March in Minnesota means more than just melting slush and the first hopeful chirps of robins. It means the "Barn" is humming. Williams Arena, with its iconic raised floor and enough history to choke a record book, recently hosted the 2025 MSHSL state tournament, and honestly, it was a wild ride. If you were looking for predictable outcomes, you were in the wrong place.
From the first tip-off in the Class A quarterfinals to the final buzzer of the 4A title game, the boys state basketball tourney scores Minnesota fans obsess over were a mix of absolute blowouts and heart-stopping upsets. We saw programs win their first-ever titles and others cement dynasties. It wasn't just about the points on the board; it was about the stories those points told.
Class 4A: Wayzata’s Dominance and the Cretin-Derham Hall Clash
Let's talk about the big schools first. Class 4AAAA was supposed to be a heavyweight bout between No. 1 Cretin-Derham Hall and No. 2 Wayzata. Everyone expected a back-and-forth grind. Instead, Wayzata decided to put on a clinic.
The Trojans didn't just win; they dismantled the Raiders 80-55. It was a 25-point statement. Junior guard Nolen Anderson was basically a flamethrower, dropping 24 points and grabbing 10 boards. His teammate Christian Wiggins wasn't far behind with 21. Wayzata’s defense was the real story, though. They swarmed Tommy Ahneman, the 6-foot-11 Notre Dame recruit, making every single touch a chore for him.
Wayzata held the lead for over 34 minutes of the 36-minute game. That’s not just a win—that’s a takeover. It marks their third title in five years. You’ve gotta respect the consistency Bryan Schnettler has built over there.
The Road to the 4A Final
The journey to that Saturday night finale was equally intense. In the semifinals, Cretin-Derham Hall had to sweat out a 63-49 win over Maple Grove, while Wayzata fended off a tough Shakopee squad 59-55.
Earlier in the week, the quarterfinals at Target Center set the tone:
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- Wayzata 61, Moorhead 52
- Cretin-Derham Hall 69, Rochester John Marshall 57
- Shakopee 85, Anoka 52
- Maple Grove 74, Apple Valley 51
Why Class AAA Scores Caught Everyone Off Guard
If 4A was about dominance, Class AAA was about breaking curses. Alexandria Area hadn't ever won a boys basketball state title. Not once. Their conference, the Central Lakes, had been waiting since the late 70s for someone to bring home the big trophy.
On Saturday, March 22, the Cardinals finally did it. They took down top-seeded Mankato East 73-64. Chase Thompson, headed to Clemson next year, was the engine. He put up 28 points, effectively ending Mankato East's 28-game winning streak. The Cougars have now finished as runners-up two years in a row, which is a tough pill to swallow for a team that talented.
Breaking Down the AAA Bracket
Alexandria didn't have an easy path. They had to go through the three-time defending champs, Totino-Grace, in the semifinals. That 73-65 win was arguably the biggest "we've arrived" moment of the whole week.
Other notable scores from the AAA bracket:
- Mankato East 76, St. Paul Harding 33 (A total mismatch)
- Orono 87, DeLaSalle 71 (A high-scoring affair that turned heads)
- Alexandria 82, Byron 70
- Totino-Grace 88, Duluth Denfeld 72
The third-place game was a classic, too. Orono managed to edge out Totino-Grace 87-85 thanks to a last-second layup by Brady Wooley. Scoring 87 points and still only winning by two? That’s peak tournament basketball.
The Perfection of Albany in Class AA
Sometimes the favorite actually lives up to the hype. In Class AA, Albany came into the tournament undefeated and left the same way. They finished a perfect 32-0 after beating Waseca 70-63 in the championship.
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This game was a defensive masterclass. Albany coach Cory Schlagel had his guys flying around the court. Waseca was fast—maybe the fastest team Albany had seen all year—but the Huskies' defense didn't break. Zeke Austin led the way with 27 points, while Sam Hondl did a bit of everything: 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Waseca’s Deron Russell put up a valiant 32 points, but it wasn't enough to stop the Albany juggernaut.
Class AA Quarterfinal Results
The early rounds in AA showed just how deep this class was:
- Albany 80, Pelican Rapids 57
- Caledonia 72, Minnehaha Academy 56
- Waseca 49, Pequot Lakes 45 (A defensive struggle for the ages)
- Breck 73, Montevideo 49
Class A: Dawson-Boyd and the End of the Cherry Reign
In Class A, all eyes were on Cherry. They were the defending champs, the No. 1 seed, and they had the Asuma brothers. But Dawson-Boyd hadn't been to state in over 30 years and they weren't about to waste the opportunity.
The Blackjacks pulled off the 81-74 upset to claim their first-ever state title. Brayson Boike was unstoppable, scoring 29 points. Cherry didn't go down without a fight—Noah Sundquist had 21—but Dawson-Boyd’s late 3-pointers from Drew Hjelmeland and Boike turned the tide.
It’s one of those "small town, big dreams" stories that makes the boys state basketball tourney scores Minnesota residents follow so special.
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Class A Scoreboard Summary
The small-school bracket was full of high-octane offense:
- Quarterfinal: Cherry 89, BOLD 57
- Quarterfinal: Dawson-Boyd 69, Heritage Christian 46
- Semifinal: Dawson-Boyd 80, Red Lake County 66
- Semifinal: Cherry 79, Nevis 70
Deep Nuance: What the Scores Don't Tell You
You look at a score like Wayzata’s 80-55 win and you think "blowout." But if you watched the tape, you saw a team that committed only three turnovers in an entire state championship game. That is almost unheard of in high school sports. It’s clinical.
The Alexandria win over Mankato East was a lesson in emotional stamina. Mankato East was riding a massive win streak and had the "unfinished business" narrative from last year. Alexandria didn't care. They led for 34 minutes. They took the air out of the building early and never let the Cougars get their rhythm.
There's also the consolation side of things. Most people ignore the fifth-place and third-place games, but that's where you see the grit. Moorhead beating Rochester John Marshall 76-73 for fifth place in 4A might not mean much to the casual fan, but for those kids, it was a chance to end their careers on a win in a pro arena.
Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're a coach, player, or just a die-hard fan trying to predict the 2026 tournament, here is what these scores teach us:
- Defense Wins the Big School Trophies: Wayzata and Albany proved that being able to shut down a superstar (like Ahneman or the Russell brothers) is more important than having your own high-volume scorer.
- The "Gap" is Closing: In Class A and AAA, the upsets of the No. 1 seeds show that the talent across Minnesota is becoming more balanced. Don't bet the house on the top seed anymore.
- Experience Matters, But Hunger Wins: Wayzata had the experience (5th straight final). Alexandria had the hunger (0 titles). Both found a way to win.
- Watch the Juniors: Many of the top scorers this year, like Nolen Anderson and Christian Wiggins, were juniors. 2026 is going to be a bloodbath in Class 4A.
Keep an eye on the MSHSL website for the official box scores and the upcoming summer league schedules. The path to next year's state tournament starts long before the first snow falls. For now, Alexandria, Albany, Wayzata, and Dawson-Boyd get to hang the banners. They earned every point.
Check your local section brackets starting in February 2026 to see who makes the return trip to the Barn. Ensure you're following the seedings closely, as this year proved that a No. 2 or No. 3 seed is just as dangerous as the favorite.