Among many other things, the MSHSL is not picking an all-tournament team this year, and I'm told it may not reinstate the all-tournament teams...ever. We'll see. But for this year, you'll have to take my word for it. Oh, yeah, there'll be some other all-tournament teams out there but here is where you'll get the gospel truth.
Class AA
AA Tournament MVP--Ryan Dufault, Waseca, 6-0, senior, point guard. 6 feet? Seriously? He's listed at 6 feet. I was gonna say 5-9? Oh, well, your choice. But it turned out to be Ryan Dufault vs. Austin Klug for all the marbles. Klug outscored Dufault 25-23 in the final but you might have seen Dufault maneuver past not one, not two, but three Caledonia defenders for that final left baseline 12-footer with 3-4 seconds left. Over 3 games he scored 59 points to tie teammate Andrew Morgan for the AA scoring leader. But as good as Morgan and Kyreese Willingham are, and Waseca needed all 3, it became increasingly obvious as the tournament moved along that Dufault was the straw that stirred the drink. And in the end, he stirred up a state title.
Austin Klug, Caledonia, 6-5, senior, combo guard. So let me get this straight. Eli King was Caledonia's best player but he tore an ACL in January and didn't return. If King was half as good as Austin Klug, then if King was playing, there is no way in God's green earth that Caledonia doesn't win the AA title. But it wasn't meant to be. Klug averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists during the regular season but, like his opposite number, Ryan Dufault, against elite competition, Klug stepped up and took charge of this team, averaging 19 ppg in 3 tournament games, and 8 boards and 3 assists in the 2 TV games. If he makes the game-winner, he's the MVP. They were that close.
Andrew Morgan, Waseca, 6-9, senior, power forward. Caledonia did a great job of neutralizing Morgan who scored 9 points with 8 boards and 2 blocks in the final. But for 3 games, he tied teammate Ryan Dufault for top scorer in AA (59 points), he scored 50 in his first 2 games, and was among the top rebounders and shot blockers.
Chance Fazio, Fergus Falls, 6-0, senior, post. Fazio was a revelation. I had never seen him before. For a 7-foot 18 year old not named Chet Holmgren, he's got good mobility and especially good quickness around the ball, and good hands. He scored 36 points in 2 games, and had 15 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks against Waseca and Andrew Morgan.
Kyreese Willingham, Waseca, 6-5, senior, wing. Like brother Malik, Kyreese is wonderfully athletic, which enabled him to score 35 points in 3 games with 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 steals in the 2 TV games. But, honestly, he's not much of a shooter, like brother Malik. Malik did everything else really well and went to Stanford to play college ball. Well, he ended up back at Mankato State where Kyreese will join him. I don't mean to be critical, really, I mean, he's the #4 player in the AA tournament. But it's kinda the truth.
2nd Team
Davon Townley, Minneapolis Central, 6-6, senior, center. Going to Penn State to play football but he's also a pretty good basketball player. Just a great strong, mobile athlete. He overpowered a damn good ballplayer in Sam Privet of Caledonia sometimes for 19 points and 10 boards.
Jackson Loge, Morris, 6-8, junior, post. I was surprised that Waseca beat Morris as badly as they did but Loge proved to be a player, scoring 25 points with 8 boards, 3 assists and 5 blocks.
Sam Privet, Caledonia, 6-8, senior, post. Lost the battle but won the war against Townley. Played Morgan to a draw. Scored 35 points in 3 games with 11 boards and 4 assists in the 2 TV games. Among Morgan, Fazio, Townley, Loge and Privet, the AA tournament had some really nice size out there.
Jackson Koepke, Caledonia, 6-3, junior, shooting guard. Missed the last second 3 from long distance that might have beaten Waseca. I mean, it wasn't a fair fight, he was 35 feet out. But Caledonia drew it up for Koepke, so the guy must be pretty good. He scored 40 points in 3 games.
Addison Metcalf, St. Croix Prep, 6-2, senior, shooting guard. I was surprised Caledonia beat St. Croix Prep as badly as they did, but Metcalf came to play, scoring 20 against what we found out was a hell of an opponent.
Class A
A Tournament MVP--Matt Thompson, Hancock, 6-7, junior, center. This is the toughest choice from any of the 8 tournaments, boys and girls. Thompson or Ethan Slaathaug, Slaathaug or Thompson. Slaathaug's team won and Slaathaug outscored Thompson 71-67. Slaathaug had 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 7 steals in 3 games, while Thompson had 31 boards in just the 2 TV games. In the final Thompson had 18-12-4-3, Slaathaug 20-3-3-4. Not much to pick. But also watching the 2 play 2 full games on TV and going head to head, I like Thompson's game just a little bit better.
Ethan Slaathaug, Hayfield, 6-3, senior, wing. Slaathaug was always on the attack, always full of energy and no question he made the state champions go. Thompson was more the stealthy assassin. Tough choice. But there's also no question that Slaathaug's got more help from his teammates than Thompson did.
Easton Fritcher, Hayfield, 6-0, junior, power forward. When I say Slaathaug's teammates had a little more chutzpah, I am especially thinking of Fritcher. Just 6-0, he pulled down 29 rebounds in the 1st round, just 3 short of an almost 60 year old record. He followed that up with 22 more in the 2 TV games. Just for good measure he also scored 30 points.
Kobey Dallager, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River, 6-1, junior, forward. Dallager sparked BGMR's 1st round upset of Deer River with 25 points and 8 boards, then added 14 against a very tough Hayfield opponent in the semis.
Isaac Matti, Hayfield, 6-2, sophomore, shooting guard. Matti was very solid for a youngster though he managed just 7 points in the final. He scored 40 in the 1st 2 rounds.
2nd Team
Trent Steffensmeier, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, 6-0, junior, combo guard. Scored 47 points in 2 games.
Case Mulder, Central Minnesota Christian, 6-0, junior, combo guard. Sleepy Eye beat CMC in the 1st round as both Steffensmeier and Mulder, both 6-0 juniors, scored 30 points apiece. Mulder added 5 assists.
Ethan Pack, Hayfield, 5-11, sophomore, shooting guard. By the way, just how the hell did Hayfield lose 4 games. Well, they have 2 sophomores starting. I suppose they improved. Like future running mate Matti, Pack was solid if unspectacular, making plays and avoiding mistakes. Just a good solid ballplayer who scored 43 points in 3 games with 10 assists.
Preston Rohloff, Hancock, 6-2, senior, point guard. Take more and more charge of the Hancock offense as the opposition got tougher. Had 6 and then 8 assists in the 2 TV games.
Kaleb Wait, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, 5-11, sophomore, shooting guard. Tough kid, scored 35 points in 2 games, was Sleepy Eye's best player in its semi-final loss to Hancock.
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