Wrapping up the 2023-24 HS Season

Season 17 is in the books as the 2023-24 State Tournament has concluded.  Here are some of my notables from the state tournament and season.

 State Tourney

• While 3 of the 4 State Tournament winners were favorites from day 1 in November, the tournament itself was better than I expected with Totino-Grace running the gauntlet in close games and Lake City taking Breck to the final 10 seconds.  While Wayzata was the clear favorite coming into state, going back to the start of the year, Minnetonka was a team that we all expected to be in the mix so we shouldn't be that surprised that they won it.  Never thought I'd say Minnetonka would out tough Wayzata in the final but that's exactly what happened.  
• And did you know, Bryce Tesdahl is related to Bob McDonald?!.  Adults could have started a drinking game with all the talk about it.  We get it, can we please have the old school dinosaur legacy media move on already and let the accomplishments stand on their own merits.
  
• Love Williams Arena as a venue over Target Center.  While attendance seemed to be down at state overall in the 2 nights that I attended, the environment for the AAAA final was outstanding.
  
• Eagan comes in at 14-12 and pulls the shocking upset on Park Center and then decides to take home 3rd place with a win over CDH.  Congrats to Kevin McKenzie and company on that.  Best finish for the Wildcats since their 1998 state runner up finish.
• Coon Rapids 1st appearance at state in 41 years.  Coach Ogorek is the dean of NW Suburban coaches, great to see him finally get a chance to see state.
  
• Great having all 5 Mr. Basketball finalists at the state tourney and 4 of them playing for state titles.  3 of them bring home the gold ball.  I still pick Jackson McAndrew here for the most consistent high level season.  But Daniel Freitag and Isaiah Johnson-Arigu have earned all the consideration too.  Hate to not have Isaac Asuma in that group with all he did at Cherry but that's the harsh reality of playing at a small school.
  

2023-24 Season Memories

• Another disgusting year for me in the Better Than Chalk picks.  There's a reason why we play the games and why I'm here writing this.
• The year that the streaks fell.  In my season previews, I put together a list of 20 game or more streaks in conference play.  Almost all of those streaks were broken this year.  So congrats to Roosevelt and Hill-Murray for breaking some misery.  Minnehaha and Minneapolis North see Goliath stretches fall.
  
• I think the state tournaments really speak to the depth in those top 3 classes this year.  Stewartville being unseeded at state (or whatever team you thought should have had that spot) shows just how deep that AAA field was in particular.
  
• Minneapolis South going from 6-20 last year to the state tourney this year.  To have a roster completely turnover like they did and come right back from it is remarkable.  Not to mention the gruesome injury to forward Romero Walker in February.  Joe Hyser wins my state Coach of the Year award for leading South thru all of that turmoil.  1st trip to state for the Tigers in over 30 years.
  
• Staying in the Minneapolis City, props also to Myles Shepherd at Washburn.  He took an experience squad to a level beyond just winning the city.  JV team was 2nd and the freshmen won the city so don't expect it to be a 1 class flash in the pan.
  
• The streak is over in Section 1 as Farmington finally broke the Lakeville North hold on that section.  1st trip to state for the Tigers in 87 seasons.  Big step forward for that program as they look to be a year in and year out heavyweight in the South Suburban.
  
• And who knocked out the Tigers?  Cretin-Derham Hall had a fairly young and inexperienced roster but sophomore JoJo Mitchell came in from Apple Valley and had a marvelous season.  Raiders definitely looking to be dangerous in 24-25.  We've had some fun here with coach Jerry Kline, but I want an angry TIMEOUT TIMEOUT TIMEOUT!  The work he did with this team and a couple years ago with Tre Holloman's senior season and the adjustments they made should really be commended.
  
• Harding head coach Steve Solaja making life on the east side of St. Paul interesting as the Knights have continued to improve.
  
• I haven't followed the Wright County East that closely over the years, but glad it was on my list this year. Always fun to get other teams in the mix and a very entertaining group of teams to watch with outstanding coaches.  Also have to get into the new SW Christian gym on one of those Walking Taco nights.
  
• Got to cross off another few metro locations this year by seeing St. Paul City School, Liberty Classical Academy (before their move to Hugo), Tartan's brand new gym and a St. Paul Academy section game at St. Kate's.  Now if we can just get 1 year of retro state at the Xcel Energy Center and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
  
• Missing the Tipoff Classic in person for the 1st time in forever was no fun (illness), but at least I got to watch the games live online.  It cost me a chance to collect Pepsi from Ryan James for Wisconsin reclaiming Paul Bunyan's Axe though.  Note to self, do not attend the company Christmas party ever again.
• Clearly video is here to stay.  Thank you COVID pandemic for that.  Having Hudl in the mix now just adds another item to remember to check.  That also reminds me to cancel my National Fishbowl Hoops System Network subscription until next season.  All you people who are charging for games or immediately taking your games down because you think its some kind of competitive advantage are sadly mistaken.
  
• Section 6AAA brought us many great moments.  CJ Armstrong going nuts for a couple 50 point games for Richfield early in the year.  Nolan Groves a couple 50 point games as well for Orono.  Not to mention the halfcourt 3 to beat Benilde-St. Margaret's in the epic double OT section final.  BSM giving Totino-Grace all they wanted at TG back in January.  BSM had a double digit lead in the 2nd half before TG won that by 4.
• Feel bad for Max Woods at Chanhassen.  He became the school's all-time leading rebounder this season (keep in mind he's a point guard).  If it wasn't for injury, he'd also be the school's all time leading scorer.  Great career for him for the Storm who were clearly a much different team without him.  Looking forward to seeing how his football career turns out.
• The Class of 2024 still has plenty of good names out there who had terrific seasons and took their game to a higher level.  Greyson Uelmen, Patrick Rowe, Tameron Ferguson, Jordan Cain in no particular order immediately come to mind and there are others.  Welcome to the final year of COVID seniors and the continued emphasis now on the transfer portal.

Now a chance to decompress and then its off to St. Cloud to start the 2024 AAU season in mid April.

What if AAAA Hoops used the BCS Model?

In a random moment of inspiration, I had the idea of applying the college football playoff structure to class AAAA hoops.  I don't advocate for this as I'd rather have a 64 team model and it wouldn't be all the best teams.  But it would have a regional balance component and an automatic qualification component so why not.  

In class AAAA, there are 62 teams currently.  They represent 11 conferences and there are 3 independents.  That can be broken down into leagues that are mostly AAAA schools and those that just contain a small number of AAAA schools

The Power 5 Leagues, 46 teams representing the AAAA conferences

• Lake
• Metro West (2 AAA teams out of 8)
  
• Northwest Suburban (1 AAA team out of 14)
  
• South Suburban
• Suburban East

The Group of 6, 16 teams playing in non-AAAA conferences or as independents

• Big 9
• Central Lakes
• Metro East
• Minneapolis City
• Mississippi 8
• St. Paul City

I'll divide the Group of 6 teams into a north section and a south section

North (7): Bemidji, Brainerd, Cambridge-Isanti, Duluth East, Moorhead, Sartell, Sauk Rapids-Rice
South (9): Hastings, Minneapolis Southwest, Minneapolis Washburn, Owatonna, Rochester Century, Rochester John Marshall, Rochester Mayo, St. Paul Central, Tartan

The setup would be a 12 team model like college football.  All 12 teams would be selected and seeded by a separate committee of folks like myself and others who participated in the original 64 team model many years ago.  The top 4 seeds would get a bye to Wednesday 1st round games at state.  The bottom 8 seeds would play the 1st round on the previous Saturday.  The sites would be based on matchups and college sites like St. Olaf, St. Cloud State, Concordia would ideally be used for those 4 games.

The 12 teams will be selected in the following order of criteria.

Automatic Qualification
1) Any AAAA school that won its conference qualifies.
2) If the winner of the Northwest Suburban is not class AAAA, then the top AAAA finisher qualifies
3) If no school from the Group of 6 North Division meets the previous criteria, the committee shall select 1 team from that group.
4) If no school from the Group of 6 South Division meets the previous criteria, the committee shall select 1 team from that group.

At Large Bids
After the automatic qualifiers are determined, the committee shall select the number the teams necessary to fill out the 12 team bracket.  All non-automatic qualifiers may be considered here.

Selection and Seeding
The committee shall use the NCAA tournament model for selection and seeding.  Priority should be given to the following information.

1. Head to Head Results
2. Conference Finish
3. Common Opponents
4. Strength of Schedule

So how would that have played out in 2023-24 for our current tourney.

The following 7 teams automatically qualify as conference champions

Cretin-Derham Hall, Lakeville North, Minneapolis Washburn, Park Center, St. Paul Central, Tartan, Wayzata

With no one from the Group of 6 North Division automatically qualifying, 1 team must be selected from there.  Brainerd is the highest seeded team of that group so let's say they get that bid.

That leaves 4 At Large Bids.  Hopkins, Minnetonka and Shakopee I think clearly get 3 of those.  The other one, I think would come down to Farmington or East Ridge.  Overall resume, I think you have to give it to Farmington there but it would be really hard to keep out East Ridge as they been as good as anybody after they got healthy for the last 2 months.

So you get the drama of having a conference winner like St. Paul Central or Tartan stealing a bid and maybe keeping out an East Ridge.  You still get all the very best teams as 9 of the 10 teams and the top 6 in the final state poll would make it.

2024 Better Than Chalk Predictions

The 2023-24 regular season is in the books.  Now the playoffs are here.  That means its time for all of that viewing to allow me to make a fool of myself.  So without further delay, here are the 2024 Better Than Chalk Predictions.

Once again here are the rules.  Any fool can pick nothing but top seeds (aka chalk) and claim they were something like 306-13 on their picks.  My mission is to do better than that bracket.  I also pick all games at the start of the playoffs rather than going round by round to increase the challenge.  I don't get any chance to make up for my mistakes by picking day by day.

Not happy with how I picked your team?  Use the hashtag #ShockTheCzar on twitter and on your locker room/virtual whiteboards to express your outrage.  So without delay, here we go 

Section 4A
Monday Round 1 (seeds 14-19): 14 Parnassus over 19 Lincoln International, 15 Community of Peace over 18 Hmong Academy.  16 St. Paul City over 17 International School.  St. Paul City won the regular season meeting at ISM, they win another close one.  Parnassus and COPA should move on easily.

Wednesday Round 2 (seeds 9-13 enter): 9 Higher Ground over St. Paul City, 10 Hope over Community of Peace, 11 MN Transitions over Parnassus with fun guard play there.  12 Exploration over 13 Chesterton.  I see all 4 incoming teams moving on without trouble.

Thursday Round 3 (seeds 5-8 enter): 5 New Life over Exploration, 6 Liberty over 11 MTS, 7 Trinity over 10 Hope, 8 United Christian over Higher Ground.  As much as I like upsets in this section traditionally, I still don't see any here.  2 of my sleeper picks are together in the 7 vs 10 game.  Big style contrast there as Hope won't be able to play fast against Trinity.  The other 3 I don't see being close.

Saturday Quarterfinals (seeds 1-4 enter): Now the big boys enter at the quarter final stage.  1 Heritage over United Christian, 7 Trinty over 2 CHOF, 3 West Lutheran over Liberty, 5 New Life over 4 Avail.  Every game here is a regular season rematch.  Heritage and West Lutheran move on easily again.  Trinity just won at CHOF to end the regular season and Avail lost a close one in December at New Life. Give me Trinity to pull the upset again here and New Life goes into The Crash Pad and wins another close one.

Tuesday Semifinals: 2 more rematches here in an all old school MCAA final 4.  Heritage won in a blowout so I'll take them to move on over New Life.  West Lutheran took care of Trinity easily in the season opener.  Too much Isaiah Ronning there and West Lutheran moves on.

Fri Final (St. Thomas Academy): Heritage and West Lutheran split the regular season with home court wins.  West Lutheran is 9-2 down the stretch.  Heritage has stumbled slightly recently.  Too many weapons for Heritage and Abu Tarawallie has been a major factor in both games.  Heritage moves on to state.

Section 5A (bonus picks)
North Lakes gets a Monday pigtail game against Mille Lacs.  I think they win that one before they bow out at Upsala.  PACT gets an opening win against Ogilvie in the 4 vs 5 game and then bows out on Saturday to East Central

Section 4AA
The seeding here, oh my.  We can't have coaches vote and come up with this.  Shenanigans like this are usually reserved for sections 4AAAA and 6AAAA.  Head to head section games have to matter otherwise what in the world is the point of playing them.  TCA just won on Friday at Concordia but got seeded lower.  Nova beat Math & Science head to head but got a lower seed.  Mounds Park lost to Concordia by 48 (without a good player but still) and is 2 seeds higher.  St Croix Prep swept Como Park and Highland Park last week but is 2 slots behind Humboldt who went 0-4 against those 2 in St. Paul City play.  For the record, I would have voted the top 4 as is then St. Croix Prep, Humboldt, Twin Cities Academy, Concordia, Mounds Park, Nova, Math & Science, Lakes International and Washington.

Tues Round 1: 12 LILA vs 13 St. Paul Washington.  Following rules of pigtails, I take LILA at home.

Thursday Round 2 (seeds 5-11 enter): 5 St. Paul Humboldt over LILA, 6 Mounds Park Academy over 11 Nova, 7 St Croix Prep over 10 Math and Science, 8 Concordia over 9 Twin Cities Academy.  2 immediate rematches in this part.  Humboldt just beat LILA by 3 at LILA and TCA just won by 7 at Concordia.  Plus Nova gets yet another shot at Mounds Park who beat them by 5 in the season opener at Eagle Ridge.  Humboldt wins their game at home.  Nova gets the good fortune of Mounds Park being 6 (I had them at 9) and will be motivated after 4 straight losses to the Panthers over the last 2 years.  MPA wins a tight one at home.  SCPA takes out Math & Science with size and physical play.  But Josh Balami could carry M&S thru this one as SCPA can struggle to score.  Concordia wins the grudge match.  All 4 should be very competitive

Saturday Quarterfinals (seeds 1-4 enter):  1 St. Paul Academy over 8 Concordia, 2 Minnehaha over St. Croix Prep, 3 St. Croix Lutheran over 6 Mounds Park, 4 St. Agnes over 5 St. Paul Humboldt.  Watch out for that 1 vs 8 game.  Its a rematch of a game from a week ago where Concordia only lost by 7.  SPA wins but it will close.  Minnehaha too much offense for Prep.  SCL wins big in their game.  St. Agnes with a major difference maker of Nolan Davis up front, I'll take them over Humboldt.

Tues Semis: In an all old school Tri-Metro final 4.  SPA over St. Agnes.  SPA blew out St. Agnes in the Harding holiday tourney.  I don't think its another running time game but SPA moves on.  Minnehaha vs St. Croix Lutheran is another clash of styles.  Pace will be key in that one.  St. Croix Lutheran's defense is one that can frustrate Minnehaha in the halfcourt.  Minnehaha moves on.

Fri Final (St. Thomas Academy 8 PM): SPA won the regular season IMAC meeting by 20 at Minnehaha.  SPA size and physical play is a problem for Minnehaha.  I think SPA wins again and advances to state.

Section 5AA
New in section 5AA, they've gone to 4A and 4AA model of low seeds playing early and staggered byes for the top 8 seeds

Monday Round 1 (seeds 9-16): 9 Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted over 16 Brooklyn Center, 10 Rockford over 15 Cristo Rey, 11 Watertown-Mayer over 14 Eagle Ridge, 13 Providence over 12 Hiawatha.  I see HLWW and Rockford moving on.  Watertown-Mayer will get a fight from Eagle Ridge but advance.  Providence beat Hiawatha easily during the regular season.  Kam Solomon will have another big game but can he get enough help?  I don't see it.  Providence wins.

Thursday Round 2 (seeds 5-8 enter): 5 Blake over Providence, 6 Maranatha over Watertown-Mayer 10 Rockford over 7 Dassel-Cokato, 8 Jordan over HLWW.  Blake and MCA move on with no trouble.  Rockford lost 2 tight games to Dassel-Cokato in the regular season, hard to beat a team 3 times and I saw Rockford this season but not D-C.  Why not an upset, give me Rockford here.

Saturday Quarterfinals (seeds 1-4 enter) 1 Breck over Jordan, 2 Minneapolis North over Rockford, 3 Holy Family over Maranatha, 4 SW Christian over Blake.  I don't see much here.  Breck and Mpls North advance in mismatches.  Holy Family and SW Christian won these games big in the regular season, I don't see that changing here.

Wed Semis (STMA): Breck over SW Christian, Minneapolis North over Holy Family.  Minneapolis North blew Holy Family out in the regular season.  They can rotate bigs against Brayden Carlson and their pressure vs the Holy Family guards can be very disruptive.  I love the chess match of SW Christian vs Breck.  Breck is just too good. 

Fri Final (Augsburg): Breck wins a rematch against Minneapolis North.  Just don't see how Minneapolis North scores enough to keep up.

Section 6AA (bonus picks)
MCAA leaders #10AA Legacy and Spectrum are here.  I see them both getting easy Thursday wins.  Sadly that means they would meet at St. John's in the quarters on Saturday (love that travel, can we move that game to Anoka?).  The teams split the regular season.  I think Legacy has a little more firepower so I'm going to pick them in a tight one.  The winner then bows out to top seed and defending state champ, #4 ranked Albany, in the semis.

Section 3AAA
Monday Pigtail: 9 Simley over 8 St. Paul Como Park.  Simley started out the season 2-1 but has only won 2 games since. But 1 of them was a home win against Como Park a week ago.  They held Mason Aarness in check and got a huge game from frosh Tre Lovelace.  Good enough for me.  Violating my rules of pigtails (always take the home team), I think Simley gets it done here.

Wednesday Qtrs: 1 Minneapolis South over Simley, 2 St. Thomas Academy over St. Paul Highland Park, 3 St. Paul Harding over 6 Minneapolis Roosevelt, 4 South St. Paul over 5 Two Rivers.  The top 3 seeds move on easily.  SSP and Two Rivers split their Metro East meetings but the Packers won at Two Rivers by 30 a month ago.  South St. Paul moves on.

Saturday Semis:  Minneapolis South over South St. Paul, St. Paul Harding over St. Thomas Academy.  I think Minneapolis South matches up well and moves on.  St. Paul Harding is a bad style matchup for St. Thomas Academy so let's go upset there.

Thursday Final: Minneapolis South over St. Paul Harding.  The Joe Hyser cinderella season continues and its interesting that they'd get to do in a rematch vs Harding.  Their 1st meeting had to be called off due to the Romero Walker injury.  I'd expect a fun fast paced game there but South gets it done.

Section 4AAA
Monday pigtail: 9 Minneapolis Edison over 8 Minneapolis Henry. Henry has had to forfeit games over the last couple weeks.  So I'm not even sure the game happens.  The teams split the regular season.  Too much Deidrick Taylor for Edison.  I like the upset here.

Wednesday Qtrs: 1 De La Salle over Edison, 2 Columbia Heights over Hill-Murray, 3 St. Paul Johnson over 6 St. Anthony, 4 Mahtomedi over 5 North St. Paul.  I like the top 3 seeds here.  Bad style matchup for the 5 and 6 seeds here.  The 4/5 matchup is fun as teams split with wins on each other's home courts this season.  Mahtomedi just won the meeting this week, I think they get another one here.

Saturday Semis: De La Salle over Mahtomedi, Columbia Heights over Johnson.  The Heights vs Johnson game will be a real intense guard battle.  Johnson with their size and guards to pressure Jency Davis matches up very well.  Heights survives a close one.

Thursday Final (Stillwater): The 3rd meeting between Tri-Metro rivals.  This should be one of the best section final games out there.  De La Salle gets the win in a classic.

Section 5AAA
I saw everybody here so let's pick this section too.

Tuesday 8:01 PM Qtrs: 1 Totino-Grace over 8 Zimmerman, 2 Fridley over 7 Princeton, 3 Big Lake over 6 St. Francis, 4 Monticello over 5 Becker.  Top 2 games are bloodbaths.  Big Lake split 2 close games with St. Francis and get another close win here.  Monticello stole the 4 seed with 2 head to head wins over Becker.  I wanted to take Becker here but their youth and those 2 wins gives me pause.  Chalk in round 1.

Fri Semis (STMA): Totino-Grace over Monticello, Fridley over Big Lake.  TG moves on in a rout.  Fridley gets a test but survives and advances.

Th Final: (STMA): Totino-Grace over Fridley.  Another fun travel scenario, can we move the game up Hwy 65 to Blaine?  TG no problems here either.

Section 6AAA
Wed Qtrs: 1 BSM over 8 Kennedy, 2 Delano over 7 Holy Angels, 3 Orono over 6 Cooper, 4 Richfield  over 5 Mound-Westonka.  I see the top 3 seeds moving on easily.  The 4 vs 5 game is a dandy.  CJ Armstrong went for 40 when Richfield won by 1 at Mound.  Richfield survives in a game that comes down to the final minute.  Zavier Hayes is a major X-factor here for Richfield.  When he's got it going, the Spartans are a tough out.

Sat Semis: BSM over Richfield.  Richfield beat De La Salle twice who beat BSM.  So much for that.  Jaleel Donley and CJ Armstrong on display is a major thrill.  I'll still take Benilde here but this one will be tight and expect a big day from Armstrong.  Hayes vs Jalen Wilson and/or Jayden Daisy is the real matchup to keep an eye on.

Delano won at Orono just before Christmas and this rematch should be absolute dynamite.  Player matchup: Nolan Groves vs Will Strandemo and Max Iverson.  Check.  Coaching chess match here between Terry Techam and Barry Wohler.  Check.  Next door rivals.  Check.  Delano at home makes enough shots to win despite a big game from Brady Wooley inside for Orono.

Th Final: Benilde seemed to play every other notable AAA team this year but they didn't face Delano.  I think BSM struggles to get stops.  Though they're improved on offense, they'll still have their usual difficult moments on offense too.  Though that's not as big a deal here as Delano doesn't really like to defend.  Jalen Wilson is a major problem for Delano to stop.  If it becomes a back and forth between the Delano guards and Jaleel Donley, that's to Delano's advantage.  I'll take Delano to advance out of the class AAA section of death.

Section 1AAAA
Tuesday Qtrs 8:01 PM: 1 Lakeville N over 8 New Prague, 2 Farmington over 7 Rochester JM, 3 Lakeville S over 6 Rochester Mayo, 4 Rochester Century over Owatonna.  Lakeville North had no problems with New Prague in their holiday tournament, no change here.  Farmington completes the Rochester trifecta by beating John Marshall.  Lakeville South no issues in their game either.  Owatonna won at Century but then got blown out by Century at home.  Give me Century to advance.

Saturday semis: Lakeville N over Century.  Farmington over Lakeville S.  Love the Jack Robison vs Shaun Wysocki and Ricky Wengert vs Matt Drake matchups in that Lakeville N game.  North too deep here.  Farmington absolutely boatraced Lakeville South by 40 at home then lost by 2 on the road.  Farmington wins at home.

Fri final (Rochester Civic Arena): These teams split their South Suburban games in the regular season with road wins.  Farmington's size and physicality is tough to match but the hardnosed style of Lakeville N is a good fit to match it.  Last year's all Lakeville final was a grinder and I expect the same here.  Its section 1AAAA and Lakeville North so I can't bet against coach Oxton here.  Give me the Panthers to advance again.

Section 2AAAA
Wed Qtrs: 2 Shakopee over 7 Chaska, 3 Waconia over 6 Chanhassen, 4 Eden Prairie over 5 Prior Lake.  Shakopee blew out Chaska in the regular season and Waconia just blew out Chanhassen last week.  No changes there.  Hard fall for Chanhassen to 6 as they were looking at a possible 3 seed as recently as a week ago, but they've fallen apart since the injury to Max Woods.  Eden Prairie beat Prior Lake in the regular season at home, I'll take that again.

Saturday Semis (12 PM): 1 Minnetonka over 4 Eden Prairie, 2 Shakopee over 3 Waconia.  Minnetonka put up 102 and 94 on Eden Praiire in the regular season.  Keep an extra scoreboard and operator on hand as Tonka advances.  Shakopee beat Waconia by 9 in early December.  Waconia willing to get up and down and score more than you'd think from a Dan Rubischko team. Will Kirsch vs Jalen Langsy will be fun to watch.  Shakopee too many shooters and they'll advance.

Thursday Final: Another fun matchup of point guards with Andy Stefonowicz and Langsy going at it in this rematch.  Tonka won 3 weeks ago at home by 2 pts but that was without Jordan Cain.  He's the real problem matchup and difference maker here as he's returned from injury.  Minnetonka moves on to state again.

Section 3AAAA
Wed Qtrs: 1 Eagan over 8 Jefferson, 2 Apple Valley over 7 Burnsville, 3 Park over 6 Eastview, 4 Rosemount over 5 Hastings.  Eagan's defense will really limit Jefferson.  Apple Valley beat Burnsville twice but the last meeting was a 3 point game at AV.  Eagles survive and advance.  Park holds off Eastview despite a big night from Jon Mekonnen.  Rosemount wins the battle of Hwy 42 over Hastings.

Fri Semis: Eagan over Rosemount.  Rosemount is 3-1 against the top 2 seeds here as they split with Eagan and swept AV.  But Eagan won the last meeting by 17 after losing the 1st meeting before Christmas by 3.  Eagan advances here.  In the other semi, give me Park to advance over Apple Valley.  I like their guard play in this matchup and AV is limited offensively.

Th Final: Expect a low scoring affair here.  I think Eagan wins the battle on the boards and the game.

Section 4AAAA
Wed Qtrs: 2 East Ridge over 7 White Bear Lake, 3 Tartan over 6 Woodbury, 5 Stillwater over 4 St. Paul Central.  East Ridge and Tartan should move on easily.  In the 4 vs 5 game, Stillwater beat Woodbury twice while Central lost to Woodbury on opening night.  Stillwater also higher margins in wins over Mahtomedi and Duluth East.  Give me the Ponies in an upset here.

Sat Semis: 1 CDH over Stillwater, East Ridge over Tartan.  CDH no problems with Stillwater.  East Ridge is the hottest team in AAAA right now winning 15 in a row.  Charlie Bern and Charlie Theis vs Elijah Barrett is a matchup to watch there.  Ultimately Tartan doesn't have enough offense here.  East Ridge moves on.

Th Final: East Ridge lost at CDH back in December but won the last meeting by 2.  East Ridge still had a couple guys out in the first meeting too.  3 conference champs in this section, but East Ridge has long thought to be favorite when healthy.  Very entertaining matchup of star sophs Ced Tomes and JoJo Mitchell in that one.  This is the year the Raptors make it over the top.  East Ridge moves on.

Section 5AAAA
Wed Qtrs: 1 Park Center over 8 Irondale, 2 Maple Grove over 7 Roseville, 3 Osseo over 6 Champlin Park, 5 Spring Lake Park over 4 Mounds View.  Top 2 seeds no problems.  Osseo held Preston Thielke to 12 points in the 1st meeting and won by 9.  They win a closer than expected game.  Mounds View beat Spring Lake Park by 1 at home in December.  Brock Remme has been a monster for Spring Lake Park.  Eli Roe has been on a hot streak for Mounds View.  Spring Lake Park is the 1 team nobody wanted to see in this section, give me the Panthers here.

Fri Semis:  Park Center over Spring Lake Park, Osseo over Maple Grove.  Spring Lake Park won the regular season game by 1 point but that was at Spring Lake Park.  Park Center at home moves on.  Osseo and Maple Grove split 2 games.  Maple Grove won by 1 at home and Osseo won by 5 at their place.  Both games were in the 50s so this will be a struggle.  De'Mari Larkins vs Henry Stang at the point guard spot definitely the matchup of note there.  They'll get their stats but 2nd guys will be the key.  Keegan Harney and Gannon McGuire for MG, Temi Denado and Ty Swanson for Osseo.  Give me Osseo here.  I think they can apply a touch more defensive pressure which is something that can bother Maple Grove and offensively they can get some inside options that Maple Grove doesn't have.

Th Final (Rogers): Park Center over Osseo.  Throw out the records in this district rivalry.  Park Center won by 1 at Osseo at the end of January.  Chiang Ring has been out for a while for the Pirates and that's a huge difference.  He didn't play in that first meeting.  But Park Center locks in defensively, they are still really scary even without him on the back end to swat away mistakes.  They'll advance in another tight one.

Section 6AAAA
Wed Qtrs: 2 Hopkins over 7 St. Louis Park, 3 Minneapolis Washburn over 6 Minneapolis SW, 4 Edina over 5 Armstrong.  Southwest only lost by 2 at Washburn in their last rivalry meeting a month ago.  If Liam Farniok gets going look out but he'll need help.  Washburn wins a close one.  Then an old 4 vs 5 favorite of mine that may have been the start of the #ShockTheCzar hashtag.  Edina vs Armstrong in the first meeting of Jon Bryant vs his old school.  Edina moves on with their defense holding Armstrong down.

Fri Semis: 1 Wayzata over 4 Edina.  2 Hopkins over 3 Washburn.  Edina gave Wayzata 2 tough games in the regular season but Wayzata will advance here.  Kyle Jorgensen size vs the speed of the Hopkins backcourt.  Washburn is good defensively but will have their hands full here.  Kyle Jorgensen will need to absolutely dominate the paint if the Millers want to advance.  Royals move on.

Tues Final: Another classic section final between Wayzata and Hopkins, how fitting.  Hopkins won by 11 at home and then lost by 1 at Wayzata.  I'm going to call another Jackson McAndrew Mr Basketball moment for the win.

Section 7AAAA
Wed Qtrs: 1 Forest Lake over 8 Duluth East, 2 Coon Rapids over 7 Centennial, 3 Anoka over 6 Blaine, 4 Andover over 5 Cambridge-Isanti.  In the brotherly battle, keep an eye on this 1 vs 8 game.  Forest Lake won the regular season meeting at home by 4.  Forest Lake wins but closer than you may think for a 1 seed.  Coon Rapids wins their rematch with Centennial.  Blaine and Anoka split their regular season meetings with the winner putting up 93 at home in each.  Anoka is the home team, give me them in a run and gun game.  Andover's guard play will be the difference as they take out Cambridge.

Sat Semis (Princeton 2 and 4 PM): My bracket needs chaos so here we go.  4 Andover over 1 Forest Lake.  Andover won the regular season meeting at Forest Lake by 1. Coon Rapids and Anoka split their meetings on home courts.  Coon Rapids won at home on Friday but Anoka was up 7 at half.  I'm going to take Anoka here.  Dre Ellis, Peyton Podany and Trey Borchers as good guards against the Coon Rapids defense is my difference in this one.

Th Final (Princeton): Love me another rivalry game for a section title.  Anoka has 2 wins over Andover this season including a 1 pt win at Andover in their last meeting almost 2 months ago.  But Luke Dehnicke has been really good on the front line for Andover since then.  Coin flip game.  Andover has been the winner the last 2 years.  Give me Andover to make it 3.

Section 8AAAA
Speaking of chaos, how about this bracket. Expect this section to make or break my picks.  All about matchups here.

Mon Pigtail: 8 Elk River beat 9 Sartell by 2 at their place in the Granite City tourney.  Now they get the home game.  Elks advance.

Wed Qtrs:  1 Rogers over Elk River, 2 STMA over 7 Bemidji, 3 Buffalo over 6 Brainerd, 4 Sauk Rapids-Rice over 5 Moorhead.  Another 1 vs 8 game to keep an eye on.  Elk River lost this rivalry game by 1 pt and then 2 pts.  Rogers barely moves on.  STMA moves on over Bemidji.  3 Buffalo lost by 1 at 6 Brainerd at the end of January.  Bison win the grudge match at their place.  Its a dangerous Brainerd squad with wing Luke Diem and PG Eli Hoelz.  The 4 vs 5 game is a rematch of what Ryan James called one of the greatest games he's seen.  Moorhead won 105-103 in 2OT at The Hive in Perham in mid-January.  Another grudge win on home court as SRR moves on.

Sat semis: Give me Sauk Rapids-Rice over Rogers.  SRR beat Buffalo big who beat Rogers big is the logic.  In the other semi, STMA and Buffalo split 2 1 possession games.  STMA's physical play can be a problem for Buffalo.  Another rivalry game where you can throw the records out.  Give me STMA in another 1 possession game.

Th Final (Neutral Site): Sauk Rapids-Rice over STMA.  Sauk Rapids-Rice won the regular season meeting by 4 at home. Its another matchup that I like.  Jeremiah Johnson vs Keller Hanson at a guard spot is a fun matchup. Expect a very tight game there.

March 1st, 2024 CzarPI

This is the 5th and final CzarPI of the 2023-24 season (see CzarPI Explained Here). This end of the regular season calculation includes games through Friday, March 1st, 2024.  The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class.

CzarPI Record: 4261-907 (82.45%)

Class AAAA

1. Wayzata - 62.3 (10) 0-0 vs higher, 25-1 vs lower
2. Park Center - 60.52 (8) 1-0 vs higher, 20-3 vs lower
3. Hopkins - 60.27 (3) 1-2 vs higher, 20-3 vs lower
4. Minnetonka - 58.95 (4) 2-4 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
5. Minneapolis Washburn - 58.11 (30) 1-1 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
6. Cretin-Derham Hall - 57.42 (39) 0-1 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
7. Lakeville North - 57.22 (21) 0-2 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
8. Shakopee - 56.55 (24) 1-3 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
9. Tartan - 56.41 (52) 0-1 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
10. Farmington - 56.05 (35) 3-2 vs higher, 17-4 vs lower
11. Osseo - 55.09 (13) 0-5 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
12. Maple Grove - 54.99 (9) 1-6 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
13. East Ridge - 54.7 (25) 2-4 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
14. Waconia - 54.64 (49) 1-1 vs higher, 18-4 vs lower
15. St. Paul Central - 53.63 (62) 0-0 vs higher, 18-4 vs lower
16. Moorhead - 53.3 (14) 1-4 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
17. Lakeville South - 53.26 (22) 3-6 vs higher, 14-3 vs lower
18. Edina - 53.2 (2) 4-10 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
19. Rochester Century - 52.74 (50) 2-3 vs higher, 17-4 vs lower
20. Mounds View - 51.92 (55) 1-4 vs higher, 17-3 vs lower
21. Minneapolis Southwest - 51.69 (29) 2-5 vs higher, 14-5 vs lower
22. Rogers - 51.18 (53) 1-4 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
23. Sauk Rapids-Rice - 51.08 (57) 1-5 vs higher, 17-3 vs lower
24. Roseville - 50.5 (43) 2-7 vs higher, 13-4 vs lower
25. Brainerd - 50.43 (56) 3-6 vs higher, 14-3 vs lower
26. Spring Lake Park - 50.33 (44) 5-6 vs higher, 10-5 vs lower
27. Eagan - 50.1 (23) 4-8 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
28. Champlin Park - 50.04 (20) 3-7 vs higher, 10-5 vs lower
29. Forest Lake - 49.95 (46) 4-6 vs higher, 10-6 vs lower
30. Owatonna - 49.32 (58) 1-5 vs higher, 15-4 vs lower
31. Robbinsdale Armstrong - 49.13 (15) 4-11 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
32. Cambridge-Isanti - 48.9 (61) 2-4 vs higher, 14-6 vs lower
33. Apple Valley - 48.78 (18) 4-10 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
34. Rochester John Marshall - 48.2 (60) 3-5 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
35. St. Michael-Albertville - 48.06 (7) 6-11 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
36. Rochester Mayo - 47.99 (36) 5-9 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
37. Chanhassen - 47.97 (26) 4-9 vs higher, 8-5 vs lower
38. Park of Cottage Grove - 47.8 (31) 4-12 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
39. Buffalo - 47.79 (6) 6-13 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
40. Hastings - 47.49 (59) 2-6 vs higher, 11-5 vs lower
41. Coon Rapids - 47.27 (47) 4-10 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
42. Eden Prairie - 46.62 (1) 6-17 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
43. Duluth East - 46.54 (42) 6-10 vs higher, 4-5 vs lower
44. Prior Lake - 46.53 (11) 5-14 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
45. St. Louis Park - 46.26 (19) 5-14 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
46. Stillwater Area - 45.63 (51) 4-12 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
47. Anoka - 45.38 (34) 4-14 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
48. Chaska - 45.01 (16) 5-16 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
49. Bemidji - 44.73 (45) 3-12 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
50. Andover - 44.58 (32) 4-15 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
51. Woodbury - 42.07 (48) 4-15 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
52. Rosemount - 41.58 (17) 4-16 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
53. Blaine - 41.25 (38) 5-17 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
54. Centennial - 39.41 (54) 4-18 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
55. Bloomington Jefferson - 35.26 (41) 2-19 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
56. Elk River - 34.23 (33) 3-22 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
57. Sartell-St. Stephen - 34.2 (37) 2-20 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
58. Irondale - 34.08 (27) 2-21 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
59. Burnsville - 33.42 (12) 3-20 vs higher, 0-3 vs lower
60. Eastview - 32.37 (5) 4-22 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
61. New Prague - 31.85 (40) 4-21 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
62. White Bear Lake - 31.31 (28) 3-23 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Class AAA

1. Stewartville - 60.98 (1) 0-0 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
2. Totino-Grace - 59.58 (3) 3-1 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
3. Mankato East - 58.85 (25) 1-0 vs higher, 23-2 vs lower
4. Detroit Lakes - 58.21 (22) 0-0 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
5. Delano - 57.08 (12) 0-1 vs higher, 21-4 vs lower
6. Alexandria - 56.99 (11) 3-2 vs higher, 17-3 vs lower
7. New Ulm - 55.65 (10) 0-3 vs higher, 19-4 vs lower
8. Mankato West - 54.85 (19) 2-2 vs higher, 17-5 vs lower
9. Worthington - 54.56 (6) 3-5 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
10. Benilde-St. Margaret's - 54.13 (4) 3-7 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
11. Byron - 53.43 (21) 1-5 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
12. Columbia Heights - 53.28 (38) 1-1 vs higher, 15-5 vs lower
13. Minneapolis South - 53.21 (44) 0-3 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
14. St. Paul Johnson - 52.7 (62) 1-2 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
15. DeLaSalle - 52.34 (16) 3-5 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
16. Chisago Lakes Area - 52.31 (50) 1-1 vs higher, 17-6 vs lower
17. Hermantown - 52.27 (55) 1-2 vs higher, 17-5 vs lower
18. St. Cloud Tech - 51.91 (28) 3-3 vs higher, 13-6 vs lower
19. Orono - 51.5 (13) 3-7 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
20. Fridley - 50.61 (59) 1-5 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
21. Duluth Denfeld - 50.33 (47) 2-4 vs higher, 13-5 vs lower
22. Mahtomedi - 49.75 (46) 1-5 vs higher, 14-4 vs lower
23. Richfield - 49.5 (33) 4-8 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
24. Hutchinson - 49.45 (18) 2-10 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
25. St. Thomas Academy - 49.3 (60) 3-5 vs higher, 13-5 vs lower
26. Rock Ridge - 48.79 (57) 1-7 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
27. St. Paul Harding - 48.68 (64) 2-6 vs higher, 16-0 vs lower
28. St. Peter - 48.63 (9) 4-10 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
29. Big Lake - 48.32 (17) 3-9 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
30. Little Falls - 47.82 (29) 3-7 vs higher, 10-6 vs lower
31. North Branch - 47.75 (53) 4-7 vs higher, 9-6 vs lower
32. Mound Westonka - 47.13 (7) 5-13 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
33. Cloquet - 46.83 (43) 0-11 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
34. Fergus Falls - 46.65 (20) 4-11 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
35. Marshall - 46.39 (5) 4-11 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
36. Becker - 45.95 (54) 3-8 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
37. South St. Paul - 45.43 (30) 4-12 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
38. Northfield - 45.07 (36) 5-10 vs higher, 7-4 vs lower
39. Monticello - 44.81 (42) 5-12 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
40. North St. Paul - 44.7 (35) 4-12 vs higher, 5-4 vs lower
41. Rocori - 44.38 (34) 4-13 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
42. Minneapolis Roosevelt - 44.24 (49) 2-10 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
43. Faribault - 43.71 (37) 2-12 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
44. St. Francis - 43.48 (52) 4-14 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
45. Kasson-Mantorville - 42.95 (15) 5-14 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
46. Two Rivers - 42.46 (51) 4-14 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
47. Robbinsdale Cooper - 42.02 (61) 1-11 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
48. Hill-Murray - 41 (63) 3-14 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
49. St. Anthony Village - 41 (39) 3-15 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
50. Grand Rapids - 40.77 (14) 4-18 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
51. Minneapolis Edison - 40.38 (2) 4-18 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
52. Minneapolis Henry - 39.95 (8) 3-15 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
53. Austin - 39.51 (24) 4-16 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
54. St. Paul Highland Park - 37.84 (41) 4-14 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
55. Zimmerman - 35.7 (48) 3-18 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
56. St. Paul Como Park - 35.35 (65) 4-16 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
57. Holy Angels - 34.84 (56) 3-18 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
58. Winona - 34.79 (27) 3-18 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
59. Red Wing - 34.64 (45) 3-18 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
60. Princeton - 34.25 (23) 4-20 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
61. St. Cloud Apollo - 33.47 (32) 3-20 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
62. Hibbing - 32.39 (26) 2-21 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
63. Simley - 32.23 (58) 3-21 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
64. Willmar - 30.84 (31) 2-23 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
65. Bloomington Kennedy - 26.7 (40) 2-21 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower

Class AA

1. Breck - 61.5 (12) 0-0 vs higher, 24-1 vs lower
2. Albany - 60.54 (15) 0-0 vs higher, 24-2 vs lower
3. Annandale - 59.49 (18) 1-0 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
4. Montevideo - 57.01 (14) 1-2 vs higher, 19-4 vs lower
5. Redwood Valley - 56.91 (31) 1-0 vs higher, 20-5 vs lower
6. Sauk Centre - 56.74 (11) 1-4 vs higher, 19-2 vs lower
7. Eden Valley-Watkins - 56.66 (45) 2-1 vs higher, 20-3 vs lower
8. Southwest Christian - 56.53 (7) 0-4 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
9. Lake City - 56.34 (22) 0-3 vs higher, 21-2 vs lower
10. Caledonia - 56.29 (43) 0-2 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
11. Pequot Lakes - 56.2 (41) 0-3 vs higher, 22-1 vs lower
12. Cannon Falls - 56.04 (34) 1-4 vs higher, 21-1 vs lower
13. Holy Family Catholic - 55.63 (4) 4-4 vs higher, 13-5 vs lower
14. Pelican Rapids - 55.6 (44) 1-2 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
15. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 55.5 (70) 0-2 vs higher, 22-2 vs lower
16. Jackson County Central - 55.34 (51) 3-1 vs higher, 14-5 vs lower
17. Paynesville Area - 55.32 (60) 2-2 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
18. Osakis - 55.12 (40) 1-4 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
19. Esko - 55.07 (9) 1-4 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
20. Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 55.04 (65) 0-2 vs higher, 21-3 vs lower
21. Legacy Christian - 55.01 (80) 1-1 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
22. Spectrum - 54.75 (75) 2-2 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
23. La Crescent-Hokah - 54.19 (47) 1-4 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
24. Crosby-Ironton - 53.89 (66) 0-4 vs higher, 21-1 vs lower
25. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 53.74 (6) 4-8 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
26. Blake - 53.59 (23) 1-4 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
27. Belle Plaine - 53.48 (63) 1-3 vs higher, 18-4 vs lower
28. Park Rapids Area - 53.19 (24) 1-6 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
29. Moose Lake-Willow River - 53.11 (85) 0-4 vs higher, 19-2 vs lower
30. St. Croix Lutheran - 52.98 (100) 1-1 vs higher, 20-4 vs lower
31. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 52.84 (87) 1-4 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
32. Maranatha Christian - 52.59 (73) 2-5 vs higher, 18-1 vs lower
33. St. Paul Academy - 52.49 (68) 1-4 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
34. Barnesville - 52.06 (64) 1-4 vs higher, 18-3 vs lower
35. Lewiston-Altura - 51.97 (72) 1-5 vs higher, 17-3 vs lower
36. Waseca - 51.34 (61) 3-5 vs higher, 13-4 vs lower
37. Melrose - 51.3 (8) 3-10 vs higher, 13-0 vs lower
38. Glencoe-Silver Lake - 51.28 (27) 2-5 vs higher, 13-6 vs lower
39. Dassel-Cokato - 51.27 (25) 3-6 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
40. Minneapolis North - 50.97 (3) 3-10 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
41. St. Agnes - 50.9 (49) 2-7 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
42. Pipestone Area - 50.52 (29) 4-8 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
43. New London-Spicer - 50.33 (16) 4-9 vs higher, 9-4 vs lower
44. Minnehaha Academy - 50.06 (2) 5-10 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
45. Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 49.99 (28) 1-10 vs higher, 16-0 vs lower
46. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 49.73 (32) 3-8 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
47. Wadena-Deer Creek - 49.67 (88) 2-5 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
48. Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran - 49.15 (52) 1-9 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
49. Foley - 48.56 (83) 1-6 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
50. East Grand Forks - 48.48 (58) 2-8 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
51. Barnum - 48.06 (110) 1-5 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
52. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 47.9 (95) 3-7 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
53. Jordan - 47.15 (5) 4-13 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
54. Staples-Motley - 47.11 (19) 2-12 vs higher, 12-0 vs lower
55. Watertown-Mayer - 46.7 (42) 3-12 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
56. Pillager - 46.69 (89) 1-10 vs higher, 15-0 vs lower
57. Hawley - 46.68 (48) 1-10 vs higher, 12-0 vs lower
58. Two Harbors - 46.53 (102) 2-9 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
59. Norwood-Young America - 46.42 (71) 3-10 vs higher, 8-5 vs lower
60. Rockford - 46.34 (46) 4-12 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
61. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 46.2 (78) 2-10 vs higher, 13-0 vs lower
62. Fairmont - 46.05 (56) 3-11 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
63. Maple River - 45.95 (53) 0-12 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
64. Hiawatha Collegiate - 45.92 (112) 4-10 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
65. Mora - 45.71 (57) 1-10 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
66. LeSueur-Henderson - 45.5 (116) 4-8 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
67. Duluth Marshall - 45.47 (106) 4-9 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
68. Pine Island - 45.42 (17) 2-12 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
69. St. Clair - 45.21 (96) 1-9 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
70. St. Charles - 45.16 (117) 1-8 vs higher, 14-4 vs lower
71. Metro Schools College Prep - 44.97 (101) 2-7 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
72. Thief River Falls - 44.35 (37) 1-13 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
73. Greenway - 44.32 (109) 1-10 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
74. Roseau - 44.26 (121) 1-8 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
75. Luverne - 44.05 (36) 2-12 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
76. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 43.49 (105) 2-11 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
77. Perham - 42.84 (20) 4-15 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
78. St. Cloud Cathedral - 42.46 (30) 2-15 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
79. Math and Science Academy - 42.36 (122) 1-6 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
80. Warroad - 42.16 (119) 3-11 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
81. Blue Earth Area - 41.87 (79) 2-13 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
82. St. Paul Humboldt - 41.72 (113) 3-9 vs higher, 8-6 vs lower
83. Mounds Park Academy - 41.51 (111) 3-9 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
84. Tri-City United - 41.32 (98) 3-14 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
85. High School for the Recording Arts - 41.32 (97) 1-5 vs higher, 3-4 vs lower
86. Concordia Academy - 40.68 (90) 3-12 vs higher, 6-5 vs lower
87. Rochester Lourdes - 40.43 (21) 5-17 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
88. Triton - 40.3 (108) 3-14 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
89. Dover-Eyota - 39.84 (86) 3-15 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
90. Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 39.44 (67) 5-17 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
91. Litchfield - 39.17 (13) 5-20 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
92. Randolph - 39.02 (77) 3-18 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
93. Eagle Ridge Academy - 38.74 (84) 2-15 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
94. Pierz - 38.48 (39) 1-17 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
95. Twin Cities Academy/Great River - 38.45 (120) 1-12 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
96. Holdingford - 38.43 (35) 1-16 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
97. Lakes International Language Academy - 38.13 (123) 2-11 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
98. Providence Academy - 37.76 (10) 4-19 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
99. Cristo Rey Jesuit - 37.61 (91) 4-17 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
100. Windom Area - 37.56 (62) 2-18 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
101. Menahga - 37.42 (94) 3-15 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
102. St. Croix Prep - 37.19 (81) 4-18 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
103. Nova Classical Academy - 36.85 (118) 4-17 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
104. Hinckley-Finlayson - 36.08 (103) 2-15 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
105. Sibley East - 35.78 (74) 3-21 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
106. Kimball Area - 34.86 (59) 2-17 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
107. Rush City - 34.83 (92) 3-17 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
108. Mesabi East - 34.8 (104) 2-15 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
109. Proctor - 34.12 (76) 3-18 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
110. Royalton - 33.84 (54) 2-19 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
111. Crookston - 33.67 (38) 4-21 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
112. Pine City - 32.82 (115) 4-19 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
113. St. James Area - 32.63 (55) 2-21 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
114. Milaca - 31.86 (33) 4-22 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
115. Minnewaska Area - 28.64 (1) 2-24 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
116. Aitkin - 28.44 (26) 2-23 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
117. New Richland-H-E-G - 27.74 (93) 2-22 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
118. Chatfield - 26.07 (50) 2-22 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
119. St. Paul Washington - 23.51 (107) 2-23 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
120. Albert Lea - 23.45 (69) 1-26 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
121. Brooklyn Center - 23.14 (82) 2-23 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
122. International Falls - 21.68 (114) 0-19 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
123. Medford - 0 (99) 0-12 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Class A

1. Cherry - 60.97 (1) 0-0 vs higher, 22-2 vs lower
2. West Central Area - 58.71 (4) 0-0 vs higher, 23-3 vs lower
3. Dawson-Boyd - 58.59 (21) 0-0 vs higher, 24-1 vs lower
4. Ada-Borup-West - 56.77 (3) 0-1 vs higher, 20-4 vs lower
5. Fertile-Beltrami - 56.66 (7) 2-1 vs higher, 19-4 vs lower
6. Red Lake County - 56.57 (32) 0-1 vs higher, 24-2 vs lower
7. Henning - 55.78 (95) 1-0 vs higher, 23-2 vs lower
8. Spring Grove - 54.86 (90) 0-0 vs higher, 25-3 vs lower
9. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 54.47 (96) 1-1 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
10. Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey - 53.92 (121) 0-0 vs higher, 23-3 vs lower
11. Cass Lake-Bena - 53.48 (14) 1-5 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
12. Blooming Prairie - 53.42 (145) 0-0 vs higher, 26-2 vs lower
13. Goodridge/Grygla - 53.25 (55) 1-2 vs higher, 19-4 vs lower
14. CHOF - 53.1 (9) 0-1 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
15. Win-E-Mac - 52.91 (37) 2-4 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
16. Springfield - 52.71 (33) 1-3 vs higher, 18-4 vs lower
17. Southland - 52.45 (106) 2-1 vs higher, 19-4 vs lower
18. Kingsland - 52.15 (111) 1-3 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
19. Mountain Iron-Buhl - 52.11 (100) 0-2 vs higher, 21-3 vs lower
20. Nevis - 52.02 (24) 2-6 vs higher, 17-1 vs lower
21. Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 51.97 (35) 0-6 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
22. Rushford-Peterson - 51.84 (51) 2-6 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
23. North Woods - 51.73 (105) 0-3 vs higher, 21-2 vs lower
24. Heritage Christian - 51.61 (50) 1-4 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
25. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 51.52 (13) 2-6 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
26. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 51.36 (53) 1-2 vs higher, 18-5 vs lower
27. Hills-Beaver Creek - 51.04 (101) 1-3 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
28. Carlton/Wrenshall - 51.04 (84) 0-4 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
29. Sleepy Eye - 50.81 (57) 2-5 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
30. Minneota - 50.8 (74) 1-3 vs higher, 18-4 vs lower
31. Southwest MN Christian - 50.75 (31) 4-5 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
32. Deer River - 50.71 (102) 1-4 vs higher, 19-2 vs lower
33. East Central - 50.52 (128) 0-3 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
34. Avail Academy - 50.39 (129) 0-3 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
35. Upsala - 50.38 (123) 0-3 vs higher, 20-3 vs lower
36. Park Christian - 50.31 (70) 2-5 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
37. MACCRAY - 50.27 (17) 1-6 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
38. West Lutheran - 50.22 (28) 2-8 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
39. Sacred Heart - 49.78 (23) 1-6 vs higher, 15-3 vs lower
40. Northern Freeze - 49.6 (12) 2-7 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
41. Browerville-Eagle Valley - 49.05 (81) 1-6 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
42. Red Lake - 49.05 (124) 3-6 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
43. Lester Prairie - 48.54 (20) 2-7 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
44. Central MN Christian - 48.41 (26) 3-7 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
45. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 48.15 (117) 2-6 vs higher, 15-3 vs lower
46. Higher Ground Academy - 48.14 (150) 0-2 vs higher, 18-6 vs lower
47. BOLD - 48.12 (2) 3-12 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
48. Liberty Classical Academy - 48.06 (143) 1-4 vs higher, 17-4 vs lower
49. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 47.82 (22) 2-10 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
50. Battle Lake - 47.51 (83) 2-4 vs higher, 11-8 vs lower
51. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 47.44 (99) 3-8 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
52. Minnesota Transitions Charter - 47.21 (153) 0-1 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
53. Kenyon-Wanamingo - 47.21 (120) 1-4 vs higher, 15-7 vs lower
54. Chisholm - 46.98 (36) 1-9 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
55. Cedar Mountain - 46.63 (66) 3-9 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
56. Fillmore Central - 46.55 (34) 3-9 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
57. New Life Academy - 45.98 (19) 2-10 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
58. Exploration - 45.95 (141) 1-4 vs higher, 10-5 vs lower
59. Cromwell-Wright - 45.79 (126) 2-8 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
60. Brandon/Evansville - 45.6 (25) 2-9 vs higher, 10-5 vs lower
61. Underwood - 45.45 (115) 3-5 vs higher, 11-7 vs lower
62. Trinity School - 45.42 (64) 3-10 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
63. Braham - 45.09 (152) 1-8 vs higher, 17-0 vs lower
64. Mabel-Canton - 44.99 (76) 2-7 vs higher, 11-6 vs lower
65. New Ulm Cathedral - 44.8 (88) 2-12 vs higher, 13-0 vs lower
66. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 44.65 (18) 2-12 vs higher, 12-0 vs lower
67. Goodhue - 44.6 (16) 3-12 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
68. Murray County Central - 44.57 (52) 1-12 vs higher, 13-0 vs lower
69. NCE/U-H - 44.3 (45) 2-10 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
70. Canby - 44.2 (108) 2-10 vs higher, 12-0 vs lower
71. Littlefork-Big Falls - 44.04 (139) 1-7 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
72. Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 43.79 (58) 3-9 vs higher, 10-6 vs lower
73. Schaeffer Academy - 43.63 (54) 3-11 vs higher, 9-4 vs lower
74. Kittson County Central - 43.53 (48) 3-11 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
75. Bertha-Hewitt - 43.13 (110) 1-10 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
76. Houston - 42.97 (77) 3-11 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
77. Border West - 42.76 (80) 3-9 vs higher, 7-6 vs lower
78. Wabasha-Kellogg - 42.63 (29) 4-14 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
79. Ashby - 42.62 (109) 4-10 vs higher, 7-5 vs lower
80. PACT Charter - 42.6 (27) 1-12 vs higher, 9-4 vs lower
81. Mankato Loyola - 42.37 (134) 2-8 vs higher, 11-5 vs lower
82. United South Central - 42.28 (119) 3-9 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
83. Hancock - 41.97 (63) 5-13 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
84. Red Rock Central - 41.81 (73) 2-13 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
85. MN Academy for the Deaf - 41.69 (165) 0-0 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
86. Fosston - 41.43 (39) 1-12 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
87. Ubah Medical Academy - 41.3 (146) 1-7 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
88. St. Paul City - 41 (157) 5-8 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
89. Northland - 40.95 (113) 0-10 vs higher, 10-5 vs lower
90. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 40.92 (114) 1-12 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
91. Alden-Conger - 40.84 (142) 2-8 vs higher, 10-7 vs lower
92. Venture Academy - 40.44 (71) 2-5 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
93. Lac qui Parle Valley - 40.4 (30) 4-13 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
94. Hill City - 40.35 (138) 2-9 vs higher, 9-5 vs lower
95. Cleveland - 40.33 (127) 2-12 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
96. T/ML/GHEC - 40.23 (135) 4-12 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
97. Parkers Prairie - 40.12 (82) 4-15 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
98. Ely - 39.86 (131) 3-11 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
99. Madelia - 39.82 (122) 5-13 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
100. Mayer Lutheran - 39.72 (72) 4-17 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
101. Ogilvie - 39.59 (151) 1-9 vs higher, 11-5 vs lower
102. Sebeka - 39.01 (125) 3-12 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
103. Glenville-Emmons - 38.99 (86) 4-15 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
104. United Christian Academy - 38.53 (89) 2-14 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
105. Benson - 38.36 (44) 3-14 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
106. Mahnomen/Waubun - 37.98 (6) 2-16 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
107. McGregor - 37.91 (148) 2-11 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
108. International School of MN - 37.9 (164) 3-5 vs higher, 6-4 vs lower
109. Parnassus Prep - 37.72 (136) 2-7 vs higher, 1-3 vs lower
110. Lake Park-Audubon - 37.43 (8) 3-18 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
111. Lanesboro - 37.24 (42) 4-18 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
112. LeRoy-Ostrander - 37.15 (43) 5-17 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
113. Stephen-Argyle - 36.18 (46) 2-16 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
114. Hope Academy - 36.06 (104) 2-17 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
115. Immanuel Lutheran - 36.05 (163) 2-6 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
116. Renville County West - 35.93 (112) 2-14 vs higher, 5-4 vs lower
117. Clearbrook-Gonvick - 35.89 (10) 2-18 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
118. Swanville - 35.82 (91) 1-17 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
119. Frazee - 35.71 (41) 4-17 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
120. Community Christian - 35.65 (166) 1-2 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
121. Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 35.2 (68) 2-13 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
122. Prairie Seeds Academy - 34.78 (158) 4-14 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
123. Nashwauk-Keewatin - 34.58 (61) 3-19 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
124. Pine River-Backus - 34.4 (56) 1-17 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
125. Community of Peace Academy - 34.35 (155) 3-17 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
126. North Lakes Academy - 34.15 (79) 4-18 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
127. Bethlehem Academy - 34.08 (92) 3-20 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
128. Bagley - 33.9 (137) 1-14 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
129. Northome/Kelliher - 33.25 (130) 2-16 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
130. Cook County - 33.16 (156) 1-12 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
131. Rothsay - 32.91 (94) 2-18 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
132. St. John's Prep - 32.71 (144) 1-14 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
133. Lakeview - 32.5 (93) 2-16 vs higher, 3-5 vs lower
134. Chesterton Academy - 31.91 (162) 4-15 vs higher, 1-4 vs lower
135. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 31.79 (118) 3-19 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
136. Verndale - 31.22 (85) 3-19 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
137. Edgerton - 31 (103) 1-17 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
138. Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda - 30.98 (75) 3-18 vs higher, 1-4 vs lower
139. Breckenridge - 30.82 (5) 2-22 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
140. Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 30.44 (59) 4-19 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
141. South Ridge - 29.14 (69) 3-21 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
142. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 29.07 (11) 2-22 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
143. Wabasso - 28.82 (38) 4-22 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
144. Martin County West - 28.46 (116) 2-22 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
145. Adrian/Ellsworth - 28.03 (47) 3-20 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
146. Rochester STEM Academy - 27.79 (87) 3-21 vs higher, 0-3 vs lower
147. Blackduck - 27.42 (98) 2-21 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
148. Yellow Medicine East - 27.41 (67) 3-20 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
149. Academy for Sciences & Ag - 25.43 (160) 0-8 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
150. Climax/Fisher - 24.92 (60) 1-23 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
151. Hayfield - 24.9 (78) 3-23 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
152. Ortonville - 24.76 (65) 3-21 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
153. Mille Lacs - 24.02 (147) 1-23 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
154. Maple Lake - 23.72 (62) 2-24 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
155. Hmong Academy - 20.62 (161) 1-16 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
156. Bigfork - 20.54 (154) 1-19 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
157. New York Mills - 20.14 (49) 1-24 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
158. Laporte - 16.18 (133) 0-23 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
159. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 16.03 (40) 0-24 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
160. Grand Meadow - 0 (15) 0-26 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
161. Lincoln International - 0 (97) 0-11 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
162. Nicollet - 0 (107) 0-25 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
163. New Century Academy - 0 (132) 0-1 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
164. Metro Deaf School - 0 (140) 0-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
165. Floodwood - 0 (149) 0-23 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
166. Lake of the Woods - 0 (159) 0-22 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower