Top 25 Minnesota boys high school basketball rankings (3/4/2024)
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The 2024 Minnesota high school boys basketball regular season is over, and every win means a team inches closer to the state tournament.
Minnesota high school boys basketball section playoff brackets: 2024 MSHSL matchups, game times
East Ridge (19-7) upset then-No. 2 Totino-Grace (21-5) to rise six spots to No. 11.
Meanwhile, Wayzata (25-1) remains the top team In Minnesota after defeating then-No. 2 Minnetonka (20-6) 103-88.
Here is the Minnesota boys high school basketball Power 25.
Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25
No. 1 Wayzata (25-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 6 playoffs March 8 vs. winner of No. 21 Edina (15-11) vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (14-12)
Ranking rationale: A loss to No. 2 Minnetonka likely wouldn’t have been enough to drop Wayzata from the top spot, but the Trojans made sure there was zero doubt. They polished off their rivals 103-88 in Plymouth.
It was Wayzata’s only game of the week and head coach Bryan Schnettler had his boys ready to go for the regular season finale. The Trojans led 54-49 at halftime. They could keep up the rapid scoring pace; the Skippers could not. Jackson McAndrew had 21 points followed by 20 for Ben Shaffer. Wayzata’s only loss was at current No. 6 Hopkins (21-5).
Wayzata finished with a whopping 12 wins over the current Power 25, including six wins over five top-10 teams.
No. 2 Minnetonka (20-6)
Last week’s ranking: 4
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 2 playoffs March 9 vs. winner of Eden Prairie (9-17) vs. Prior Lake (11-15)
Ranking rationale: It’s hard to slot Nos. 2-5 given varying head-to-head wins and similar resumes. Park Center (23-3) could be No. 2 given it beat Minnetonka, but it was swept by Totino-Grace (21-5), a team Minnetonka beat. I’ll give Minnetonka the nod given how the Skippers navigated a tough schedule going 8-6 against the current Power 25 with two losses to No. 1 Wayzata. Three other losses were by one possession.
Minnetonka went 1-1 in its final week of the regular season, securing an 84-62 win at Chanhassen (12-14) and falling 103-88 at a rested Wayzata bunch. Jordan Cain led with 20 points in the win. Andy Stefonowicz led with 24 in the loss.
No. 3 Totino-Grace (21-5)
Last week’s ranking: 2
This week’s games: Class 3A, Section 5 playoffs March 5 vs. Zimmerman (6-20). With win, March 8 vs. winner of Monticello (11-15) vs. Becker (13-13)
Ranking rationale: The Eagles have suffered a pair of losses in their final three regular season games. Never fear, neither of those opponents will stand in the way of their quest for a Class 3A title. Totino-Grace battled at a top-five 4A Minnetonka (20-6) squad a couple weeks ago in a 77-73 loss.
Last week, T-G fell 74-72 vs. red-hot 4A No. 11 East Ridge (19-7). The Raptors led most of the way, but the Eagles stayed within ear shot and nearly came back at the end. Dothan Ijadimbola and Tyler Wagner each led with 18 points.
No. 4 Park Center (23-3)
Last week’s ranking: 3
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 5 playoffs March 6 vs. Irondale (3-22). With win, March 8 vs. winner of Mounds View (18-8) vs. Spring Lake Park (15-11)
Ranking rationale: The Pirates fall a spot by no fault of their own, but rather due to the musical chairs being played with the teams Nos. 2-5. Park Center took care of business in its lone game last week, 93-34 vs. Rochester Mayo (13-13). A game on March 1 vs. Columbia Heights (16-6) was canceled.
Park Center had a late season slip-up against a fringe Power 25 team in Spring Lake Park (15-11), but otherwise the Pirates’ resume has been impeccable. Their only other losses were to No. 3 Totino-Grace (21-5). They’ve been in every game this season. It’s hard to blow out a team with Park Center’s firepower.
No. 5 Breck (24-1)
Last week’s ranking: 5
This week’s games: Class 2A, Section 5 playoffs March 9 vs. winner of Jordan (10-15) vs. winner of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (16-10) vs. Brooklyn Center (3-23)
Ranking rationale: The Mustangs have played just a game a week each of the last three weeks of the regular season. They should be rested and refreshed to make a deep run in the Class 2A playoffs, where they are the prohibitive favorite. Breck won its regular season finale 102-85 vs. Maranatha Christian Academy (20-6). Future Wisconsin Badger Daniel Freitag lit up the scoreboard with 42 points.
No. 6 Hopkins (21-5)
Last week’s ranking: 6
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 6 playoffs March 6 vs. St. Louis Park (12-14). With win, March 8 vs. winner of No. 12 Minneapolis Washburn (24-3) vs. Minneapolis Southwest (16-10)
Ranking rationale: Hopkins finished the season with an incredible resume. The Royals were in every game they played and did not lose to an unranked team. Hopkins was the only team to beat Wayzata, and did so by 11. It lost the return game by just one on the road. It also split a pair of one-possession games with No. 2 Minnetonka (20-6).
Head coach Ken Novak Jr.’s bunch closed the regular season with a 95-71 win vs. Minneapolis North (14-10) and 88-63 win at Buffalo (12-14). The Royals were up by 31 at halftime of the former. J.J. Semanko led with 27 points on the night followed by 23 for Jayden Moore. Anthony Smith paced with 26 in the latter.
No. 7 Shakopee (21-5)
Last week’s ranking: 7
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 2 playoffs March 6 vs. Chaska (10-16). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 16 Waconia (21-5) vs. Chanhassen (12-14)
Ranking rationale: Take the top three teams in the South Suburban Conference in whatever order you’d like. They all split their series with one another and finished within two games of the other. While North (21-5) won the conference by a game over Shakopee, Shakopee arguably has a better overall resume. The Sabers are also not far removed from a 25-point drubbing over the Panthers.
Farmington finished third among these three teams in the standings, but it just went on the road and spoiled Shakopee’s bid to share the SSC title, winning 72-71 in overtime. Jalen Langsy notched 22 points. That snapped a five-game win streak, which included an 83-61 win last week vs. Burnsville (3-23). Langsy led with 26.
No. 8 Lakeville North (21-5)
Last week’s ranking: 8
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 1 playoffs March 5 vs. New Prague (5-21). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 23 Rochester Century (18-7) vs. Owatonna (17-9)
Ranking rationale: Lakeville North could make a case to be ranked above No. 7 Shakopee (21-5). The Panthers won the South Suburban Conference title by a game over the Sabers and split the season series. Shakopee did win in a 25-point rout in the teams’ most recent meeting, while North won a closer contest in the first go-round.
The Panthers are riding high into the section playoffs where they’re the favorite to get back to the state tournament. North has won eight in a row and 15 of the last 16. Last week’s lone game was a 52-45 win at Apple Valley (13-13).
No. 9 Farmington (20-6)
Last week’s ranking: 9
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 1 playoffs March 5 vs. Rochester John Marshall (15-10). WIth win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 19 Lakeville South (17-9) vs. Rochester Mayo (13-13)
Ranking rationale: Farmington posted a performance last week worthy of a bump in the Power 25. However, the Tigers butt up against conference rivals who they split season series with and have slightly better resumes.
With that said, Farmington ought to feel optimistic heading into the section playoffs. It prevented No. 7 Shakopee (21-5) from sharing the conference title with No. 8 Lakeville North (21-5) by handing the Sabers a 72-71 overtime loss on their Senior Night. Brandon Hrncir led with 22 points. This was a much-needed win after the Tigers fell short against their previous three Power 25 opponents.
No. 10 Cretin-Derham Hall (22-4)
Last week’s ranking: 11
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 4 playoffs March 9 vs. winner of St. Paul Central (19-6) vs. Stillwater Area (13-13)
Ranking rationale: The Raiders head to the postseason on an eight-game win streak. They won both tilts last week, prevailing 79-61 vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (14-12) and 85-81 in double overtime at conference foe Forest Lake to finalize a Suburban East title and an impressive 17-1 record. The lone loss came to fellow ranked squad, current No. 11 East Ridge (19-7). Monteff Dixon led with 19 points vs. Armstrong. Mitchell had the same against Forest Lake to help the team come back from five down at halftime.
Cretin-Derham Hall hasn’t beat a top-10 foe all season, but it won’t need to in order to get back to state.
No. 11 East Ridge (19-7)
Last week’s ranking: 17
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 4 playoffs March 6 vs. White Bear Lake (3-23). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 24 Tartan (22-4) vs. Woodbury (9-17)
Ranking rationale: East Ridge finally got a long sought after resume-boosting win. The Raptors did what few teams do, and that’s win at Class 3A titan and then-No. 2 Totino-Grace (21-5), 74-72. Cedric Tomes is one of the top players in the state in the class of 2026. He showed why by leading with 36 points in a game his team needed just about every one.
East Ridge avoided a letdown in the regular season finale by waxing Roseville Area (15-11) on the road, 85-63. It was Charlie Theis’ time to go off with 32 points, followed by 19 for Tomes. That extended the win streak to 15.
No. 12 Minneapolis Washburn (24-3)
Last week’s ranking: 10
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 6 playoffs March 6 vs. Minneapolis Southwest (16-10). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 6 Hopkins (21-5) vs. St. Louis Park (12-14)
Ranking rationale: Minneapolis Washburn didn’t do anything to warrant a drop. It was more about big weeks for East Ridge (19-7), which climbed six spots to No. 11 with a big win, as well as Cretin-Derham Hall (22-4), which has won eight straight.
In fact, it was a banner week for the Millers, who competed in their first Twin Cities championship game in a long time by virtue of their Minneapolis City Conference title.
They won it 77-73 at St. Paul City Conference champion, St. Paul Central (19-6). Kyle Jorgensen led with 24 points to go with 21 for Blake Bergren. That capped a 2-0 week for Washburn, which also won 69-59 vs. St. Anthony Village (11-15).
No. 13 Mankato East (24-2)
Last week’s ranking: 13
This week’s games: Class 3A, Section 2 playoffs March 9 vs. winner of Worthington (14-11) vs. Hutchinson (16-10)
Ranking rationale: The Cougars hold steady after winning their lone game last week, 79-46 vs. Winona (6-20). That capped a Big 9 Conference championship season. Mankato East finished the regular season with a 3-1 record against Power 25 foes. It’s beaten every team it’s played this season thanks to splits with No. 23 Rochester Century (19-7) and Mankato West (19-7).
No. 14 Stewartville (23-3)
Last week’s ranking: 14
This week’s games: Class 3A, Section 1 playoffs March 5 vs. Red Wing (6-20). With win, March 9 vs. winner of Faribault (12-13) vs. Austin (9-17)
Ranking rationale: The Tigers looked crisp in their final tune-up before postseason play. Stewartville took St. Peter (13-13) to task 73-46 in a non-conference matchup in Stewartville. The Tigers have rolled most of the competition this season but have looked more mortal against similarly ranked teams. We’ll see if this program can build on its 2023 Class 3A consolation championship.
No. 15 DeLaSalle (17-9)
Last week’s ranking: 16
This week’s games: Class 3A, Section 4 playoffs March 6 vs. winner of Minneapolis Patrick Henry (6-16) vs. Minneapolis Edison (7-19). With win, March 9 vs. winner of Mahtomedi (15-11) vs. North St. Paul (9-16)
Ranking rationale: The Islanders were one of the first teams in the state to complete their regular season back on Feb. 24. That gives DeLaSalle plenty of time to rest for the playoffs where it received a first-round bye as the top seed. DLS has just two losses to 3A competition, both in one-score losses to a non-section rival, Richfield. The battle-tested Islanders could be poised for a deep postseason run.
No. 16 Waconia (21-5)
Last week’s ranking: 18
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 2 playoffs March 6 vs. Chanhassen (12-14). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 7 Shakopee (21-5) vs. Chaska (10-16)
Ranking rationale: The Wildcats move up a couple spots in part for winning a pair of games last week, as well as some other teams near them taking losses. Waconia won 103-72 vs. Chanhassen in a meeting that will be replicated this week in the postseason. It added a 98-79 win at St. Louis Park (12-14).
William Kirsch led with 33 points and Gavin Olson added 23 in the win vs. the Storm, which was Waconia’s third 100-plus point output of the season. The Wildcats likely could’ve reached triple figures again against the Orioles as Jackson Hayes (34 points) and Gavin Olson (24) had big nights.
No. 17 Maple Grove (18-8)
Last week’s ranking: 20
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 5 playoffs March 6 vs. Roseville Area (15-11). With win, March 8 vs. winner of No. 18 Osseo (18-8) vs. Champlin Park (14-12)
Ranking rationale: The Crimson should be brimming with confidence heading into the Class 4A, Section 5 playoffs where they’ll need to be playing their best to get by top seed and Power 25 No. 3 Park Center (22-3).
Maple Grove went 2-0 last week, winning 62-60 at previous No. 15 Edina (15-11). That moved the Crimson to 7-2 in games decided by two possessions. Being able to pull out those tight ball games is useful in the postseason. Gannon McGuire led with 21 points vs. the Hornets. Maple Grove was up by just three at halftime at Rosemount (9-17) before pulling away for a 67-59 win. Keegan Harney led with 17 points.
Maple Grove was awarded the No. 2 seed in the section by the hair of its chin over Osseo (18-8). The two border rivals share the same record and split their season series. Maple Grove finished 3-6 against the current Power 25, while Osseo was 2-6. Perhaps that’s what put Maple Grove over the top. It’s what helps it get the nod in this week’s ranking.
No. 18 Osseo (18-8)
Last week’s ranking: 19
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 5 playoffs March 6 vs. Champlin Park (14-12). With win, March 8 vs. winner of No. 18 Maple Grove (18-8) vs. Roseville Area (15-11)
Ranking rationale: The Orioles are playing some of their best basketball heading into the postseason. Osseo made it four straight wins with a 76-67 win at Andover (10-16). A reason Osseo isn’t a bit higher is its 2-6 record against the current Power 25.
No. 19 Lakeville South (17-9)
Last week’s ranking: 12
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 1 playoffs March 5 vs. Rochester Mayo (13-13). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 9 Farmington (20-6) vs. Rochester John Marshall (15-10)
Ranking rationale: I could have made the case to have Lakeville South lower last week. Some benefit of the doubt was lost in a 108-106 double overtime loss in the home regular season finale vs. Prior Lake (11-15). The bright side is the Cougars surpassed their previous season high offensive output by 10 points. Ryan Johnson led the way with 29. The down side was they allowed a season high by five.
South closed the regular season with losses in three of its last six. It will hope to get back to its early and midseason form that led to season splits with conference rivals No. 7 Shakopee (21-5) and No. 9 Farmington (20-6), as well as a win at current No. 21 Edina (15-11).
No. 20 Benilde-St. Margaret's (17-9)
Last week’s ranking: 21
This week’s games: Class 3A, Section 6 playoffs March 6 vs. Bloomington Kennedy (4-22). With win, March 9 vs. winner of Richfield (15-11) vs. Mound Westonka (11-15)
Ranking rationale: Benilde-St. Margaret’s is one of the most battle-tested teams in Class 3A. The Red Knights had a Power 25 foe on the schedule nearly every week during the regular season. That wasn’t the case last week, but Benilde-St. Margaret’s still got to resemble some playoff-like tension when it had to hold on 81-75 vs. Chaska (10-16). Jayden Daisy led with 19 points.
This was not an eye-popping result, but Chaska can be frisky and is a 4A school that B-SM will no longer have to worry about.
The Red Knights were also a little closer than expected at New Prague (5-21) in a 57-47 win. I don’t think they’d fret a rematch, but New Prague is another 4A foe. Jalen Wilson led with 18 points
No. 21 Edina (15-11)
Last week’s ranking: 15
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 6 playoffs March 6 vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (14-12). With win, March 8 at No. 1 Wayzata (25-1)
Ranking rationale: If Edina was an NCAA Tournament team, it’d be that Nos. 7 through 10 seed that a Final Four hopeful wouldn’t want to run into in the second round. That is, if the Hornets got there.
The Hornets have shown the talent and upside to win big games. Wins over currently ranked teams like at No. 11 East Ridge (19-7), No. 6 Hopkins (21-5) and at current No. 2 Minnetonka (20-6). However, they also have lost a lot of games against teams it stacks up similarly to.
An example came last week in a 62-60 loss vs. current No. 17 Maple Grove (18-8). Edina bounced back to win its regular season finale 79-73 at Eden Prairie. A reason for Edina’s big drop is head-to-head losses to No. 19 Lakeville South (17-9) and No. 20 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (17-9).
No. 22 Alexandria (21-5)
Last week’s ranking: 22
This week’s games: Class 3A, Section 8 playoffs March 5 vs. Willmar (3-23). With win, March 8 vs. winner of Fergus Falls (13-13) vs. Rocori (12-14)
Ranking rationale: Alexandria has one of the easiest strength of schedules among the Power 25. To the Cardinals’ credit, they rarely let inferior competition hang around. Case in point, a 74-30 victory in their lone game last week at Bemidji (11-14) in the regular season finale.
Alexandria enters the postseason with a 10-game win streak and will be able to name its score in its playoff opener to make it 11. The first three wins of the streak were by single digits. The last seven have been by 23-plus.
No. 23 Rochester Century (19-7)
Last week’s ranking: 24
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 1 playoffs March 5 vs. Owatonna (17-9). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 8 Lakeville North (21-5) vs. New Prague (5-21)
Ranking rationale: Rochester Century is largely bolstered by its big early-season win at current No. 13 and former top-10 squad, Mankato East (24-2). The Cougars were also two-points away from upsetting current No. 9 Farmington (20-6). Century has lost a few too many games in the Big 9 Conference to be able to climb much higher than the 20s in the Power 25, but it could be a dark horse in the section playoffs.
The Cougars enter the postseason on a seven-game win streak, including a 74-62 win vs. Mankato West (17-9), a team that fell on the wrong side of the Power 25 bubble this week. They also thumped Owatonna (17-9) 77-59 on the road, a team that had a brief stay in the ranking earlier this season.
No. 24 Tartan (22-4)
Last week’s ranking: 25
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 4 playoffs March 6 vs. Woodbury (9-17). With win, March 9 vs. winner of No. 11 East Ridge (19-7) vs. White Bear Lake (3-23)
Ranking rationale: Tartan has a blue blood type record but with more of a mid-major resume. The Titans deserve plenty of credit for rarely losing to teams of equal or lesser talent level. The Metro East Conference has seen better years, but a 15-1 record in the league is impressive regardless of circumstances. That means it still split with the lone team that dared to knock off Tartan in the regular season, St. Thomas Academy (16-10).
The Titans enter the postseason a six-game win streak. They’re one of the smaller enrollment 4A teams who will face a step up from their 3A-heavy conference and non-conference slates. Tartan’s resume is highlighted by a single-digit loss to No. 12 Minneapolis Washburn (24-3), which has been in the top-five this season. The Titans also have nice wins vs. former top-25 teams Robbinsdale Armstrong (14-12) and Richfield (15-11).
No. 25 Rogers (18-8)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Class 4A, Section 8 playoffs March 6 vs. winner of Elk River (4-22) vs. Sartell (5-21). With win, March 9 vs. winner of Sauk Rapids-Rice (18-8) vs. Moorhead (13-13)
Ranking rationale: When I pondered who to give the last nod to in this week’s Power 25, I landed on the fifth-place team in one of the top conferences in the state, the Northwest Suburban.
That’s a nice finish in a 14-team league. Rogers just couldn’t quite crack the code against the big boys No. 3 Totino-Grace (21-5), No. 4 Park Center (22-3), No. 17 Maple Grove (18-8) or No. 18 Osseo (18-8).
Rogers made its hay feasting against the bottom half of the conference. That’s what good teams do. It just hasn’t elevated to great.
The Royals’ best win of the season was likely an 86-65 win at conference foe Spring Lake Park (15-11), which recently had a cup of coffee in the Power 25. The Royals have one of the clearest paths to the state tournament, but they will have to show something if they’re to avoid the consolation bracket.
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- Jack Butler | butler@scorebooklive.com | @Butler917
