2026 Boys State Tournament

Albany 85-49 . Was surprised to see that score this morning. Especially for a 4 v 5 matchup
For sure. Albany, having watched them multiple times this season, played their best game of the year at the perfect time! Talk about taking advantage of an extra week practices!! they basically took everything away they wanted to on defense!
 

For sure. Albany, having watched them multiple times this season, played their best game of the year at the perfect time! Talk about taking advantage of an extra week practices!! they basically took everything away they wanted to on defense!
Goodhue is going to have their hands full I think. I think Minnehaha and Pequot lakes will both advance easily in the 2 games tonight.
 

Northfield's 1st trip to State since 1932.

Northfield Raiders after a 94 Year hiatus, advance to the Semis beating Big 9 rival Mankato East 56-49.

After being down by 16 in the 1st Half Raiders cut it to 11 at recess. 2nd Half, all Northfield.

The teams had split during the regular season.
 
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I hope the poster who does the Dave Lee impression shows up. ‘And he passes the ball to the guy…’
 

Austin Pacelli - saw them play in districts that year. In the 2nd round they faced a team that was similar to them - a big center that was hurt the first part of the year. Game went back and forth and Austin barely won and they just kept winning from there.

I can't remember the names but they had a big power forward who was brilliant (he was the one who was hurt) plus a really good larger guard who was deadly from 3. I think they only went 6 or 7 deep, but played roles well with and surrounded the 2 stars.
 

Russell from Waseca with 51 of 69 point in loss to Minnehaha Academy. If football doesn’t work out.
 



Came across this on Ryan James twitter after the Apple Valley upset. 1992 was a few years before I really paid attention to HS basketball. What was the deal with Pacelli that year? Did they play worse than they should have in the regular season or just play out of their minds in the postseason? Seems like an incredible run for them. Any other big upsets in the past you can think of?

In my mind the biggest upset at state was Silver Bay over Marshall U in 1977. Marshall had a long unbeaten streak at the time. If I remember correctly Silver Bay played only 5 guys the whole game, Wore themselves out and lost the next game.
 


Anyone else sick of Private schools dominating in Class 3.

It seems almost every year just give the champ to Totino (3 of the last 4) or DeLaSalle (8 times in the 2000's). Can't they be made to play up to 4A, where they won't be blowing out all the public schools. Same with Minnehaha Academy in 2A, play in 4A. Or have a private school championship and a public school championship, then have 1 more game where the two meet for fun? Yes I know there is open enrollment and some public school recruit also, but it's a different level in these private schools.
 

Anyone else sick of Private schools dominating in Class 3.

It seems almost every year just give the champ to Totino (3 of the last 4) or DeLaSalle (8 times in the 2000's). Can't they be made to play up to 4A, where they won't be blowing out all the public schools. Same with Minnehaha Academy in 2A, play in 4A. Or have a private school championship and a public school championship, then have 1 more game where the two meet for fun? Yes I know there is open enrollment and some public school recruit also, but it's a different level in these private schools.
We have one too many classes. AAA and AAAA should be merged so that the privates have to actually play some talented teams. Let Totino and DeLasalle have to get through Wayzata, Maple Grove and Lakeville to win their medals. AAA teams basically have 3 games to get to State.

Meanwhile class A has a slew of games that must be won just to get to State. AAA (as it is in baseball) is the easiest route to State with the least competition to get there.
 



Anyone else sick of Private schools dominating in Class 3.

It seems almost every year just give the champ to Totino (3 of the last 4) or DeLaSalle (8 times in the 2000's). Can't they be made to play up to 4A, where they won't be blowing out all the public schools. Same with Minnehaha Academy in 2A, play in 4A. Or have a private school championship and a public school championship, then have 1 more game where the two meet for fun? Yes I know there is open enrollment and some public school recruit also, but it's a different level in these private schools.

I was sick of it today. It was apparent early my Raiders were overmatched against Totino Grace.
 



Surprised Chaska is leading at the half. Live by the 3, die by the 3
 







Tartan was severely overrated, should've been the 3 seed. Had a few nice wins but play in a very weak conference with 16 gimmes. They simply aren't very good.

Apple Valley finished tied for 5th in the South Suburban conference and lost to both Burnsville (7-20) and Shakopee (7-20) in February.

Chaska wouldn't be there if PL didn't go 7-21 from the free throw line (and 6-27 from three) in the section final.

Wild stuff.
 
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Unreal that valley never won the state title with any jones bros but they’re probably a pick em Saturday
It was unreal for Champlin Park. They lost to Apple Valley with Tre Jones twice in the Title game ('15 & '17).
 

We have one too many classes. AAA and AAAA should be merged so that the privates have to actually play some talented teams. Let Totino and DeLasalle have to get through Wayzata, Maple Grove and Lakeville to win their medals. AAA teams basically have 3 games to get to State.

Meanwhile class A has a slew of games that must be won just to get to State. AAA (as it is in baseball) is the easiest route to State with the least competition to get there.
I go on a rant about this every year. Starts during girls basketball where private schools won class A, AA, and AAA. Providence Academy 5 in a row and Benilde 4 in a row. But I don't think we have too many classes. We just need 1 more for private schools. If you combined AAA and AAAA the size discrepancy would be crazy. You'd go from 2-3,000+ at the top down to 550 or so at the bottom for enrollment size. The fact that Minnehaha when they had Holmgren and Suggs were competing against AA schools was so ridiculous that I thought maybe it would bring about some change. Nope
 

I go on a rant about this every year. Starts during girls basketball where private schools won class A, AA, and AAA. Providence Academy 5 in a row and Benilde 4 in a row. But I don't think we have too many classes. We just need 1 more for private schools. If you combined AAA and AAAA the size discrepancy would be crazy. You'd go from 2-3,000+ at the top down to 550 or so at the bottom for enrollment size. The fact that Minnehaha when they had Holmgren and Suggs were competing against AA schools was so ridiculous that I thought maybe it would bring about some change. Nope
Common Sense has been relegated to nothing more than an Elective course in the School of Life.

Imagine creating multiple classes to maximize the number of HS kids that can win a trophy only to ensure that private school kids benefit the most.

Having a separate class for private schools is the logical choice to me.
 

I go on a rant about this every year. Starts during girls basketball where private schools won class A, AA, and AAA. Providence Academy 5 in a row and Benilde 4 in a row. But I don't think we have too many classes. We just need 1 more for private schools. If you combined AAA and AAAA the size discrepancy would be crazy. You'd go from 2-3,000+ at the top down to 550 or so at the bottom for enrollment size. The fact that Minnehaha when they had Holmgren and Suggs were competing against AA schools was so ridiculous that I thought maybe it would bring about some change. Nope
Well, I played in the 2 class era. Teams with a total high school class of under 200 kids came to State and competed in small school. Teams that would be hard pressed to make it to AAA today were winning big school. So, it's doable. However, the issue is open enrollment that happened under Rudy Perpich. It allowed for players creating super teams. Also, with the lowering of quality education in public schools, families have looked to private schools to meet expectations.

The State could place privates into their own tournament. It would turn public school tournaments into an NIT version of play where the less skilled teams play.

I would be interested in a different means of division rather than school size. School size is easy, but it may not be optimal for parity in divisions. Do you have any suggestions for a different means of division besides privates in their own category?
 


I go on a rant about this every year. Starts during girls basketball where private schools won class A, AA, and AAA. Providence Academy 5 in a row and Benilde 4 in a row. But I don't think we have too many classes. We just need 1 more for private schools. If you combined AAA and AAAA the size discrepancy would be crazy. You'd go from 2-3,000+ at the top down to 550 or so at the bottom for enrollment size. The fact that Minnehaha when they had Holmgren and Suggs were competing against AA schools was so ridiculous that I thought maybe it would bring about some change. Nope
How about making private schools play up a level?
 




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