Four state champions will be crowned today on the final day of boys high school basketball in Minnesota and all can be heard on KDHL 920AM, kdhlradio.com and by downloading the Radio Pup app on your favorite mobile device. Roy Koenig and I will be courtside at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis to bring you the games, and we've got three top-ranked vs. No. 2-rated teams in the state.

The opener at 11 a.m. features the No. 1-rated Rushford-Peterson Trojans with just one loss on the season (to a Wisconsin team) versus No, 2-rated Maranatha Christian Academy of Brooklyn Park. The Mustangs have just two losses on the year, to Fergus Falls 83-80 in two overtimes and to Minneapolis North 80-51. They avenged their loss to North by defeating them in the section final 69-67 in overtime and can avenge a loss last season to the Trojans in the semis in the state tournament. The Mustangs are a scoring machine and the Trojans are a well rounded team. Rushford-Peterson is relentless on defense with their full court pressure and turns turnovers into points, so Maranatha will have to prize the basketball like a Tatge Jewelry diamond in order to pull off the upset.

I honestly believe Rushford-Peterson could, win the Class AA tournament. They are that good. Point guard Cole Kingsley badly sprained his ankle in the tournament opener and didn't play major minutes in the semis and the Trojans breezed, they may need him more today. For Maranatha, 6-foot-4 forward Jeremiah Hanson is a 2,000-point scorer and can score from anywhere on the floor. Rushford-Peterson will have to be aware of where he is at all times. The key for the Trojans is they don't rely on any one person to score. Everyone is capable of having a 20-point game

In Class AA, the Cinderella of the tournament (in any class) is Melrose Area. The Dutchmen (Roy's favorite mascot) take on a mighty Caledonia Warrior team whose only Minnesota losses came to Three Rivers Conference opponent Rushford-Peterson. Their other two losses were to Iowa schools (I thought they were known for their wrestling). Caledonia is the No. 2-rated and No. 2-seeded team in Class AA. Melrose Area had no trouble downing top-ranked St. Croix Lutheran. The Crusaders had everyone wondering how they got that top ranking with poor performances in their two games thus far in the tourney. Melrose Area was not rated in the final coaches poll, but has just five losses on the season.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. Three hours are allotted between games for the awards ceremonies in each class to take place. Melrose Area has been impressive in the tournament and Caledonia also thrives on pressure defense. Will Melrose Area be able to handle that pressure is the question in this one.

At 5 this evening, Minneapolis DeLasalle tries for a bit of history. They are going for their fourth straight state title. The Islanders have cruised thus far in the tournament, easily beating a good Albany Husky team in the first round and downing Big Nine Conference foe Mankato East 74-40 in the semis. They are the top-rated and top-seeded team in the tournament and will play second-ranked and second-seeded St. Paul Johnson.

The Governors (who have Roy's second-favorite mascot) escaped against Hermantown in the opener 59-56 and defeated Waconia 69-62 in the semis. Both teams have outstanding ball handlers. In my opinion, DeLasalle appears to be a bit more disciplined and that could be the edge. Islander point guard Jarvis Johnson can dish with the best of them and St. Paul Johnson's Jalen Mobley is also a gifted point guard who is more of a scorer.

In Class AAAA at 8 p.m., the dream matchup of No.1 and No. 2 also exists. Top-ranked and unbeaten Champlin Park has a chance to do something every team dreams about, win a title without losing a game. The Rebels came from behind to down Shakopee in the semis while Apple Valley defeated fellow South Suburban Conference member Lakeville North. The Rebels beat Apple Valley by five at the end of December and have scored more than 100 points three times this season. The Eagles are young and talented. They don't start a senior, and with freshman Tre Jones at the point they are very efficient. He simply doesn't turn the ball over and, when fouled, hits his free throws.

Apple Valley 7-foot junior Brock Bertram was more aggressive in the semis than the opening round and may be the key in the championship. Champlin Park doesn't have that kind of size. I love 6-foot-5 senior Marty Hill's game and the Rebels' point guard JT Gibson can score when needed and is a gifted passer. His shooting has been off in the tourney, however.

The more efficient team will win this game. If Champlin Park plays like they did the first game of the tournament and shares the ball without turning it over, then I think they get the nod. The Eagles' two losses were to Champlin Park as I noted earlier and Eastview of Apple Valley.

KDHL will reward loyal state tournament listeners with $10 McDonald's gift cards at halftime of each championship game. We've been throwing out various information about the teams and past tournament history and will ask questions surrounding that information. The first listeners to phone in with the correct answer will receive a McDonald's $10 gift card. Thanks to McDonald's and thanks to our loyal listeners. This is KDHL Radio's 67th consecutive year of baseline-to-baseline coverage of the boys state high school basketball tournament. This is the 103rd year of the tournament.

Pictured below is Rushford-Peterson 6-foot-8 junior reserve Matt Culhane. I posted this picture because Head Coach Tom Vix told me before the semifinal game is team was a bit undersized. I wanted you to see the size of Culhane. Six-foot-4 senior Kyler Paulson is no little guy, either. I hope you'll tune in, and good luck with the trivia.

Rushford-Peterson's Matt Culhane
Rushford-Peterson's Matt Culhane
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