Top 25 Minnesota high school boys basketball rankings (2/5/2024)
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The Wayzata Trojans (18-1) affirmed their spot as the top team in Minnesota high school boys basketball after a 83-81 win against No. 2 Totino-Grace (16-3).
Tartan (15-3) enters the Power 25 for the first time this season after a 72-66 win over former No. 25 Richfield.
Here is the Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25.
Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25
No. 1 Wayzata (18-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
This week’s games: Feb. 6 at Buffalo (10-8), Feb. 9 vs. Eden Prairie (7-13)
Ranking rationale: Two of Wayzata’s toughest games have come against Class 3A opponents. Mind you, these are no slouches. The Trojans won 83-81 on neutral court early in the season vs. Totino-Grace (16-3), which has spent much of the season at No. 2 in the Power 25.
Wayzata’s latest test it passed was a 63-62 overtime non-conference win on Nicollet Island at DeLaSalle (11-7), which jumped up a spot to No. 17 this week. Jackson McAndrew’s 22 points led the way.
It was a banner week for the Trojans, who remain tied atop the Lake Conference with Edina, a team it beat earlier this season, at 5-1. Wayzata rolled 82-67 vs. St. Michael-Albertville (9-9) and held off a rally to win 98-87 at No. 5 Minnetonka (13-3). Wayzata led by more than 20 in the first half before Minnetonka got within single digits in the second half. McAndrew has been unstoppable this season and had 31 points.
No. 2 Totino-Grace (16-3)
Last week’s ranking: 2
This week’s games: Feb. 7 vs. Centennial (5-15), Feb. 10 vs. Eastview (3-13)
Ranking rationale: Totino-Grace continues to look like one of the favorites to win the Class 3A crown next month. The Eagles’ win streak is up to 11 overall and 12 in a row against Minnesota foes after posting a 2-0 mark last week.
In an all-Eagles matchup, T-G downed a pesky Eden Prairie (7-13) squad, 99-92 in Fridley. Isaiah Johnson-Arigu led with 24 points, followed by 23 for Chace Watley.
T-G completed the season sweep of Northwest Suburban Conference rival No. 3 Park Center (18-2), 75-63 on the road. It led 34-25 at halftime. This was the Eagles’ sixth Power 25 victory. Watley was tops with 27 points ahead of Johnson-Arigu’s 26. Johnson-Arigu added a team high 12 rebounds. Park Center averages 82.2 points per game.
No. 3 Park Center (18-2)
Last week’s ranking: 3
This week’s games: Feb. 7 vs. Rogers (15-5)
Ranking rationale: Park Center is getting its legs some rest with just one game last week and one this week. The Pirates are looking to regroup after suffering their second loss to the season with both coming to No. 2 Totino-Grace (16-3).
They fell behind nine at halftime en route to a 75-63 loss. It was a solid defensive effort against T-G, which averages north of 80 points a game. It just happened to coincide with Park Center’s offense finishing well below its 82.2 points per night average.
No. 4 Breck (20-0)
Last week’s ranking: 4
This week’s games: Feb. 5 at Brooklyn Center (2-16), Feb. 7 at St. Agnes (12-5), Feb. 10 at No. 9 Minneapolis Washburn (16-2)
Ranking rationale: The Mustangs are already up to 20 wins with nearly the entire month of February ahead of them. Breck picked up its third Power 25 victory last week 86-67 vs. previous No. 21 Columbia Heights (12-3).
Daniel Freitag led with 27 points. Breck was in control throughout, leading 42-26 at halftime. Earlier in the week, the Mustangs won 74-43 vs. Rockford (7-11). That was only an 11-point game at the break, but Breck quickly extinguished any chance the Rockets had at lift off. Freitag led with 23 points followed by 21 for J.P. Musoke.
No. 5 Minnetonka (13-3)
Last week’s ranking: 5
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. St. Michael-Albertville (9-9), Feb. 7 at No. 15 Cretin-Derham Hall (14-3), Feb. 10 vs. No. 6 Shakopee (14-3)
Ranking rationale: The Skippers came back on the road from a 63-40 halftime deficit to stun previous No. 6 Hopkins (13-4) 103-101 in a pivotal Lake Conference matchup. Dueling 30-point efforts from Jordan Cain and Greyson Uelmen led the way with Andy Stefonowicz adding 19 and Isa El-Amin 11. The Skippers were down by as much as 26 late in the first half.
Minnetonka was unable to capture lightning in a bottle twice in a week, losing 98-87 vs. No. 1 Wayzata (18-1). Minnetonka got down by 20-plus once again in the first half. It pulled within 14 at halftime and got into single digits in the second half, though the Trojans were able to keep a three or more possession lead throughout.
No. 6 Shakopee (14-3)
Last week’s ranking: 7
This week’s games: Feb. 6 at Apple Valley (11-7), Feb. 9 vs. Eastview (3-13), Feb. 10 at No. 5 Minnetonka (13-3)
Ranking rationale: The Sabers had one of the more impressive showings of any Power 25 team last week. Shakopee kept itself in the heart of the South Suburban Conference title race by winning 86-79 at previous No. 12 Farmington (13-5) and rolling 85-60 vs. previous No. 9 Lakeville North (13-5). It was a perfect response to a somewhat surprising 77-76 loss to current No. 13 Lakeville South (12-6). The Sabers came back from a 46-42 halftime deficit against Farmington.
Lucas Wherley led with 22 points. Shakopee then handed North its biggest loss of the season and snapped the Panthers’ seven-game win streak. Langsy continued his remarkable season with 28 points. Shako has a chance to climb into the top five if it can sweep this week.
No. 7 Hopkins (13-4)
Last week’s ranking: 6
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. Eden Prairie (7-13), Feb. 9 vs. No. 19 Edina (12-7)
Ranking rationale: Hopkins drops a spot not so much for a hard-fought loss to No. 5 Minnetonka (13-3), but more so for a stellar week by Shakopee to lead the two teams to swap spots in this week’s Power 25. The Royals got off to a disappointing start last week, squandering a 63-40 halftime lead to fall 103-101 vs. their border rivals.
Anthony Smith led all scorers with 32 points. A moral victory is that’s the most anyone’s scored on the Skippers all season. Hopkins bounced back with a 77-41 rout of Buffalo. It was an impressive defensive showing for a team who’s allowed 64 or more in all previous games. Smith led with 32 points and could have outscored Buffalo had he played the whole game.
No. 8 Mankato East (17-1)
Last week’s ranking: 8
This week’s games: Feb. 6 at Albert Lea (1-18), Feb. 9 vs. Owatonna (12-6)
Ranking rationale: Mankato East hasn’t lost in a month and a half. The Cougars’ win streak stands at 11 after a 2-0 record last week. They got revenge in a big way for their 83-78 loss vs. Rochester Century on Dec. 19, winning 86-59 in the Jan. 30 rematch.
It was 48-22 at halftime. Brogan Madson led all scorers with 24 points. East added a 67-59 home win vs. Rochester John Marshall (10-7). The Cougars do not have any more Power 25 opponents left in the regular season, so they could foreseeably enter the section playoffs with just one loss.
No. 9 Minneapolis Washburn (16-2)
Last week’s ranking: 10
This week’s games: Feb. 5 vs. Minneapolis South (13-2), Feb. 7 at Minneapolis Henry (5-10), Feb. 10 vs. No. 4 Breck (20-0)
Ranking rationale: Minneapolis Washburn isn’t used to sweating out wins. Last week’s 52-50 battle vs. Minneapolis Southwest (10-9) was a departure for the Millers, who have won 11 games by double digits. The schedule has left some to the imagination, but Washburn can legitimize its ranking by playing well against its second top-five foe of the season.
The Millers played a respectable game at No. 1 and defending state champion, Wayzata (18-1), losing by 12 a couple weeks ago. Washburn responded with a 93-60 win at Minneapolis Edison (4-15) led by 20 points for Kyle Jorgenson, as well as the win vs. Southwest.
No. 10 Lakeville North (13-5)
Last week’s ranking: 9
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. Rosemount (6-11), Feb. 9 at Prior Lake (8-10)
Ranking rationale: The Panthers found themselves on both sides of a blowout last week. Lakeville North started off strong with an 83-48 win vs. an Apple Valley (11-7) team that was in consideration for a Power 25 spot last week. Jack Robison’s 27 points led 10 Panthers in the scoring column. That was North’s seven straight win.
The streak came to a screeching halt with their largest margin of defeat of the season coming in an 85-60 loss at Shakopee (14-3), which climbs a spot to No. 6 this week. North was down just 38-30 at halftime but couldn’t find enough offense outside of Robison’s 21 points and Andrew Quam’s 15.
No. 11 Osseo (13-6)
Last week’s ranking: 13
This week’s games: Feb. 7 vs. Spring Lake Park (9-9), Feb. 9 at Moorhead (9-9), Feb. 10 vs. Fargo Davies, North Dakota (10-3) in Moorhead
Ranking rationale: You wouldn’t guess it by Osseo’s 80-53 win last week at Rogers (15-5), but the Orioles were actually trailing at halftime. Playing a close game against a Royals squad that’s been in consideration for a Power 25 spot all season was nothing to be ashamed of. Rogers looked poised to finally pick up a signature win up 29-25 at the half.
Osseo went nuclear over the final 18 minutes to avoid upset in its lone contest last week. De’Maari Larkins led with 25 points to go with 16 from Beniam Makonnen. This snapped a three-game losing streak that came all against ranked competition.
No. 12 Farmington (13-5)
Last week’s ranking: 12
This week’s games: Feb. 6 at Eastview (3-13), Feb. 9 vs. Eagan (11-7)
Ranking rationale: Despite a loss last week to the team right below it, Lakeville South (13-5), Farmington still gets the edge for the No. 12 slot. Farmington won their first meeting 87-47 while South eeked out a 72-70 win in the return meeting in Lakeville.
The Tigers led 36-36 at halftime but couldn’t close it out. Brandon Hrncir led with 17 points. That was the end of a week of close losses to elite teams. Farmington dropped 86-79 vs. No. 6 Shakopee (14-3). Yet again, the Tigers couldn’t close out a four point halftime lead. Hrncir led with 20 points.
No. 13 Lakeville South (12-6)
Last week’s ranking: 16
This week’s games: Feb. 6 at Eagan (11-7), Feb. 9 vs. Burnsville (2-16)
Ranking rationale: The Cougars are coming off an impressive week that leads to a three-spot jump in the Power 25. Although they just beat No. 12 Farmington (13-5), Farmington maintains the edge in the ranking due to a 38-point aggregate score advantage in their 1-1 season split. Lakeville South dropped by 40 earlier in the season before getting revenge last week in Lakeville, 72-70.
The Cougars erased a 36-32 halftime deficit. Ryan Johnson led all scorers on the night with 24 points. South may have been caught looking ahead to this one as it struggled to put away one of the bottom feeders in the South Suburban Conference. The Cougars edged Eastview (3-13), 70-69. Johnson led again with 21.
No. 14 Waconia (14-4)
Last week’s ranking: 11
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. St. Louis Park (9-9), Feb. 9 at New Prague (5-13)
Ranking rationale: Waconia drops a few spots after a 2-1 week and with losses in two of the last four. The Wildcats began their tour of a Carver County with a 79-59 win at Chaska (6-12). It was just a 33-28 game at halftime before they broke it open.
William Kirsch scored a game high 23 points. Waconia caught a red-hot Chanhassen (8-9) at the wrong time, falling 91-83 on the road to a team that cracks the Power 25 this week at No. 23. It was 38 all at halftime. Kirsch led the team with 26. The Wildcats bounced back with an 83-75 win at Prior Lake (8-10). Jackson Hayes led with 22 to go with 21 for Kirsch.
No. 15 Stewartville (16-3)
Last week’s ranking: 17
This week’s games: Feb. 8 at Mankato West (14-4), Feb. 9 vs. Kasson-Mantorville (7-12)
Ranking rationale: The Tigers are coming off their best win of the season, 70-68 vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (10-8) at Kasson-Mantorville. B-SM still climbed a spot to No. 18 this week. Henry Tschetter came up big with 28 points as his squad hung on after leading 29-24 at halftime. This came after Stewartville beat one of the top unranked teams in the state, 55-53 vs. Lake City (16-4).
That all but locked up the Hiawatha Valley League title as Stewie is unbeaten in the HVL with a sweep over two-loss Lake City. Tschetter had 22 points in a game tied 27 all at the half. It wasn’t all white-knuckle affairs last week. The Tigers rolled 72-48 at Zumbrota-Mazeppa (11-8).
No. 16 Cretin-Derham Hall (14-3)
Last week’s ranking: 15
This week’s games: Feb. 7 vs. No. 5 Minnetonka (13-3), Feb. 9 at Roseville (11-8)
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Ranking rationale: The Raiders’ last two losses have come by a combined three points. Cretin-Derham Hall’s 10-game win streak came to an end in a 62-60 loss last week at East Ridge (12-7), which climbs three spots to No. 21 this week.
Cretin-Derham Hall was also handed its first conference loss, which opens the door for two-loss East Ridge, which slip the season series with C-DH, to potentially share the SUburban East title if C-DH slips up again.
The Raiders began last week strong with an 84-53 at Irondale (2-18). They outscored the Knights 46-22 in the second half. Joe Mitchell led with 25 points to go with 18 for Miles Bollinger. Mitchell was the only Raider in double figures in the loss, leading all scorers with 22. This was a missed opportunity for a team that lacks ranked victories.
No. 17 DeLaSalle (11-7)
Last week’s ranking: 18
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. Holy Angels (5-14)
Ranking rationale: The Islanders went 2-1 last week, but it was the loss that was most impressive. Class 3A power went toe-to-toe with a 4A giant, falling 63-62 in overtime at home to No. 1 Wayzata (18-1). Even with overtime, DeLaSalle held Wayzata 11 points below its previous season low and 21 below its average.
Ray James Jr. led DLS with 16 points followed by 15 for Jaden Morgan. The week began with a 71-56 win at Robbinsdale Cooper (7-10) and continued with a 70-54 win at St. Anthony (9-9) to put DLS (9-2 Tri-Metro) tied at the top of the Tri-Metro Conference thanks to a loss by Columbia Heights (12-3, 9-2). Justin Johnson led five Islanders in double figures with 14 points vs. Cooper. Jaeden Udean led with 18 vs. St. Anthony.
No. 18 Benilde-St. Margaret's (10-8)
Last week’s ranking: 19
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. New Prague (5-13), Feb. 8 at Bloomington Jefferson (3-15)
Ranking rationale: Benilde-St. Margaret’s sent previous No. 23 Orono (11-7) packing from the Power 25 with a 83-54 thrashing in Orono. The Red Knights remain perfect in the Metro West with another conference win, 76-73 at Chaska (6-12). A big game from Jaleel Donley with 31 points helped get B-SM to the finish line.
The Red Knights closed the week with a 70-68 loss to current No. 15 Stewartville (16-3) at Kasson-Mantorville in a potential Class 3A state tournament matchup. That snapped a four-game win streak. Jayden Daisy led four Red Knights in double figures with 18 points.
No. 19 Edina (12-7)
Last week’s ranking: 20
This week’s games: Feb. 9 at No. 7 Hopkins (13-4)
Ranking rationale: The Hornets continue to climb up the ranks after picking up a pair of wins last week to extend their streak to six.
They weren’t against the toughest opponents, but by the same token, true gimmes are hard to come by in the Lake Conference. Edina maintained its conference co-lead, albeit lacking the tiebreaker, with No. 1 Wayzata (18-1), thanks to a 68-57 win at Buffalo (10-8) and 79-69 win vs. Eden Prairie (7-13).
The Hornets actually had to come back from down 27-25 to a hungry Buffalo team. Daniel Molhoek led with 20 points followed by 18 for Billy DeMars. Edina was able to front run a bit more against border rival EP. Molhoek paced with 25 to go with 24 for Josiah Coleman.
No. 20 Maple Grove (11-7)
Last week’s ranking: 22
This week’s games: Feb. 7 vs. Andover (6-12), Feb. 9 vs. St. Cloud Tech (13-5)
Ranking rationale: Maple Grove has been one of the more impressive teams since the calendar flipped to 2024. The Crimson’s two losses in the new year came to top-three foes. Maple Grove is on a three-game win streak with a pair of double digit victories last week.
It knocked off Class 2A power Minneapolis North (12-7) 71-60 in Maple Grove and won 86-72 at Spring Lake Park (9-9). Keegan Harney and Henry Stang each poured in 20 points vs. North. They had 28 and 23, respectively, as the Crimson scored a season high vs. SLP.
No. 21 East Ridge (12-7)
Last week’s ranking: 24
This week’s games: Feb. 9 vs. Park of Cottage Grove (10-8)
Ranking rationale: A loss vs. Cretin-Derham Hall and, and East Ridge’s hopes at repeating as Suburban East Conference champion was virtually over. A win, and now the door is cracked open a little more.
East Ridge moved to 10-2 in the SEC and salvaged a season split with previous No. 15 C-DH, which moved to 14-3 overall and 11-1 in conference, thanks to a 62-60 victory. Charlie Tomes’ 15 points led three Raptors in double figures.
East Ridge took its lumps early in 2023-24 with a 2-5 start against a tough schedule. It’s coming together at the right time and has now won eight in a row. The Raptors also won last week 67-52 at a Mounds View (13-6) squad that was in consideration for a Power 25 ranking last week. James Martin and Cedric Tomes co-led with 13 points.
No. 22 Delano (15-4)
Last week’s ranking: 14
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. Hutchinson (13-4), Feb. 9 vs. Southwest Christian (12-5)
Ranking rationale: An eight-spot drop might be a bit drastic, but there are a lot of teams in the middle of the Power 25 playing well. Delano also now only has one win against the current Power 25 with Orono (11-7) and Richfield (10-9) dropping out.
The Tigers took care of business in their first game last week, 80-66 vs. Jordan (9-8). A 42-30 second half helped put the game away. Jake Schultz led with 20 points. In a game that would likely decide the Wright County East division title, Delano’s six-game losing streak was snapped to Class 2A foe Holy Family (11-8).
The Tigers led 42-37 at the break. Max Iversen led with 24 points, though Delano had no answer for Kole Hanson, who had 34 for the Fire.
No. 23 Chanhassen (8-9)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. Bloomington Jefferson (3-15), Feb. 9 vs. Orono (11-7)
Ranking rationale: Chanhassen replaces Orono in the Power 25 this week. The two could flip flop again if Orono can salvage the season split in their Metro West Conference series rematch this week. Chanhassen is a team that has a more impressive resume than an 8-9 record might indicate.
Four of their nine losses have come to Power 25 teams with three decided by six points or fewer. The Storm already had a marquee win earlier this season vs. current No. 13 Lakeville South (12-6). They added another last week in a 91-83 victory vs. previous No. 11 Waconia (14-4).
Riley Johnson led with 32 points with Maxwell Woods close behind with 28. Chan may have been caught looking ahead earlier in the week. It survived 63-62 vs. New Prague (5-13). The Storm battled back from a 39-33 halftime disadvantage. Woods led all scorers with 26.
No. 24 Tartan (15-3)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Feb. 6 at Hill-Murray (6-11), Feb. 8 at St. Thomas Academy (11-7)
Ranking rationale: Tartan has been a team that’s been narrowly on the outside looking in of the Power 25 for several weeks. The Titans continue to rack up wins, but they’ve done it against one of the easiest schedules among Class 4A squads.
Tartan is the heavy favorite to win the Metro East Conference sitting undefeated while everyone else has three or more losses. It continued its unbeaten streak with a 75-71 win vs. Hastings (10-8).
The Titans stepped out of conference to notch perhaps their most impressive performance to date, a 72-66 non-conference victory vs. previous No. 25 Richfield (10-9). Cedric Banks led with 18 points followed by 15 each for Elijah Barrett and Demetrius Weems.
No. 25 Columbia Heights (12-3)
Last week’s ranking: 21
This week’s games: Feb. 6 vs. Bloomington Kennedy (4-14), Feb. 8 vs. Mahtomedi (8-10), Feb. 9 at Brooklyn Center (2-16)
Ranking rationale: There were a bevvy of teams in consideration for the Power 25 this week. Up north, Alexandria (14-5) and St. Cloud Tech (13-5) are a couple teams that come to mind. In the south suburbs, Apple Valley (11-7) and Eagan (11-7) were in the mix. Rogers (15-5) continues to be knocking in the door. The list goes on.
Columbia Heights had a dismal 92-77 loss last week at Holy Angels (5-14), a team it thumped by 30 earlier in the year. Fortunately for the Hylanders, they still have a top-25 resume. It was only a 39-33 deficit at halftime before the defense broke down. Emmaureon Rulford led Columbia Heights with 26 points.
Now, CH is tied with DeLaSalle for the Tri-Metro Conference lead with another meeting remaining. Earlier in the week, the Hylanders won 63-56 at St. Anthony (9-9) and lost 86-67 at No. 4 Breck (20-0). Randy McClendon led with 22 vs. St. Anthony and 19 vs. Breck.
