This Week It's the Boys

Well, the girls have done their business and moved on, and they've wiped up the blood from the Target Center and Williams Arena floors, so that must mean that the boys will be taking the court shortly. I would certainly advise everyone to see as many games as you can but, in case you cannot, here's what's going to happen.

From a historical perspective, what's likely to happen is that #1AAAA seed Hopkins will become the all-time winningest program, based on the number of state championships. Currently, Hopkins and Mpls. Patrick Henry are tied with six. Hopkins could be the first to 7 in 2010. On the other hand, if Hopkins doesn't win, but DeLaSalle does, then the Islanders would get into the 1st place tie with the Royals and the Patriots.

There are also a number of possible rematches of recent state tournament games, which are mentioned below. Unfortunately the one rematch that won't happen is December's match-up of Hopkins and St. Paul Johnson, the #1 seeds in AAAA and AAA respectively, and generally regarded as the state's top 2 teams. Johnson has moved down from AAAA to AAA, where they should easily outclass the field. Hopkins doesn't figure to get a lot more resistance from the AAAA field but, hey, there's a reason they play the games.

Wednesday

Class AAA

Class AAA, the lucky stiffs, get to play at Williams, the set of all Minnesota basketball history and tradition. The action kicks off with the state's best team, St. Paul Johnson, against Hutchinson at 12 noon.

Johnson over Hutchinson--Johnson plays the game the right way. They go 10 deep without giving anything up. They play at a high rate of speed without turning the ball over or taking bad shots. See? It can be done. Vern Simmons is Minnesota's coach of the year if his team wins the AAA title. Johnson by 22.

Winona over Orono--Southern Minny basketball has been fading, fading, fading, so my gut says Orono. But I'm told that 7-footer Alec Brown isn't the Winhawks' only weapon. We'll see. Winona by 6.

Benilde and DeLaSalle take on Grand Rapids and Little Falls--I forget which is which. Deja vu all over again? Last year it was Mpls. Washburn and St. Paul Johnson over Grand Rapids and Little Falls in the afternoon quarter-finals. In both cases, the Thunderhawks and Flyers put up surprisingly strong resistance. They will do the same this year. The Flyers Dan Kornbaum, in particular, is one to see. DeLaSalle by 14, and then the upset special: Grand Rapids over Benilde by 2.

Class AAAA

Meanwhile over at the Target, Hopkins will win the opener at noon against Forest Lake. The Lakers--er, well, they're the Rangers, actually--have a kid you should see named Zach Riedeman, but the Royals have too many weapons. Hopkins by 14.

Henry Sibley's W-L isn't much but they play anybody and everybody. People talk about their size, but watch those guards. Sibley beats Eastview by 10.

Like I said, Southern Minny/Big Nine basketball is fading. Eden Prairie over Owatonna by 23.

Finally, a close game. Still, Champlin Park will prevail over St. Cloud Tech by 8.

Class AA

In the one split class--with 1st round games at both Target and Williams, that is--the Target Center seems to have the bette initial match-ups, so that's where I'll be.

Plainview over Jordan by 14. Can't wait to see Yuri Malashenko of the Hubmen. Still, Plainview has a lot of talent for a AA, plus they've been on this court for state tournament games before. A potent combo.

Minnehaha will surprise a lot of people (but not me), knocking off Crosby-Ironton by 5.

Actually, there is a reason to go to Williams rather than Target for AA. His name is Grant Bjorklund and he plays for Sibley East. He's why his team will knock off the Braham Bombers by 14.

Ah, but another reason to stay at the Target. The big mismatch of AA 1st round play: New London-Spicer over Windom by 18.

There are a couple of intriguing rematches here, both involving New London-Spicer. One is a repeat of a 2006 1st round game won by Braham 76-52 en route to the Bombers' 2006 state title. The other is the 2008 final won by the Wildcats over Crosby-Ironton 59-51.

Thursday

Class A

This one gives me a lot of heartburn. On paper Rushford-Peterson (15-14) has no business being here, but we've said that before. They play a bunch of AA schools during the regular season, so the record is a bit deceiving. My head says Springfield, but my gut says Rushford-Pete by 2.

Bring your calculator. Minnesota Transitions will be in triple figures by the 9:00 mark of the 2nd half, which is a comment about the pace of play rather than of Cass Lake's ability. MTC by 28.

Sebeka's another one who's been on this floor before (last year), and that and some pretty good talent translates into a 17 point win over Mesabi East.

Ellsworth's yet another whose experience at the state level makes them fiendishly difficult to beat. Hillcrest will surprise you, but lose by 9.

In A, an interesting sidelight is the number of potential rematches. Well, MTC vs. Cass Lake in the 1st round isn't a potential rematch, it is a rematch of a terrific 2008 semi won by MTC 87-77.

Ellsworth will need to get to the final--not in itself an unlikely possibility--to get a rematch with a past state tournament opponent. But if they do, 3 of the 4 possible opponents represent rematches. Two years ago Ellsworth beat MTC for the title 81-63. Three years ago they beat Cass Lake 74-73 after beating Rushford-Peterson 77-66 in OT. And four years ago they lost to RP in the final 55-52.

On the way to that 2006 state title, RP also knocked off Cass Lake 58-40.

More to come.