Section championship week saw a few favorites bite the dust, some drama, some comebacks, some running time. I was able to get to seven games in six days with five semifinals, and two title match ups. There were three games that I charted that were down to the last minute, one down to the last possession.
Playoff atmosphere is back after the virus year. Still some fans were still masked—-most of them from Minneapolis. The further away from the metro the less masks you see. I was a sardine twice this week. The first time was at St. Croix Lutheran. The Crusaders opened up the bleachers on the bench side for the first time in my long years of going to games there. The Minneapolis Roosevelt fans included many teachers that were in solidarity with the students. I had no footrest for that game. It was even more crowded in the 6A title game Friday at Fergus Falls. I was a sardine again, but also had to precariously balance standing on one leg with the computer on the other knee as there was plenty of standing throughout the contest, some the traditional “we will stand until we score” at the start of each half. Most of the last moments of the game were perpetually standing up. Luckily I kept my balance and kept an accurate record.
MONDAY: GLENCOE-SILVER LAKE 67, BELLE PLAINE 66
Glenceo-Silver Lake overcame a 19 point deficit to top Belle Plaine in the first semifinal. There were 15 minutes left when GSL trailed 46-27. The Wildcats stormed back behind the aggressive attacks to the rim by Mylea Monahan plus well timed long distance dialing. Two consecutive 3s cut the deficit to 57-54 with 5:30 left in the game. With under 2:30 left GSL took their first lead in the second half on a 3 by Monahan (62-61). Josie Schmidt hit a 3 to put BP up 66-64 with about a minute left. Monahan responded right away with a drive on the left side. GSL forced two BP turnovers on the next two Tiger possessions. With 22 seconds left GSL had the ball. A drive misfired, but Hannah Graf was there for the rebound and was fouled with 2.4 seconds left. She made the game winning free throw and then GSL hung on as BP could not get a shot off.
MONDAY: LAKE CRYSTAL-WELLCOME MEMORIAL 70, NRHEG 64
The one-two punch of Olivia Harazin and Lauren Cooper provided the Knights of LCWM with 52 of their 70 points and helped propel LCWM to the 2A title match. LCWM was scorching early with Harazin blazing away with five straight 3s to open the game. (not possessions, but her first five shots spread throughout the early portion of the game. As a result the Knights led 33-19 with over seven minutes left in the first half. The Panthers clawed their way back in the game, but the margin never really closed past eight. Foul trouble was an issue for NRHEG two players in deep problems. NRHEG actually had more free throw attempts, but one of the players in trouble was Sophie Stork who ended up with a team high 28 points. Harazin did her one better for LCWM and led everyone for the week with 29. It was raining 3s all day in this game with LCWM hitting eleven and NRHEG eight.
This was the best game of the week if you measure the losing team’s pp100. NRHEG had a 108. Only four teams had a better mark.
TUESDAY: ST. CROIX LUTHERAN 62, MINNEAPOLIS ROOSEVELT 30 95.5/44.8
This had an odd start time of 8:01 and perhaps that is part of the reason for the extremely low scoring first half which went to the hosts 17-13. The Teddies led 6-2 after 4:30 minutes of action. After Monday’s stratospheric pp100s, we were looking at both teams below 50 at the break. Clearly SCL was sputtering but righted their cause in the second half while the Teddies remained mired in offensive struggles. The game was still tight at 20-17 with fifteen minutes to go. Two minutes later SCL was on their way to a win with 10-2 run. Roosevelt only managed ten more points the rest of the way. SCL’s Laura Hauge delivered a game high 18 for the Crusaders
WEDNESDAY: FERGUS FALLS 65, CROOKSTON 50
The best AAA team in AA won the first semifinal. FF with a population of over 13,000 in the 2010 census, outscored the #5 seed Pirates 12-2 the last 3:30 of the first half to go in front 32-23 at the break. FF made the state tournament in 2018. The first four minutes of the second half saw another 9-2 advantage for the Otters, or a 21-4 run over the course of two halves. FF, with a steady diet of AAAA and AAA teams in the Central Lakes conference, stayed the course the rest of the way. Ellie Colbeck led FF with 22 points.
WEDNESDAY: MENAHGA 70, PERHAM 49
The best A team in AA had a blazing first half evidenced with a pp100 of 150 at the break, in their win over Perham. Menahga, with a 2010 population of 1306 (no I did not leave out a zero), scored inside and out (with ten 3s). This was a match up post play. Perham’s Willow Thiel had a game high 25 points as she proved extremely effective on the blocks. Menahga’s Janie Tormanen had 19 points. Thiel also had the pp100 advantage at 147 to 105. But Tormanen had help. Four players had nine points or greater for Menahga, who lives in the Park Region conference—a class A conference.
The Braves had the best pp100 of any winner this week at 122. On Friday FF returned to state and Menahga’s pp100 returned to earth. Both teams made the 2019 state tournament, but FF in AAA, Menahga in A.
THURSDAY: BECKER 69, MONTICELLO 32
Tuesday, I needed to see Roosevelt, the highest unseen team (for me). Thursday, I needed to see Monticello, who got the nod over Grand Meadow in the 1A final. So, it was off to Forest Lake, a good hour or 50 minutes east of the two combatants. I was much closer at 28 minutes. The importance of minutes comes down to running time. The Magic performed magic on Saturday knocking off #2 seed Chisago Lakes in overtime. Thursday night was running time against them. And the defending AAA champ Bulldogs run and shoot, shoot and run. Becker had 33 points, enough to win the game, with seven minutes to go in the first half. 69% from 2s and 38% from 3s kept Becker humming heading into state. This really wasn’t a transition game. Becker can slice and dice to the rim seemingly at will. Becker’s Maren Westin had a 172.7 pp100 in this game on 19 points. That was slightly better than the 170 provided by Ayla Brown with 17 points. No other Bulldog cracked double digits, but that should concern future opponents.
FRIDAY: HANCOCK 61, UNDERWOOD 56
Get used to this rivalry in this section for the next few years. This had the best atmosphere of all the games this week. It appeared early that this was not going to be close at all with the Owls soaring above the Rockets scoring the first nine points of the game and scoring the first six times they touched the ball. It was 14-2 and the game was only 2:20 minutes old. Underwood did not fold and surrender. They kept clawing back. It became a game again in the last 5:30 of the first half when the Rockets held Hancock scoreless while adding 12 points to their totals making it 30-25 at the break. Hancock was forced to call time in the second half at the 12 minute mark up 40-38 after a 3 by Kallyn Grove. With under four minutes left Underwood took their first and what turned out to be their only lead of the game at 56-55 on a shot from the right block from Moraes Bugbee. That would be their final points. Kaitlyn Rohloff, who led Hancock with twenty points answered two Hancock possessions later to put them on the path to state. Once the Owls got the ball back, they milked the clock looking for free throw opportunities.
Differences came down to the free throw line with Hancock hitting 80% on 12/15, and Underwood struggling at 41.7% on 5/12. Both teams are young. Hancock starts two sophs, and two frosh. Underwood has all five starters back with two juniors, two sophs and a freshman. Expect a rematch next March.
31 CLUB
There were a lucky 13 members of the 31 Club this week with two reaching the coveted 41 Club. Both of those members joined in the same game. Olivia Harazin of LCWM topped the field with a 46. This was her second time in the 41 Club this year in two tries. Sophie Stork of NRHEG also made the 41 Club on the nose. Nine members won games when charted. But only five will continue on to the state tournament this week. Joining Harazin in the multiple 31 Club this week include Ellie Colbeck of Fergus Falls and Maren Westin of Becker.
Here is a breakdown of graduating class:
2022: 4 2023: 4, 2024: 3, 2025: 2
STREAKING
There was one alteration this week and that came in AAAA. St. Michael-Albertville halted the Rogers streak and Shakopee steps into the top spot now. Where is Hopkins? They are only third in AAAA with 11 straight wins. Rosemount is second with a dozen. One week from now Hopkins will probably be in the top slot.
Of the four listed below, Becker is the only #1 seed. Becker is the only returning champion.
AAAA: 21 Shakopee
AAA: 17 Becker
AA: 24 Pequot Lakes
A: 31 Hayfield
TOP 10
The best I can do for A is 80 with Cass Lake-Bena due to be charted on Thursday.
AAAA: 100%
AAA: 100%
AA: 100%
A: 70%
TOP 100
Depends on how you slice this….As of last Wedneday (March 9) I was at 99% with Cass Lake-Bena the only one left on the vine. I figured that CLB would make the state tournament and going to Williams Arena was closer than going to Thief River Falls. I was right. CLB will be checked off. Factoring into my decision to avoid a five hour trip was the Saturday 8A massacre where the top two seeds in 8A west and the #2 seed in 8A east lost. If they all won, I would have endured that trip on Monday.
But then the QRF recalculated on Saturday and a ghost team reappeared in the 100—Duluth Marshall at 100. There will be no chance to see the Hilltoppers again this year. For now, the best is 99%. But my belief is Hancock will slip in the 100 when all is said and done after the state tournament. Perhaps that will clear the 100. With my issues early in the year with transportation and the limitations during the holiday tournament sessions I am amazed I got to 100 (or 99). If I wasn’t coaching, I think the possibility of getting to the top 200 would be real.
A side note: I increased 125 by 4 and 150 by 6. That is pretty big increases.
1-10: 100%
1-25: 100%
1-50: 100%
1-75: 100%
1-100: 98%
1-125: 92.8%
1-150: 82.7%
1-170: 75.9%
SEEDING THE STATE—-FOR REAL & A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS TO COME
The real seeds came out on Saturday morning. How did last week’s efforts compare to the “real” seeds. There was plenty of carnage in AAAA with only four #1 seeds advancing compared to all eight last year. You might never see that scenario again. A #4 seed is in (Shakopee) in the state’s toughest section. With a 23-3 mark they would easily have been a #1 seed in any other section (except in 6AAAA).
So looking at this like the stock market, who was up and down, and is it right?
AAAA
As a whole off with three sections last week.
1. Hopkins (6) no change
2. Shakopee (2) no change—-for the section. Shakopee replaces EP
3. St. Michael-Albertville (8) no change
4. Rosemount (3) up one spot
5. White Bear Lake (4) up one spot replacing Stillwater. WBL was the #3 seed in that section. Two wins over Roseville helped their cause.
The last three are “unseeded” but if you measure out with who they really play you come up with this seeding:
6. Centennial (7) up two.
7. Roseville (5) down three, the steepest drop. As a #2 seed it seems steep.
8. Lakeville North (1) down one. At least I had LN winning the section as a #2 seed.
AAA
I was off two in this class. DL was upset deluxe.
1. Becker (5) no change
2. St. Paul Como Park (3) no change
3. Totino-Grace (4) up three. Benefits from playing a AAAA schedule.
4. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (6) down one.
5. Mankato East (2) down one.
The last three are “unseeded” but if you measure out with who they really play you come up with this seeding:
6. Detroit Lakes (8) up two. The surprise of the tournament as a #3 seed. Lakers now have a winning record. Soon to be even again.
7. Grand Rapids (7) no change.
8. Austin (1) down three. Almost a semifinal in the quarterfinal. Like the scenario in A.
AA
off on one section (2) from last week.
1. Providence (5) no change
2. Fergus Falls (8) up two.
3. Minnehaha (4) down one. In reality it is who gets to wear what uniform in the semis. But Minnehaha can use this as a snub.
4. Albany (6) up one. What is the difference between #3 and #4? 42 points when they met in December at the Hopkins Breakdown event.
5. Rochester Lourdes (1). Down two. Section 1 is better than people think.
The last three are “unseeded” but if you measure out with who they really play you come up with this seeding:
6. LCWM (2) up two in place of GSL.
7. Pequot Lakes (7) down one. One loss and not seeded. But I didn’t have them seeded either.
8. Montevideo (3). Down one. First time entrant gets to face favorite.
A
I got nicked in 5 with Nevis. Never Nervous Nevis. UCA was the survivor in private school bastion 4A.
1. Mountain Iron-Buhl (7) no change
2. Mayer Lutheran (2) no change
3. Hancock (6) up one. Has respect. Has youth. Has balance. Has depth.
4. Cass Lake-Bena (8). Up two. Has been to state and competed strongly. That helped.
5. Hayfield (1). Down two. No losses and is the last “seed.” Plays in a hybrid AA/A conference (Gopher).
The last three are “unseeded” but if you measure out with who they really play you come up with this seeding:
6. Nevis (5). The mysterious one. The #3 seed in 5A west upset the 3 Bs: Browerville, BBE, and Braham to get to state. The upsets will end soon, if not already.
7. United Christian (4) up one. Reward will play Mayer Lutheran, a AA MN River Conference team. UCA is one season removed from the EMAC. A world of difference.
8. Minneota (3) down three. A semifinal masquerading as a quarterfinal. See AAA too.
The most #1 seeds still alive are in the smaller classes with seven of the eight. In AA Rochester Lourdes is in as a #2 seed from 1AA. In A it was Nevis upending the #1 string in 5A. AAA is close behind with six of eight #1s. Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Detroit Lakes upended the cart there.
The “best” tournaments will be A, AAA; AA and then trailing far behind AAAA. The best title game I expect to come in AA. The A and AAA games will be entertaining as well, but if I had to choose one it would be AA. AAAA’s title game will not be compelling.