Previewing Two Days of State High School Basketball Championships

 As spring sports gets underway throughout Minnesota, the winter season winds down this weekend with two days of state basketball finals.  

First, here's a look at Championship Friday in the state girls basketball tournament. 

1:00:  The Class A championship pits the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars and the defending champion Minnesota Vikings.  If there was one common thread in the semifinals, it was that both teams earned a championship berth with a one point victory.  The Jaguars beat Sleepy Eye St. Mary's and the Vikings pulled one out against Mountain Iron-Buhl.  What will the final margin be?  It could be another close game.  

3:00:  Finishing the afternoon session is the Class AA final as the Albany Huskies, led by Paige Meyer, faces the rising Providence Academy Lions. The Huskies are going after their first state title since 2008 and the Lions, a young team led by seventh grader Maddyn Greenway have a shot at winning their first Class AA trophy since 2012.  

6:00:  Opening up the evening session is the unbeaten Marshall Tigers and the Becker Bulldogs.  The Tigers trounced the Holy Angels Stars in the semifinals as they go for their first state title since 2002.  Last season, the Bulldogs advance to the Class AAA championship game but didn't bring home any hardware up Highway 10 due to the tournament's cancellation.  Can they continued their high powered offense that helped them beat Hill-Murray in the semifinals.  

8:00: Championship Friday concludes with the surprising Chaska Hawks face the Rosemount Irish.  The two schools were former members of the Lake Conference and now they will battle for their first state title.  The Hawks accomplished what 78 other opponents failed to do and it was to beat the defending state champion Hopkins Royals.  The Irish are in their first state championship game since 1988 when they lost to the Edina Hornets.  

Looking at Championship Saturday in the state boys basketball tournament, the day begins with a 1:00 game deciding the Class A title between the Hancock Owls and the Hayfield Vikings.  The Owls were the first team to benefit from the four class format as they won the first Class A championship in 1997.  But the Hayfield Vikings, playing in their first championship game in 20 years could bring the home to southern Minnesota.  

3:00:  A familiar football final matchup was decided on the basketball court on Wednesday when the Caledonia Warriors beat the Minneapolis North Polars.  They will go for their first Class AA title since 1997 against another team looking to end another championship drought, the Waseca Blue Jays.  Last time Waseca won the title trophy was 1918.  Can they end their 103 year drought?  

6:00:  The evening session begins with the Class AAA championship as the Alexandria Cardinals battle the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks.  The Cardinals battled back in the semifinals to beat the Richfield Spartans.  The Redhawks, led by national Player of the Year Chet Holmgren are going for their fourth consecutive state title.  

8:00:  Concluding Championship Saturday is the Class AAAA title game featuring the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders and the Wayzata Trojans.  The Raiders, led by junior Tre Holloman are back in the Class AAAA final since their last second win in 2018 over the Apple Valley Eagles.  The Trojans are playing in their first state championship game since 1959 when they beat Carlton 55-41.  Can they overtake the Raiders to add the school's first title trophy in 62 years?  

There's plenty of great basketball action Friday and Saturday.  Due to seating limitations at Target Center, the best way to follow the action is on 45TV or prep45.com.