2026 Section Finals Preview

15 metro area section finals between tonight and tomorrow.  Let's take a quick look at each.

4A: 1 Liberty vs 2 Heritage.  Sam Rupnow 2 big games in 2 Liberty wins over Heritage this season in MCAA play.  But Aaron Palmer is back for Heritage and that's a big difference.  But don't sleep on Liberty's Jimmy Youtsey, he's overshadowed by the Liberty backcourt but is a factor on their front line. Liberty moves on.

4AA: 1 Minnehaha vs 2 St. Croix Lutheran.  Minnehaha won the regular season meeting easily on President's Day. Too much Kellen Troup in this one for Minnehaha.  Redhawks move on for the 10th straight year.

5AA: 3 Maranatha vs 9 Blake.  Blake knocked off top seed Holy Family and then won at Minneapolis North in the semis.  Maranatha avenged a regular season loss to SW Christian by thumping them in the semis.  Maranatha has won 19 in a row and beat Blake by 10 a month ago. The Carson McMichael vs Marcus Marshall matchup fun to watch.  Blake will hang around but not sure they have enough firepower to win.

3AAA: 1 Minneapolis South vs 2 South St. Paul.  LA Gales has been a revelation on the South frontline.  South St. Paul has struggled vs size all year.  South wins behind a big night from Gales.

4AAA: 1 De La Salle vs 2 Mahtomedi.  Too much De La Salle defense here and the game is on the island.

5AAA: 1 Totino-Grace vs 2 Becker.  TG rolls.

6AAA: 1 Richfield vs 2 Orono.  Richfield won at Orono in December by 23, but it was 27 at the half.  Orono needs to keep this one slow and make a bunch of 3s to have a chance.

1AAAA: 1 Lakeville South vs 2 Farmington.  These teams split the regular season with road wins.  Lakeville South won the last meeting and lost the 1st meeting at home by 4.  South will rely on their balanced attack.  Farmington got 28 pts from Briggs Sheridan in the win and 12 in the loss.  I think Farmington's the tougher team and that gets them thru.

2AAAA: 1 Prior Lake vs 2 Chaska.  Chaska has won 21 in a row since losing to Prior Lake 69-66 in the Shakopee holiday classic.  Tyler Forrest 4-15 in that game, Eli Herzog 0-7.  I can see Prior Lake trying Kobby Sambrew on him.  Prior Lake's size is an advantage for them.  Chaska's perimeter play is their advantage.  Role guys like Cole Brinkman and Jed Keenan will be key.  Prior Lake wins another classic.

3AAAA: 1 Eagan vs 3 Apple Valley.  Finishing up the trio of South Suburban sections, this should be another classic.  The teams split with Apple Valley winning by 7 at Eagan but losing by 1 at home.  Great matchup of do everything point forwards Alex Schroepfer and Camare Young.  Those 2 will get theirs.  Which supporting cast steps up here?  Kevin Kemp 2 total points in the 2 games.  Eagan needs him to be a factor.  Eagan moves on.

4AAAA: 1 Tartan vs 3 CDH.  This one should be a classic.  Jason Johnson defending KJ Wilson is a great matchup, but can CDH keep Tartan from ignoring Johnson on the other end.  Neither team gets much from their bench.  Tartan will need to keep Dre Frierson-Hollie off the offensive glass.  Emannuel Oyesanmi vs Ty Schlagel is a fun wing matchup.  Tartan moves on.

5AAAA: 1 Maple Grove vs 2 Osseo.  Great rivalry game here.  Osseo has won 14 of their last 15 over the last 2 months.  Maple Grove has won 11 of 12.  Max Iversen has been terrific in that stretch.  Maple Grove wins.

6AAAA: 1 Wayzata vs 2 Hopkins.  Speaking of rivalries, this one should be electric.  Wayzata won both regular season meetings (4 and 15 pt games).  Isaac Olmstead is back for Wayzata which is a major addition.  Jayden Moore will get his, but how the Hopkins supporting cast does will be key.

7AAAA: 1 Blaine vs 2 Andover.  Background is very interesting here.  Blaine won the 1st game of the year at Andover by 22, then Andover won the rematch at Blaine a month ago by 28 and scored 102.  Joey Mapson 30 in the win, 9 in the loss for Andover.  Andover very reliant on the 3 point shot.  If they make 14 like they did in the win, then its a game.  Blaine at home and a better ability to get to the rim.  Coin flip goes to the home team.

8AAAA: 1 Alexandria vs 3 Elk River.  Elk River went up to Alexandria and took them to OT back in December losing 70-68 but Talan Witt didn't play for Alexandria in that one.  Alex with too much firepower here.  They move on.