2023 Class A State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

 2023 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS A BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                             (Games played Wednesday, March 22 at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus).

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

 1:00:   Border West (Seed 5) vs. Cherry (Seed 4)

 3:00:  Sacred Heart vs. New Life Academy (Seed 2)

 5:00:  Mankato Loyola vs. Spring Grove (Seed 3)

                           EXAMINING THE FIELD

While the rest of the state tournament field gets the day off since the Timberwolves are in action against the Hawks, there's plenty of exciting Class A  basketball at The Barn.  Leading off the day's action will be the Nevis Tigers, playing in their third straight tournament and sixth overall against the top seeded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights.  The Tigers enter the tournament on an eight game winning streak, including a win over the Barnum Bombers in the Section 5 final.  The Knights are in their eighth state tournament and almost went undefeated until they lost to the Dawson Boyd Blackjacks by two points in the Camden Conference final.  R-T-R has won three state titles, the last coming in 2018.  Will this year be their fourth?  

A new entry takes the Barn's elevated floor for the second game as the fifth seeded Border West Buccaneers battle the fourth seeded Cherry Tigers.  You won't find Border West in your Minnesota atlas because the team is comprised of students from Wheaton, Herman, Norcross, Clinton, Graceville and Beardsley.  Border West has been playing outstanding basketball, not losing a game since December 29.  They will face the fourth seeded Cherry Tigers, featuring the Three Asumas, Noah, Isaiah and Isaac.  Gopher fans can look forward to seeing Isaac in action because he committed to playing for Ben Johnson in 2024.  It should be an interesting match up.  

Making the trip from East Grand Forks for the second straight year is the Sacred Heart Eagles.  The Eagles have won 10 of their last 11 games and face the second seeded New Life Academy Eagles, in their fourth trip to state.  New Life Academy has won 10 straight games and led by Erick Reader.  Who will win The Battle of the Eagles?  

Closing the quarterfinal session is the Mankato Loyola Crusaders and the third seeded Spring Grove Lions.  There's been plenty of outstanding boys basketball in Mankato this winter with Mankato East in the Class AAA tournament and the Crusaders heading to Minneapolis for the first time since 2004.  The Crusaders were the second seed in the Section 2 South Subsection and beat Cedar Mountain to earn their seventh state tournament trip.  The Lions are in their second state tournament and first since 2019.  High school sports fans might recognize some of the Spring Grove athletes who played in the Nine Man football final but lost to Mountain Iron-Buhl.  Can they bring home a state title in boys basketball?  

Plenty of high school boys basketball action coming up this week.