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.