon session is another first time entry, the Minnesota River Bulldogs and the third seeded East Grand Forks Green Wave in their 12th trip to St. Paul. Fans in St. Peter, Le Sueur and Henderson are celebrating the Bulldogs first trip to state as they will head up Highway 169 to cheer on the Bulldogs, who have won 11 or their last 12 games since losing to Mankato East/Loyola 4-3 in overtime December 22. The Green Wave won back to back Class A titles in 2014 and 2015 and have been playing pretty pretty pretty good hockey since they lost three straight games in February. In their last four games, East Grand Forks has activated the red light 17 times and allowing only one goal, which was to Warroad in the Section 8A final. Can the Bulldogs pull off the upset or will the Green Wave continue their quest for the gold.
To the evening session which begins with the New Ulm Eagles returning to the X for the first time since 2015. The Eagles were seeded third in Section 3A and have won five straight games. They go up against the top seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs who have won six of their last seven games and are in their 11th trip to state but still looking for their first state championship. Could this finally be the year head coach Jeff Poechel leads the Zephyrs to a state title? Not so fast Zephyr fans. They still have to get past St. Cloud Cathedral or East Grand Forks if they can hoist the championship trophy March 9.
Wrapping up the Class A quarterfinals is the team that ended the Orono Spartans Class A title reign the fifth seeded Delano Tigers who will battle a team you didn't expect to make the trip to St. Paul, the Greenway/Nashwauk Keewatin Raiders. The Tigers make their first trip down Highway 12 since 2017 and went through the Section 2A tournament outscoring their three opponents 10-0. As for the Raiders, in a dramatic finish in Duluth, they ended the Hermantown Hawks nine year state tournament run with a 2-1 double overtime win in the Section 7A final, earning the Coleraine based school their first trip to state since 2001 and 10th overall. Can their momentum continue?
Next: The Class AA preview
(GAMES PLAYED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER, ST. PAUL)
11:00: North Branch vs. St. Cloud Cathedral (Seed 2)
1:00: Minnesota River Bulldogs vs. East Grand Forks (Seed 3)
6:00: New Ulm vs. Mahtomedi (Seed 1)
8:00: Delano (Seed 5) vs. Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin (Seed 4)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
For the first time in program history, the North Branch Vikings will be headed down I-35 to St. Paul as they open up the 75th edition of the Minnesota State High Boys Hockey Tournament. The Vikings are on a six game winning streak after they beat the Chisago Lakes Wildcats in the Section 5A Finals. The Red and White had a tough draw as they got the second seeded St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders. The Crusaders have made their ninth trip to state and their third in four years. It's also the combined 25th state tournament appearance by a Granite City school and there have been no state championships. Could this be the year for the Crusaders? They got off to a 12-0 start before falling to the Hermantown Hawks. It could be a big week of hockey for St. Cloud fans.
Concluding the afternoon session is another first time entry, the Minnesota River Bulldogs and the third seeded East Grand Forks Green Wave in their 12th trip to St. Paul. Fans in St. Peter, Le Sueur and Henderson are celebrating the Bulldogs first trip to state as they will head up Highway 169 to cheer on the Bulldogs, who have won 11 or their last 12 games since losing to Mankato East/Loyola 4-3 in overtime December 22. The Green Wave won back to back Class A titles in 2014 and 2015 and have been playing pretty pretty pretty good hockey since they lost three straight games in February. In their last four games, East Grand Forks has activated the red light 17 times and allowing only one goal, which was to Warroad in the Section 8A final. Can the Bulldogs pull off the upset or will the Green Wave continue their quest for the gold.
To the evening session which begins with the New Ulm Eagles returning to the X for the first time since 2015. The Eagles were seeded third in Section 3A and have won five straight games. They go up against the top seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs who have won six of their last seven games and are in their 11th trip to state but still looking for their first state championship. Could this finally be the year head coach Jeff Poechel leads the Zephyrs to a state title? Not so fast Zephyr fans. They still have to get past St. Cloud Cathedral or East Grand Forks if they can hoist the championship trophy March 9.
Wrapping up the Class A quarterfinals is the team that ended the Orono Spartans Class A title reign the fifth seeded Delano Tigers who will battle a team you didn't expect to make the trip to St. Paul, the Greenway/Nashwauk Keewatin Raiders. The Tigers make their first trip down Highway 12 since 2017 and went through the Section 2A tournament outscoring their three opponents 10-0. As for the Raiders, in a dramatic finish in Duluth, they ended the Hermantown Hawks nine year state tournament run with a 2-1 double overtime win in the Section 7A final, earning the Coleraine based school their first trip to state since 2001 and 10th overall. Can their momentum continue?
Next: The Class AA preview
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