2022 Class A State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

 2022 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS A BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                         (Games played Wednesday, March 23 at Williams Arena on University of Minnesota campus)

11:00:  Russell-Tyler-Ruthton vs. Hayfield (Seed 1)

 1:00:   Cherry (Seed 5) vs. Nevis (Seed 4)

 3:00:   Sleepy Eye St. Mary's vs. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (Seed 2)

 5:00:   Sacred Heart vs. New Life Academy (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  There's some top notch boys basketball Wednesday at The Barn and it starts with the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights in their seventh trip to state facing the top seed and defending state champion Hayfield Vikings.  The Knights shined in the spotlight in the Section 3 final as they beat the Central Minnesota Christian Blue Jays in overtime.  They don't have a lot of height as they face the defending Class A champion Vikings who are making their sixth trip to Minneapolis.  Their only losses this season were to the Rushford-Peterson Trojans and the Maple River Eagles.  Can the Vikings make it back to back Class A titles this season.  

For the first time since 1997, the Cherry Tigers have qualified for the state tournament.  They played their opponent the Nevis Tigers on January 18 and lost 67-45.  They also faced the Hayfield Vikings on February 5 and lost 78-65.  The Nevis Tigers, in their fifth state tournament, overcame a two game losing streak and have gone 19-1 since the calendar page changed to 2022.  Their only loss since then was on March 4 to he Cass Lake-Bena Panthers.  It will be a Battle of the Tigers in the day's second quarterfinal game.  Can Nevis continue their winning streak and set up a possible rematch with Hayfield?  

Another hot team in the field is the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Saints, making the trip to Minneapolis for the fifth time.  The Saints have not lost a game since they were defeated by Minnesota Valley Lutheran on January 25 70-62.  They will face the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars, playing in their fourth state tournament and their first since 2014.  They had some great teams back then under the leadership of a former Bloomington Jefferson Jaguar Dave Montbriand.  Now Chris Anderson is guiding the Jaguars and they have gone 19-1 since they lost to the New London-Spicer Wildcats 58-56 on January 7.  Can Anderson lead the Jaguars to a title game berth?  

Wrapping up the quarterfinal session is the only first time team in the tournament. the Sacred Heart Eagles as they take on the New Life Academy Eagles, playing in their fourth state tournament and making their first trip down I-94 since 2004.  Sacred Heart took home the Section 8 title trophy with a double overtime win over the Cass Lake-Bena Panthers.  There is joy for basketball fans in the Woodbury area after the East Ridge Raptors were beat by the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders in the Section 4AAAA final.  New Life Academy is a young team with only one senior, Kollin Kaemingk and a 6'8" junior Erick Reader.  New Life has won 16 straight games since losing on December 22 to Plainview-Elgin-Millville.  Who will win the Battle of the Birds?  

There's some great basketball action coming up this week.