The coaches have selected the top seeds in all four classes for the
fifth time — Minneapolis North Community in Class A, St. Croix Lutheran
of West St. Paul in Class AA, DeLaSalle of Minneapolis in Class AAA, and
Osseo in Class AAAA.
Two teams are returning to defend their 2015 titles: DeLaSalle in Class AAA and Apple Valley in Class AAAA.
Two Class A teams are making first appearances: St. Clair and Lake Park-Audubon.
This is the 20th year of the four-class format and the 13th year that
all games are being played in Minneapolis. This is the final year the
boys’ basketball tournament will precede the girls’ basketball
tournament because Target Center is hosting the National Collegiate
Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff tournament.
The seeding process had all 32 coaches of the section champions log
onto a special page of the League Web site. Each coach then ranked the
other teams in their class one through seven. The highest and lowest
rankings for each team were discarded, leaving five rankings for each
team. From those rankings, the top five teams were seeded. In conference
calls with all eight head coaches of each class, League Associate
Director Kevin Merkle announced the top five seeds. Ron Larson,
representing the boys’ basketball coaches association, then blindly drew
the three remaining teams to establish the opponent for each seeded
team. Numbers four and five automatically play each other.
The 2016 State Boys’ Basketball Tournament starts Wednesday, March 19.
Quarterfinal games will be played at Target Center on Wednesday, March
10, and at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in
Minneapolis on both Wednesday and Thursday, March 9 and 10. Semifinals
will be played at Target Center on Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March
11. The championship games of all four classes will be played at Target
Center on Saturday, March 12. Third-place games will be played on
Saturday at Concordia University in St. Paul.
Detailed statistics provided by qualified teams are available on the League’s Web site — www.MSHSL.org — as a Media Guide link under Tournaments, then Winter, then Boys’ Basketball.
Class A Preview
(Section 2) St. Clair (22-7) vs. (Section 4 & No. 1 Seed)
Minneapolis North Community (26-5): The Cyclones of St. Clair are making
their debut tournament appearance. St. Clair closed the season unranked
in the final Minnesota Basketball News (MBN) poll. Minneapolis North
Community returns to competition for the first time since 2003, making
its 20th overall appearance in the tournament. The Polars, who were
ranked No. 1 in the final MBN poll, previously won championships in
1980, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2003.
(Section 8 & No. 5 Seed) Red Lake (26-4) vs. (Section 5 & No. 4
Seed) Browerville/Eagle Valley (26-2): Red Lake is making its third
consecutive and eighth overall appearance. The Warriors fell in the
quarterfinals in 2015 and enter the tournament ranked No. 7 in the final
MBN poll. The Tigers of Browerville/Eagle Valley closed the season
ranked No. 5 by MBN. It is their first appearance as Browerville/Eagle
Valley, which includes students from Clarissa. Browerville competed in
the tournament in 2012.
(Section 7) Mountain Iron-Buhl (24-6) vs. (Section 3 & No. 2 Seed)
Central MN Christian (26-3): Mountain Iron-Buhl returns to tournament
play for the first time since 2005. It is the third overall appearance
for the Rangers, who finished the season unranked in the final MBN poll.
No. 4-ranked Central MN Christian looks to improve on its third-place
showing in last year’s tournament. The Bluejays are making their second
consecutive and second overall appearance. Central MN Christian, which
is located in Prinsburg, includes students from Community Christian High
School of Willmar.
(Section 6) Lake Park-Audubon (26-4) vs. (Section 1 & No. 3 Seed)
Goodhue (22-9): In this match-up of two unranked teams, the Raiders of
Lake Park-Audubon are making their first ever tournament appearance.
This is the third overall appearance and first since 2011 for the
Goodhue Wildcats.
Class A Quarterfinal Schedule — Thursday, March 10
11:00 a.m. — St. Clair vs. Minneapolis North Community at Williams Arena, U of M
1:00 p.m. — Red Lake vs. Browerville/Eagle Valley at Williams Arena, U of M
3:00 p.m. — Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. Central Minnesota Christian at Williams Arena, U of M
5:00 p.m. — Lake Park-Audubon vs. Goodhue at Williams Arena, U of M
Class AA Preview
(Section 8) Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (25-5) vs. (Section 4 & No. 1
Seed) St. Croix Lutheran, West St. Paul (27-2): The Rebels of
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton are making their second overall appearance and
first since 2004. They were not ranked in this year’s final MBN poll.
St. Croix Lutheran looks to improve on last year’s third-place finish.
The Crusaders, who finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final MBN
poll, are making their second consecutive and third overall appearance.
(Section 2 & No. 5 Seed) Maple River, Mapleton (27-3) vs. (Section 6
& No. 4 Seed) Braham (28-2): Maple River is making its second
consecutive and seventh overall tournament appearance under this name,
placing fourth in 2015. The Eagles closed the season ranked No. 10 by
MBN. They won their only title in 1993; Mapleton made one additional
appearance in 1979. Braham returns to tournament play for the first time
since 2012, making its eighth overall appearance. The Bombers won three
consecutive championships between 2004 and 20006. Braham finished No. 4
in this year’s final MBN poll.
(Section 3) Jackson County Central (23-5) vs. (Section 1 & No. 2
Seed) Caledonia (28-2): The unranked Huskies of Jackson County Central
appear for the first time under this name. Jackson made one additional
appearance in 1987. No. 2-ranked Caledonia was the 2015 runner-up. The
Warriors are making their third consecutive and sixth overall
appearance, and won a championship in 1997.
(Section 5) Annandale (25-5) vs. (Section 7 & No. 3 Seed) Esko
(27-3): The Cardinals of Annandale enter tournament play unranked in the
final MBN poll. They are making their fourth consecutive and fifth
overall appearance, with a loss in the 2015 quarterfinals. The Esko
Eskomos, who also lost in the 2015 quarterfinals, finished the season
ranked No. 8 in the final MBN poll. Esko returns for a fourth
consecutive and sixth overall appearance; they won one previous
championship in 2014.
Class AA Quarterfinal Schedule — Wednesday, March 9
6:00 p.m. — Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton vs. St. Croix Lutheran at Target Center
8:00 p.m. — Maple River vs. Braham at Target Center
6:00 p.m. — Jackson County Central vs. Caledonia at Williams Arena, U of M
8:00 p.m. — Annandale vs. Esko at Williams Arena, U of M
Class AAA Preview
(Section 4) Fridley (13-13) vs. (Section 6 & No. 1 Seed) DeLaSalle,
Minneapolis (21-4): Fridley returns to make its second appearance but
first since 2002. This year’s team was not ranked in the final MBN poll.
The four-time defending champions from DeLaSalle are making their fifth
consecutive and 21st overall appearance. The Islanders are in the hunt
for their 10th title and were ranked No. 1 in the final MBN poll. In
addition to the past four years, DeLaSalle also won in 1985, 1988, 1998,
1999, and 2006.
(Section 5 & No. 5 Seed) Monticello (19-10) vs. (Section 7 &
No. 4 Seed) Chisago Lakes, Lindstrom (22-6): Monticello, which was not
ranked in the final MBN poll, returns for its ninth appearance. The
Magic made their last appearance in 2006. The unranked Wildcats of
Chisago Lakes return to the tournament to make their third appearance.
Their last appearance was in 1997.
(Section 3) Simley, Inver Grove Heights (14-14) vs. (Section 1 &
No. 2 Seed) Red Wing (27-2): The unranked Simley Spartans are making
their third appearance, but first since 1997. The Spartans also won
their only championship in 1997. The Wingers of Red Wing return to
tournament action for the first time since 2004. This is their 25th
appearance overall and they won their previous titles in 1915, 1920,
1922, and 1933. Red Wing was ranked No. 2 in this year’s final MBN poll.
(Section 2) Waseca (20-9) vs. (Section 8 & No. 3 Seed) Fergus Falls
(26-3): The unranked Bluejays of Waseca return for their ninth
appearance but first since 2002. Waseca won its only championship in
1918. The Fergus Falls Otters are also making their ninth appearance;
their last was in 2004. Fergus Falls was ranked No. 9 in this year’s
final MBN poll.
Class AAA Quarterfinals Schedule — Wednesday, March 9
10:00 a.m. — Fridley vs. DeLaSalle at Williams Arena, U of M
12:00 p.m. — Monticello vs. Chisago Lakes at Williams Arena, U of M
2:00 p.m. — Simley vs. Red Wing at Williams Arena, U of M
4:00 p.m. — Waseca vs. Fergus Falls at Williams Arena, U of M
Class AAAA Preview
(Section 2) Eden Prairie (16-13) vs. (Section 5 & No. 1 Seed) Osseo
(29-0): Eden Prairie returns for its 10th appearance, but first since
2013. The Eagles were not ranked in this year’s final MBN poll. Osseo
was the No. 2 team in the MBN poll. The Orioles return to tournament
action after a one-year hiatus to make their ninth appearance. If they
win, it would be their third title; they won previously in 2001 and
2012.
(Section 1 & No. 5 Seed) Lakeville North (24-5) vs. (Section 8
& No. 4 Seed) Maple Grove (25-4): Lakeville North is making its
fifth consecutive and sixth overall appearance. The Panthers, who placed
fourth in 2015, are looking for their second title. They won their
first championship in 2014 and were ranked No. 7 in this year’s final
MBN poll. Maple Grove is making its fourth appearance but first since
2011. The Crimson closed the year ranked No. 4 in the final MBN poll.
(Section 4) North, North St. Paul (24-5) vs. (Section 6 & No. 2
Seed) Hopkins (28-1): North returns to tournament action for the first
time since 1999. It is the sixth overall appearance for the Polars, who
finished the season unranked in the final MBN poll. No. 3-ranked Hopkins
returns to make its third consecutive and 22nd overall appearance. The
Royals fell in the quarterfinals in 2015. Hopkins has earned
championship honors eight times: 1952, 1953, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009,
2010 and 2011.
(Section 7) Blaine (19-10) vs. (Section 3 & No. 3 Seed) Apple
Valley (28-1): The unranked Blaine Bengals are making their fifth
appearance, but first since 2009. The defending champions from Apple
Valley are making their second consecutive and eighth overall
appearance. In addition to last year, they also won in 2013. The Eagles
ended their season at No. 1 in the final MBN poll.
Class AAAA Quarterfinals Schedule — Wednesday, March 9
10:00 a.m. — Eden Prairie vs. Osseo at Target Center
12:00 p.m. — Lakeville North vs. Maple Grove at Target Center
2:00 p.m. — North vs. Hopkins at Target Center
4:00 p.m. — Blaine vs. Apple Valley at Target Center
Television and Webcast Coverage
All semifinal and championship games will be televised live by 45TV and
also streamed live at Prep45.com for a fee of $6.97 per day. A
three-day tournament pass may be purchased for $14.97. Live statistics
of all games will also be displayed on the League website (www.MSHSL.org).
Press Conferences
There will be a press conference after each game after a mandatory
“cooling-off” period. A media steward will assist you making contact
with any players or coaches you wish to interview.
Ticket Information
Tickets will be available at Target Center and Williams Arena.
Quarterfinal tickets cost $14.00 for adults and $9.00 for students.
Quarterfinal wristbands, which are good at both venues on Wednesday
only, are $19.00 for adults and $12.00 for students. Semifinal and
championship tickets will be available at Target Center and are $14.00
for adults and $9.00 for students per session. Third-place tickets will
be available at Concordia University and are $10.00 for adults and $7.00
for students.(courtesy mshsl)
