Byron Opens State with Minnehaha Academy Wednesday

The Byron Bears have a tough assignment when they play their first Boys State High School Basketball Tournament game Wednesday in Hastings.  The Bears (17-2) will face top seed Minnehaha Academy (17-1) at 4:30 p.m. in Hastings.

The Redhawks only loss was to a national high school powerhouse, IMG Academy 73-53.  In the Sections they rolled over St. Paul Como Park 82-41, Mahtomedi 70-33, Totino-Grace 73-60.

The Bears cruised by Faribault 66-34, defeated Winona 70-57, won a thriller over Austin 52-50.

The winner plays April 8, 3:00 p.m. at Target Center

On the other side of that bracket #2 North seed Minneapolis DeLaSalle (14-5) faces #3 Hibbing (16-3).  The game is at St. Cloud Tech. The MSHSL bracket has no time listed.  There is a game there Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. between #1 North Alexandria Area (20-1) and #4 seed Monticello (8-13).

#2 South seed Mankato West (16-4) goes up against #3 seed Richfield (15-4) at Chanhassen at 6:30 p.m.

The winners will play April 8, 1:00 p.m. at Target Center.

In Class 2A Section One Champion Caledonia (21-1) received the #2 seed in the south despite the fact they have not lost to a Minnesota school this season.  Their only loss was against Onalaska, Wisconsin 51-43 in the Warriors third game of the delayed start to the Minnesota basketball season.

The Warriors play St. Croix Prep Academy (20-1) at Rochester Mayo High School Wednesday night 7:30 p.m.

The Section 2 Champion Waseca Bluejays (20-1) are the #1 South seed.  Their only loss was by 28 points to Minnehaha Academy.  The other side of their bracket has #2 North seed Annandale (18-1) playing #3 Fergus Falls (15-7) in Alexandria on Tuesday night.  No time listed on the MSHSL bracket.  It's the only Tuesday game being played.

The winners play April 7, 5:00 p.m. at Target Center.

The other side of the Caledonia bracket has #1 North seed Minneapolis North (14-1) competing against #4 Moose Lake/Willow River (18-3).

Those winners go the Target Center April 7 at 2:00 p.m.

The Class 4A MSHSL bracket Shakopee (16-5) is the top seed in the south and plays Section One Champion Owatonna (17-3).  The Sabres placed second in the ever-tough South Suburban Conference while the Huskies were the #3 seed in the Section and outscored Lakeville South 94-85 to advance to state.  Owatonna is on a 7 game win streak.

The Huskies lost to Big Nine Champion and State Tournament team Mankato West twice and state ranked Austin.  They went 9-0 in the Section which should have carried more weight then playing some Class 3A teams.  Lakeville South was the top seed and went 2-2 in the Section while suffering 7 losses during the season.

This could be a great game at 7:00 p.m. in Hastings.  Shakopee scores 62 points per game while allowing 51.2.  Owatonna averages 67.1 and gives up 52.3.

On the other side of their bottom bracket #2 North Wayzata (16-2) goes up against #3 Duluth East (16-3) 4:00 p.m. at Osseo High School.

The winners play April 8, 8:00 p.m. at Target Center

Up top #1 North seed Champlin Park (21-0) faces Maple Grove (12-9) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday in Osseo.  #2 South Cretin-Derham Hall (16-5) plays Rosemount (15-6) 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at East Ridge High School in Woodbury.

The winners play April 8, 6:00 p.m. at Target Center.

Class A Section 1 Champion Hayfield (18-4) the #4 South seed will play top seed Legacy Christian Academy (20-1) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rochester Mayo High School.

The other bottom bracket game is #2 North Deer River (20-2) competing against #3 North Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (19-3) in Pequot Lakes Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

The winners play April 7, Noon at Target Center.

The other side of the MSHSL Bracket has #1 North Nevis (19-2) playing Hancock (17-5) in Perham at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday.  #2 South Central Mn Christian (18-4)  will tangle with Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (19-3) 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mankato East High School.

The winners play April 7, 10:00 a.m. at Target Center.

Would this be a factor in where you choose to live?