Recaps of Saturday MN GBB action from 1.11.2025.
D1 HIGH FIVE
Paige Kindseth, Presbyterian, Farmington 25
Avery Koenen, North Dakota State, Montevideo 22
Alayna Contreras, Kansas City, Hopkins 21
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State, Byron 19
Kierra Wheeler, Norfolk State, Cooper 19
Totals: 106
Three of the five are from AAAA. Three of the five won a state title (or made it to the finals thanks to the virus shortened 2020 season). Oldest HS Grad & Tallest is Lee (2019 & 6-6); Youngest is Koenen (2023); Smallest is Contreras at 5-6.
POINT PARADE-3
Parade starts at 25. If a player is missing email kja8067@gmail.com
AAA-1
Anna Westby, Rock Ridge 29
AA-1
Josie Foster, Caledonia 25
A-1
Marissa Tusler, West Lutheran 25
RANKED RESULTS
Winner High 92 St. Paul Como Park
Winner Low 45 Columbia Heights
Loser High 69 Duluth Marshall
Loser Low 19 Mounds Park Academy
Biggest Margin +55 Caledonia v Albert Lea
Smallest Margin +2 West Lutheran v St. Agnes
Most Combined: 159 St. Paul Como Park v Beloit Memorial, WI
Least combined: 64 Columbia Heights v Mounds Park Academy
Margins 30 or more 5
Margins 5 or less 3
Average 55.53
Winner Average 65.58
Loser Average 45.47
Average margin 20.11
Ranked Upsets: #9AAAA Brainerd falling to Elk River.
AAAA
#4 Eastview 73, Andover 41
Elk River 66, #9 Brainerd 62
AAA
#9 Red Wing 73, Winona 29
AA
#4 Minnehaha 88, #9 Duluth Marshall 69
#5 Sauk Centre 67, Montevideo 38
#6 Caledonia 83, Albert Lea 28
#7 Proctor 55, Bemidji 42
A
#3 Hillcrest Lutheran 57, Park Christian 48
#5 Mountain Iron-Buhl 77, Braham 65
ABOUT LAST NIGHT….East Ridge v Edina
Yesterday with the impending snow, I stayed relatively close to home. I traveled to the eastside of Woodbury to see the Raptors, a challenger to get to state in section 4AAAA and Edina, completing my Lake Conference ongoing tour. The Hornets were #28 in the QRF prior to this game. I am sure there will be drop after Saturday.
The hosts got through a sluggish first half with a one-point lead (22-21) and then hit their stride in the second half for a comfortable 57-40 victory. Both teams had subpar offensive performance in the first half with ER hitting 64.7 pp100 and Edina 60.0. The second half saw ER snap out of their doldrums with a more robust 94.6 while Edina actually went backward to 51.4. I do not credit the defense in any of this. My quote goes like this: “There is no such thing as good defense, only bad offense. There is such a thing as bad defense however.” When you are skilled in technique and game understanding you can weather any storm. Touches per point dropped for the Raptors in the second half from 7.55 to 5.26. Edina’s jumped from 8.81 to 9.95. ER also improved their ball handling with turnovers coming in at 12.77 touches in the first half to an improved 18.4. Again, the Hornets moved south going from 18.5 to 14.54.
Frustration was one word to describe the shooting action for the Hornets. They shot 29% from 2s for the day and missed 17 shots within six feet of the rim. If they would have made just half the game would have been a one possession contest. ER also had issues at the rim but for the most part solved them in the second half. Still, they missed a dozen close in shots.
For the game ER had an 80.3 pp100 while Edina limped in at 55.6. One reason for the second half surge for the Raptors was Vienna Murray who made the 41 Club with three to spare (44). She ended up with 19 points, 8 distributions and a more than healthy 17 d stops. She did not get to the century mark in the pp100 category, falling short at 95.0. No one from Edina was close to the 31 Club with a best at 23.
UNBEATEN
Nothing changed. 11 remain standing.
AAAA-0
None.
AAA-2
Marshall, Monticello
AA-7
New London-Spicer, KMS, Providence, Royalton, Sauk Centre, Crosby-Ironton, Menahga
A-2
Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, Hillcrest Lutheran
STREAKING
With Eden Prairie’s loss to Hopkins on Friday there is a new leader in AAAA and it might surprise a few: Owatonna riding a seven game win streak. The only addition is Hillcrest Lutheran is now tied with Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s in A with a dozen straight wins.
AAAA: 7 Owatonna
AAA: 14 Marshall
AA: 24 Providence (11 last year +13 this year)
A: 12 Hillcrest Lutheran, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s
QUEST FOR..
THE QRF
All categories were up last week. The floor is now 70% at #50.
1-10 10/10-1.000
1-20 17/20-.850
1-30 23/30-.767
1-40 30/40-.750
1-50 35/50-.700
Biggest fish left to fry….#14 Eagan.
TOP 10s
AAAA is at 100%.
AAAA 10/10-1.000
AAA 8/10-.800
AA 5/10-.500
A 4/10-.500
Overall that is 26/40 or .650 up from .600 last week.
#1s EACH SECTION
AA is now above .500.
AAAA 8/8—1.000
AAA 5/8-.625
AA 5/9-.556 (section 3AA is split)
A 5/12-.417
Overall, 23/37 or .622 up from .517 last week. Taking New London-Spicer plus having rearrangements in other sections provided the jump.
SEEDING THE STATE
The fourth change at the #1 slot in AAAA this year, with Hopkins returning to the top spot. The only newcomer on the list is Red Wing in AAA.
AAAA
- Hopkins (6)
- Maple Grove (5)
- Eden Prairie (2)
- Eastview (3)
- Michael-Albertville (8)
- Lakeville North (1)
- Centennial (7)
- East Ridge (4)
AAA
- Marshall (2)
- Alexandria (8)
- Monticello (5)
- Orono (6)
- DeLaSalle (4)
- Red Wing (1)
- Rock Ridge (7)
- Cretin-Derham Hall (3)
AA
- Providence (5)
- Crosby-Ironton (7)
- New London-Spicer (3)
- Minnehaha (4)
- Sauk Centre (6)
- Caledonia (1)
- Pelican Rapids (8)
- Tri-City United (2)
A
- Goodhue (1)
- Mayer Lutheran (4)
- Hillcrest Lutheran (6)
- Mountain Iron-Buhl (7)
- Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (2)
- Kittson County Central (8)
- Central MN Christian (3)
- Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (5)
THE WEEK AHEAD
The busiest day next week will be Tuesday with 122 games. The slowest day (as always) is Wednesday with 17 games. Oddly Thursday is ahead of Friday this week 110-88. Saturday will have a few multiple game events. Kasson-Mantorville holds their showcase with five games on tap. There are six West Metro Classic games held at two different sites: Waconia (3) and Southwest Christian Chaska (3). Five Minnesota schools are involved in the DVC Classic held at Colman-Egan, SD.