Top 25 Minnesota high school boys basketball rankings (2/19/2024)
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The No. 1 Wayzata Trojans (22-1) continued to prove why they're the top team in Minnesota high school boys basketball. They avenged their only loss of the season by defeating No. 8 Hopkins (16-5) 71-70 on Thursday, February 15.
Spring Lake Park (14-9) enters the Power 25 after an upset win over previous No. 3 Park Center (20-3). The Panthers defeated the Pirates 81-80 thanks to 24 points from Myles Thomsen.
Here is the Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25.
Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25
No. 1 Wayzata (22-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
This week’s games: Feb. 20 at Robbinsdale Armstrong (13-9), Feb. 23 at St. Michael-Albertville (10-12)
Ranking rationale: Wayzata passed a pair of big tests last week, in case there was any doubt that they belonged at the top. It started with a 79-67 home win vs. previous No. 19 Edina (12-10). The Hornets aren’t as hot as they were in January, but they’re also no slouch. Wayzata led by eight at halftime. It was paced for the game by a 23-point effort by skilled big man Jackson McAndrew.
The Trojans next got revenge against the only team they’ve lost to all season. Wayzata remained perfect on home floor with a 71-70 win vs. No. 8 Hopkins (15-4). Wayzata led by seven at the break. McAndrew was top scorer again with 27. No bigger points were his final two when he got the ball in the lane, spun to the hoop and made what proved to be the game-winner with approximately 30 seconds left.
No. 2 Minnetonka (19-3)
Last week’s ranking: 6
This week’s games: Feb. 20 at No. 20 Edina (12-10), Feb. 23 vs. No. 8 Hopkins (16-5)
Ranking rationale: Minnetonka threw the top-10 into disarray by upsetting previous No. 2 Totino-Grace (20-4) in an intriguing Saturday matinee, 77-73 in Minnetonka. The win moved the Skippers to 3-2 against current top-10 teams. They received a 31-point performance by Greyson Uelmen. Minnetonka led 36-34 at halftime.
Its win streak is up to six with two more added last week. Tonka won 68-60 at Buffalo (11-11) and scored a season high in a 104-86 win at Eden Prairie (8-16). Uelmen had 28 as the Skippers avoided an upset at Buffalo and hung on to a two-point halftime lead. Tonka was more in control against its border rival EP, racing out to a 58-41 advantage at the break.
Uelmen, Isa El-Amin and Duke Richardson all had 29-pieces. The Skippers lost close games to current No. 4 Park Center (20-3) and No. 6 Breck (22-1). Head-to-head matchups matter for the Power 25, but they’re not everything. Minnetonka is the hottest team outside of Wayzata among neighboring teams in the ranking and gets the No. 2 slot for at least a week.
No. 3 Totino-Grace (20-4)
Last week’s ranking: 2
This week’s games: Feb. 23 vs. No. 21 Spring Lake Park (14-9)
Ranking rationale: The Eagles’ 15-game win streak came to a close in a 77-73 battle at Minnetonka (19-3), which climbed from No. 6 to No. 2 this week. Fortunately for Class 3A Totino-Grace, it won’t have to face 4A Minnetonka in the postseason.
Totino-Grace hasn’t lost to a 3A or lower foe this season. It kept the deficit to 36-34 at halftime. Chace Watley led the visitors with 22 points along with 17 for Dothan Ijadimbola. This was only the second loss to a Minnesotan team with the other being an 83-81 neutral floor loss to No. 1 Wayzata (22-1).
It was an otherwise successful week for the blue- and gold-clad squad as it remained unbeaten in the Northwest Suburban Conference. It won 84-67 at Rogers (15-8) and 105-77 vs. Champlin Park (12-11). At 14-0, the title is locked up with all other NSC teams having three or more losses.
No. 4 Park Center (20-3)
Last week’s ranking: 3
This week’s games: Feb. 22 at Anoka (11-11)
Ranking rationale: The Pirates suffered their first quote en quote “bad loss,” last week. It’s hard to even consider it that, seeing as the team that beat them was on the cusp of the Power 25 in recent weeks and debuts this week at No. 21.
Park Center suffered an 81-80 Valentine’s Day heartbreak at Spring Lake Park (14-9). Casmir Chavis led the team with 23 points, followed by 22 for Jackson Fowlkes and 21 for Ari Gooch. Park Center trailed 45-44 at the half.
Head coach James Ware’s squad took out its frustration later in the week on Andover (9-14) with a 101-43 home win. The Pirates led 57-20 after the opening 18 minutes.
No. 5 Minneapolis Washburn (22-2)
Last week’s ranking: 4
This week’s games: Feb. 23 at Blake (15-7)
Ranking rationale: Minneapolis Washburn drops a spot this week at no fault of its own, but due to Minnetonka’s big jump this week up four spots to No. 2. The Class 4A Millers beat a 2A, 3A and 4A opponent last week.
They finished off a perfect season in the Minneapolis City Conference by winning 77-60 at 3A Minneapolis Roosevelt (9-12) and 85-67 vs. 2A Minneapolis North (13-9). Washburn closed a successful week with a 69-45 vs. 4A Buffalo (11-11).
The win vs. Buffalo concluded a perfect 8-0 home record. Washburn should roll in its next games, which will be tune-ups before it takes on the toughest section in the class. Section 6 features No. 1 Wayzata (22-1), No. 8 Hopkins (16-5), No. 20 Edina (12-10) and No. 25 Robbinsdale Armstrong (13-9). All teams in the section are .500 or better.
No. 6 Breck (22-1)
Last week’s ranking: 5
This week’s games: Feb. 22 at Minnehaha Academy (10-12), Feb. 26 vs. Maranatha Christian Academy (17-5)
Ranking rationale: The Mustangs didn’t show a lot, or play a lot, last week. The Class 2A squad won its only game, 75-65 at Eastview (4-18), to move to 5-1 against 4A competition. Eastview is better than its record may indicate, but this is still far from a flashy win.
Breck led 40-32 at halftime. Daniel Freitag led with 30 points, followed by 28 for Hanif Muhammad. The Mustangs are a win vs. Minnehaha Academy from posting a perfect record in the Independent Metro Athletic Conference.
No. 7 Shakopee (18-4)
Last week’s ranking: 7
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. Prior Lake (9-13), Feb. 23 at No. 12 Lakeville South (15-7)
Ranking rationale: The Sabers did well last week away from home. They won 79-49 at Rosemount (7-14) and 81-69 in overtime at Eagan (12-10). Eli Schroeder led the way with 21 points in the first game, which had a 23-point Shakopee advantage at halftime.
While Eagan is not an elite opponent, it’s beaten elite competition, including No. 4 Minneapolis Washburn (22-2). The Sabers squandered a 38-32 halftime advantage but dominated the extra period, 12-0. Jalen Langsy’s absurd 44-point effort helped stave off the upset and keep them at the top of the South Suburban Conference standings.
No. 8 Hopkins (16-5)
Last week’s ranking: 8
This week’s games: Feb. 20 at St. Michael-Albertville (10-12), Feb. 23 at No. 2 Minnetonka (19-3), Feb. 24 at No. 15 DeLaSalle (16-8)
Ranking rationale: Hopkins came incredibly close to sweeping defending state champ and current No. 1 Wayzata (22-1). The Royals led by one with the ball with under a minute to go. Wayzata went stop-score-stop, aided by a game-winning turn-around shot in the lane by Jackson McAndrew, to steal this one 71-70 in Plymouth. J.J. Semanko led the visitors with 24 points.
Hopkins has incredible guard play but had trouble slowing down the future Creighton Bluejay in the post. Hopkins already had a win at home in this matchup, 80-69.
The Royals previously had a four-game win streak going. The fourth was a 92-75 win last week at Southwest Christian (14-7). Anthony Smith led with 25 points and Jayden Moore had 23 as they pulled away from a five-point halftime lead.
No. 9 Lakeville North (17-5)
Last week’s ranking: 11
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. Eastview (4-18), Feb. 23 vs. Burnsville (3-19)
Ranking rationale: Lakeville North has the most upside among top-10 teams. This is a program bolstered by the veteran coaching savvy of John Oxton and a talented roster headed by future Division I talent in senior guard and Wisconsin commit, Jack Robison. They’re playing their best basketball at the right time as playoffs loom in a couple weeks.
Two of the Panthers’ top victories of the season came last week. North runs the city of Lakeville in boys hoops this season with a season sweep of Lakeville South clinched by an 86-78 win at North. Senior guard Matt Drake will be playing at the next level, too. He scored 26 points on 9-fo-11 shooting and went 6-for-6 from the foul line.
North enters this week tied with Shakopee atop the South Suburban Conference standings at 14-2. Those two teams split their series. North landed a pivotal 74-67 win at Farmington to salvage a season split and push the Tigers two games back with four to play. Another talented senior Andrew Quam led with 24 points.
No. 10 Mankato East (21-1)
Last week’s ranking: 9
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. Mankato West at Minnesota State University, Feb. 22 vs. Red Wing (5-16), Feb. 24 at Austin (8-14)
Ranking rationale: Mankato East will have gone just over two months since its last loss when it locks horns with its crosstown rival next week. It’ll be the toughest remaining regular season game for the Cougars. A win for East likely means an outright Big 9 Conference title. A loss, and it likely splits with West.
East has won 16 straight. Last week, it rolled 104-44 at Faribault (10-11) and 83-63 vs. Rochester Mayo (10-11). The 60-point drubbing of the Falcons was their biggest margin of victory this season. East just doesn’t see top-end competition enough on a regular basis to keep it from occasionally getting jumped in the ranking. In this case, it’s Lakeville North who vaulted the Cougars after a pair of top-15 victories last week.
No. 11 Farmington (16-6)
Last week’s ranking: 10
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. Apple Valley (12-10), Feb. 22 at Prior Lake (9-13)
Ranking rationale: It’s not easy to sweep a Power 25 opponent. Farmington should be plenty happy at the end of the day to split with Lakeville North. The Tigers join No. 1 Wayzata (22-1) as the only teams this season to go to Panther territory and come away with a win. However, that was a month and a half ago and North got one back in the series, 74-67 in Farmington. Tyler Beckwith led with 23 points followed by 21 Brandon Hrncir.
Farmington doesn’t fall too far in the ranking due to a respectable showing in defeat that came on the heels of a three-game win streak. The last of the three came last week in a 94-68 result at Burnsville (3-19). Hrncir led 10 scorers with 21 points in limited minutes.
No. 12 Lakeville South (15-7)
Last week’s ranking: 12
This week’s games: Feb. 20 at Rosemount (7-14), Feb. 23 vs. No. 7 Shakopee (18-4)
Ranking rationale: Lakeville South doesn’t get penalized this week for a respectable 86-78 loss at current No. 9 Lakeville North (17-5). The Cougars were down 40-31 at halftime and couldn’t inch much closer. It spoiled a 22-point night from Keaton Ressler.
South also blew out a competent Apple Valley (12-10) squad 74-44. It was over by halftime with the Cougars up 39-18. Ryan Johnson’s 19 points led three teammates in double figures.
No. 13 Cretin-Derham Hall (18-4)
Last week’s ranking: 16
This week’s games: Feb. 21 vs. Mounds View (15-7), Feb. 23 at Stillwater (11-12)
Ranking rationale: Entering last week, Cretin-Derham Hall owned just two wins over Power 25 competition and none against the top 15. That changed last week as the Raiders climbed out of an 18-point second half deficit on the road to stun No. 15 DeLaSalle (16-8) in a 79-77 overtime victory. Monteff Dixon (26 points) and Joe Mitchell (24) combined to shoot 19-for-33 in the win.
CD-H had enough in the tank to gut out a huge win despite it being a three-game week. It began with a 66-44 win at Woodbury (9-14) and 77-64 win vs. White Bear Lake (3-18). Miles Bollinger and Joe Mitchell co-led with 17 points in the former and Mitchell led with 29 in the latter.
No. 14 Stewartville (20-3)
Last week’s ranking: 14
This week’s games: Feb. 19 vs. Pine Island (9-14), Feb. 23 at Goodhue (13-12)
Ranking rationale: The Tigers continue to make mince meat of their conference competition. They’re 14-0 in the Hiawatha Valley League with their last two wins last week coming by a combined 97 points. Stewartville picked up its biggest margin of victory in a 91-30 win vs. Rochester Lourdes (8-16). It followed up with an impressive 65-29 win vs. Byron (18-6), which is a top-third team in the HVL. The Tigers have won 14 straight.
No. 15 DeLaSalle (16-8)
Last week’s ranking: 15
This week’s games: Feb. 22 vs. Fridley (16-5), Feb. 24 vs. No. 8 Hopkins (16-5)
Ranking rationale: DeLaSalle’s 79-77 overtime loss to current No. 13 Cretin-Derham Hall (18-4) was not a bad result on paper. To have a chance to win late against an evenly matched team isn’t something that will send a team spiraling down the Power 25. That’s probably of little consolation to a team that let one slip away after leading by 16 at halftime and 18 early in the second half.
DLS snapped a five-game win streak. Last week, it won 87-36 vs. Brooklyn Center (2-20) and 81-78 in overtime at Columbia Heights (14-6). The latter win was huge as it all but locked up the Tri-Metro Conference title. Jaeden Udean led five in double figures with 16 points.
No. 16 Maple Grove (13-7)
Last week’s ranking: 18
This week’s games: Feb. 20 at Osseo (14-8), Feb. 23 at Blaine (6-17)
Ranking rationale: Maple Grove has won seven in a row, 11 of its last 13 and hasn’t lost to a non-top 10 team since December. The Crimson is rolling after two more wins last week coming 86-69 at Anoka (11-11) and 73-68 vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (13-9), a team that re-enters the Power 25 this week at No. 25.
Gannon McGuire’s 22 points led the way against Anoka, a game Maple Grove trailed 38-33 at halftime. The deficit was 37-30 at halftime of the next one. Another comeback was aided by 20 points by Keegan Harney. A different player can step up on a given night for head coach Nick Schroeder.
No. 17 Benilde-St. Margaret's (14-8)
Last week’s ranking: 17
This week’s games: Feb. 20 at No. 19 Waconia (16-4). Feb. 23 vs. Orono (13-9)
Ranking rationale: Benilde-St. Margaret’s won both games last week. In the battle for the city of St. Louis Park, it eeked out a 78-74 win at St. Louis Park High (11-11) to clinch the season sweep. The Red Knights led by two at halftime. Jalen Wilson led with 20 points.
The Red Knights played a part in knocking previous No. 23 Chanhassen (10-11) out of the Power 25 this week. B-SM completed a sweep of the Storm with a 95-90 home win.
The Red Knights have taken their lumps this season in the non-conference against a brutal schedule. They took the lessons they learned and applied them in Metro West Conference play, where they are undefeated with a couple weeks left to go. That is nothing to sneeze at considering the depth among the top-six teams in the conference.
No. 18 East Ridge (15-9)
Last week’s ranking: 20
This week’s games: Feb. 21 at Forest Lake (14-8), Feb. 23 vs. Woodbury (9-14)
Ranking rationale: East Ridge continues to steadily climb. The Raptors’ win streak is up to 11 as they continue to stay in the mix for a Suburban East Conference title.
East Ridge has avenged both its conference losses, including once last week with a 76-68 win at Stillwater (11-12). East Ridge led 40-24 at the half. Bennett Skinner had 23 points and Charlies Theis 22.
Earlier in the week, head coach Josh Peltier’s team hosted Irondale and thumped the Knights 89-57. Theis had 26 in a game the Raptors led by 30 midway through.
No. 19 Waconia (17-5)
Last week’s ranking: 13
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. No. 17 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (14-8), Feb. 23 vs. Chaska (9-13)
Ranking rationale: Waconia takes a bit of a dip after going 1-1 last week. The Wildcats won what was then their fourth straight game with a 104-65 victory at Bloomington Jefferson (3-19). Gavin Olson led with 27 points, followed by 24 for William Kirsch and 21 for Jackson Hayes.
The loss wasn’t a bad one, although Orono is no longer ranked like it was for much of the first half of the season. It came 77-68 in Orono after Waconia won the first matchup of the home and home, 87-73. The Wildcats squandered a 39-28 halftime lead. It spoiled another 27-point effort by Olson.
No. 20 Edina (12-10)
Last week’s ranking: 19
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. No. 2 Minnetonka (19-3), Feb. 23 vs. Buffalo (11-11)
Ranking rationale: Edina has run hot and cold this season. The Hornets are struggling to buzz lately with three straight losses. Last week saw them go 0-2 beginning with a 79-67 loss at No. 1 Wayzata (22-1). That’s plenty defensible against the defending Class 4A state champ who is undefeated at home. It was just 39-33 at halftime. Josiah Coleman led with 17 points and Wyatt Erlandson added 16.
The disappointment came in a 60-59 loss at St. Michael-Albertville (10-12). It was a matter of time before a frisky STMA team upset a ranked foe. Edina just wishes it wasn’t the victim. It led 58-57 with under 30 seconds to go until STMA hit a three.
Down two, Edina got fouled with under five seconds left but could only sink one of two foul shots. The Hornets are back home for three straight to try to get right and avoid falling out of the Power 25.
No. 21 Spring Lake Park (14-9)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Feb. 21 at Centennial (6-18), Feb. 23 at No. 3 Totino-Grace (20-4)
Ranking rationale: Welcome to the Power 25, Spring Lake Park. The Panthers pulled off one of the big upsets of the season by winning 81-80 at home against previous No. 3 Park Center (20-3).
Myles Thomsen came up big with 24 points, as did Andrew King and Brock Remme who each had 20. It was the only matchup in 2023-24 between these two Northwest Suburban Conference squads, and SLP made the most of it.
The Panthers didn’t get looking ahead to the defending Class 4A runners up Pirates, nor did they have a letdown. In the lead up, SLP absolutely demolished a team that spent multiple weeks earlier in the season in the Power 25. It cruised 106-69 at Columbia Heights (14-6).
Thomsen had 23 and Remme 22. After Park Center, the Panthers extended their win streak to five with an 84-73 win at Rogers (15-8). Remme had perhaps the best week of any player in the state with 39 points against the Royals.
This looks like an entirely new team from the one that lost by 21 to Rogers in December or by 19 to Roseville (14-9) less than three weeks ago.
No. 22 Osseo (15-8)
Last week’s ranking: 21
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. No. 16 Maple Grove (13-7), Feb. 22 at No. 25 Robbinsdale Armstrong (13-9)
Ranking rationale: Osseo bumps down a spot due to Spring Lake Park (14-9), a team it recently lost to, debuting in the Power 25. The Orioles did nothing to hurt their cause last week. They won their only game, 90-53 vs. Anoka (11-11). It’s hard to believe this was knotted up at 37 at halftime. Osseo can hit another gear when it’s playing well. De’Maari Larkins’ 17 points led five Orioles in double figures.
No. 23 Alexandria (17-5)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. St. Cloud Apollo (5-17), Feb. 22 at Fergus Falls (10-11)
Ranking rationale: The Cardinals are back in the Power 25 after hitting a bit of a rough spell around the New Year. Alexandria is on a six-game win streak with an impressive 77-54 win last week at St. Cloud Tech (15-7). It salvaged a season split between the two teams and virtually locks up the Central Lakes Conference title for Alexandria.
The Cardinals also steamrolled at home against Rocori (10-12) 76-43 after winning just 69-60 January at Rocori. Two of their three losses this season are to top-10 teams. Four losses are by single digits and all five are to teams who are well above .500.
No. 24 Delano (19-4)
Last week’s ranking: 22
This week’s games: Feb. 20 at Jordan (10-11), Feb. 23 vs. Holy Family (14-9)
Ranking rationale: Alexandria fought back into the Power 25 this week and has a win over Delano, which drops the Tigers a spot. They lose another spot due to Spring Lake Park entering the ranking at 25. Delano didn’t do anything to harm its resume last week by going 2-0.
Head coach Terry Techam’s squad is on a four-game win streak with the last two coming 84-60 at Mound Westonka (8-14) and 94-43 at Big Lake (12-10). J.J. Longstreet led with 20 points in the first one. Max Iversen had 20 in the next one. The Tigers could easily have 20-plus wins as three of their losses have come to Power 25 teams by four or fewer points.
No. 25 Robbinsdale Armstrong (13-9)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Feb. 20 vs. No. 1 Wayzata (22-1), Feb. 22 vs. No. 22 Osseo (15-8)
Ranking rationale: Robbinsdale Armstrong enters the Power 25 this week despite a loss. It gave current No. 16 Maple Grove (13-7) all it could handle in a 73-68 defeat at Maple Grove. That snapped the Falcons’ six-game win streak. They were up 37-30 at halftime but couldn’t hang on. Sam Newbern led with 20 points.
Previously, Armstrong won 60-46 vs. Elk River (3-19). The Elks had just 12 points in the first half before finding more luck offensively after Armstrong took its foot off the gas. Charles Duncan and Navonn Fields co-led with 14 points. Outside of a puzzling 25-point loss to Anoka last month, the Falcons have played great ball since a 2-6 start to the season.
Their resume features a 10-point neutral floor win vs. current No. 11 Farmington (16-6) and a road win against current No. 21 Spring Lake Park (14-9).
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