The Minnesota State High School League Boys Basketball Tournament opens Wednesday, March 22, and runs through Saturday, March 25, at various venues in the Twin Cities.
Quarterfinals will be played at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.
All championship rounds will be played at Target Center and all consolation rounds and third-place games will be played at Concordia University in St. Paul.
Championship semifinals and championship games in all classes will be televised by 45TV.
• Complete tournament schedule at www.mshsl.org .
ADVERTISEMENT
Quarterfinal match-ups
Class 1A
Red Lake vs. Minneapolis North: These teams met in late December with North winning 78-70. Red Lake is making its fourth consecutive and ninth overall appearance. The Warriors finished fourth in 2016. The defending champions from North are appearing for the second consecutive and 21st time overall. In addition to winning the 2016 title, the Polars were champions in 1980, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2003.
Springfield vs. Nevis: This marks the fourth overall appearance for the Springfield Tigers, who won a championship the last time they played in the tournament in 2011. After a one-year hiatus, Nevis returns to tournament play for a second time.
Lake Park-Audubon vs. Goodhue: The Raiders of Lake Park-Audubon are making their second consecutive and second overall tournament appearance. They lost to the Goodhue Wildcats in the quarterfinals last year. It's the fourth overall and second consecutive appearance for Goodhue, the 2016 runner-up.
North Woods vs. Central Minnesota Christian: This game marks the tournament debut of the North Woods Grizzlies. They face last year's third-place team from Central Minnesota Christian. The Bluejays are making their third consecutive and third overall appearance.
Class 2A
Lake City vs. Minnehaha Academy: The Tigers of Lake City are making their first appearance in the tournament since 1990, when they won a championship. They also won titles in 1978 and 1979. This is Lake City's seventh overall appearance. Minnehaha Academy is making its first appearance since claiming a championship in 2013. The Redhawks are competing in the tournament for the fifth time overall.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jackson County Central vs. Annandale: The 2016 runner-up Huskies of Jackson County Central are making their second consecutive and second overall tournament appearance under this name. Jackson made one additional appearance in 1987. Annandale returns to the tournament for its fifth consecutive and sixth overall appearance. The Cardinals took fourth place last year.
New Richland-H-E-G vs. St. Cloud Cathedral: The Panthers of New Richland-H-E-G are making their first appearance in the state tournament. Cathedral is back in the tournament for the first time since 2000, marking the Crusaders' third overall appearance.
Breckenridge vs. Crosby-Ironton: After a one-year hiatus, Breckenridge returns to tournament play for the eighth time overall. The Cowboys won a championship in 1940. Crosby-Ironton is making its 21st overall appearance. It is the first time the Rangers have played in the tournament since 2010.
Class 3A
Big Lake vs. DeLaSalle: Crosby-Ironton High School graduate Mike Nagorski is an assistant coach for Big Lake, which is making its tournament debut. The five-time defending champions from DeLaSalle are making their sixth consecutive and 22nd overall appearance. The Islanders are in the hunt for their 11th title. In addition to the past five years, DeLaSalle also won in 1985, 1988, 1998, 1999, and 2006.
Columbia Heights vs. Fergus Falls: Columbia Heights returns for its third appearance, its first since 2011. The Fergus Falls Otters are making their second consecutive appearance and 10th overall. They are looking to improve on last year's runner-up showing.
St. Thomas Academy vs. Austin: The St. Thomas Academy Cadets are making their 10th appearance, their first since 2008. The Cadets won their only championship in 1998. The Packers of Austin return to tournament action for the first time since 2014. This is their 30th appearance overall and they won titles in 1935, 1946, and 1958.
Grand Rapids vs. Marshall: The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks return for their 13th appearance, their first since 2013. The Tigers of Marshall return to make their 11th appearance. Their last appearance was in 2014. They won their only championship in 1963.
ADVERTISEMENT
Class 4A
Chaska vs. Champlin Park: Chaska returns for its seventh appearance, but first since 2004 when the Hawks won their only championship. Champlin Park, whose head coach is Brainerd High School graduate Mark Tuchscherer, is making its third appearance as a single school, its fourth overall.
Wayzata vs. Lakeville North: The Wayzata Trojans return for the first time since 1959 when they won the title. This is their third appearance overall. Lakeville North is making its sixth consecutive and seventh overall appearance. The Panthers, who placed second in 2016, are looking for their second title. They won their first in 2014.
Andover vs. Maple Grove: These teams met in the regular-season finale with Maple Grove winning 66-41. The Andover Huskies are making their fifth appearance, their first since 2013. Maple Grove returns for its second consecutive appearance and fifth overall. The Crimson fell in the quarterfinals last year.
Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Apple Valley: This is a rematch of a mid-December game that Apple Valley won 71-59. The Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders are making their 10th appearance, their first since 2014. The Raiders are looking for their third championship-they won previously in 1991 and 1993. The Apple Valley Eagles, who placed third last year, return for their third consecutive appearance, their ninth overall. They are also looking for their third title, having won previously in 2013 and 2015.
Quarterfinal schedule:
CLASS 1A
Thursday, March 23, Williams Arena
ADVERTISEMENT
Red Lake (25-4) vs. No. 1 seed Minneapolis North (29-2), 11 a.m.
No. 5 Springfield (28-2) vs. No. 4 Nevis (28-1) 1 p.m.
Lake Park-Audubon (22-6) vs. No. 2 Goodhue (28-3), 3 p.m.
North Woods, Cook (29-1) vs. No. 3 Central MN Christian, Prinsburg (26-3), 5 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Wednesday, March 22, Target Center
Lake City (23-6) vs. No. 1 Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (23-5), 6 p.m.
No. 5 Jackson County Central (26-4) vs. No. 4 Annandale (26-4), 8 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wednesday, March 22, Williams Arena
New Richland-H-E-G (28-2) vs. No. 2 St. Cloud Cathedral (26-4), 6 p.m.
Breckenridge (26-2) vs. No. 3 Crosby-Ironton (28-2), 8 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Wednesday, March 22, Williams Arena
Big Lake (20-9) vs. No. 2 seed DeLaSalle, Minneapolis (24-3), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Columbia Heights (21-8) vs. No. 4 Fergus Falls (25-4) 12 p.m.
St. Thomas Academy (23-6) vs. No. 2 Austin (27-2), 2 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Grand Rapids (24-5) vs. No. 3 Marshall (26-3), 4 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Wednesday, March 22, Target Center
Chaska (24-5) vs. No. 1 Champlin Park (29-0), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Wayzata (26-3) vs. No. 4 Lakeville North (27-2), 12 p.m.
Andover (11-18) vs. No. 2 Maple Grove (27-2), 2 p.m.
Cretin-Derham Hall (21-8) vs. No. 3 Apple Valley (27-2), 4 p.m.
