If you spent Tuesday or Wednesday night scrolling through Twitter or refreshing the MSHSL dashboards, you know exactly how chaotic things are right now. The mid-January grind is officially here. This is the part of the season where tired legs meet tough conference schedules, and honestly, the mn girls basketball scores from this week prove that nobody is safe. Not even the giants.
Take a look at Wednesday’s board. Minneapolis North barely squeaked by Minneapolis Southwest with a 54-51 win. Then you have Woodbury taking down Mounds View 78-72 in a game that felt more like a track meet than a basketball game. It’s wild. If you’re just looking at the final numbers, you’re missing the actual drama happening in these gyms across the state.
The Power Shift in the Class 4A Rankings
Right now, Hopkins is still sitting at the top of the mountain with a 13-1 record, but Rosemount is breathing down their necks. Rosemount is 12-0 and looks absolutely terrifying on defense. They aren't just winning; they are suffocating people.
But here is what most people get wrong about the mn girls basketball scores they see on the nightly news: the margin of victory doesn't always equal dominance. Look at Minnetonka. They’re 12-1 and ranked 4th in the latest coaches' poll. Their only loss was a tight one, and they’ve been grinding out wins against top-tier Metro West competition.
Current Class 4A Top 5 (January 15, 2026)
- Hopkins (13-1): Still the gold standard, led by depth and that relentless full-court press.
- Rosemount (12-0): The only undefeated team in the top tier. Their QRF value is through the roof.
- Maple Grove (10-3): A few stumbles lately, but their strength of schedule is arguably the toughest in the state.
- Minnetonka (12-1): Lanelle Wright is playing like a woman possessed.
- Wayzata (11-2): Always in the conversation. Their loss to Maple Grove earlier this month was a wake-up call.
Why Small School Scores are Stealing the Headlines
Don't sleep on Class 2A and 1A. Seriously. If you want to see pure scoring, you have to look at Crosby-Ironton. Tori Oehrlein is basically a human bucket. She’s averaging over 34 points per game. When you see those mn girls basketball scores where Crosby-Ironton puts up 80, about half of that is usually her.
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Then there’s Mountain Iron-Buhl. They are 13-0. In Class 1A, they are a buzzsaw. They’re beating teams by 30 or 40 points regularly. It almost feels unfair. But then you look at a team like Providence Academy, led by Maddyn Greenway. She’s putting up 32.5 points and 8 assists a night.
It’s a different brand of basketball. It’s fast, it’s high-scoring, and it’s arguably more fun to watch than the defensive battles in 4A.
Notable Results from Jan 14-15
Wednesday was busy. Forest Lake absolutely dismantled Stillwater 55-26. That’s a statement win. Stillwater is usually much more competitive than that, but Forest Lake’s defense was on another level.
Meanwhile, East Ridge handled Park of Cottage Grove 79-36.
Mahtomedi crushed North St. Paul 67-18.
Hill-Murray put up a massive 88 points against South St. Paul.
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These aren't just wins; they're "send a message" wins.
The Impact of the QRF and "The Bubble"
If you aren't familiar with QRF (Quality Results Formula), you should be. It’s how Minnesota determines who actually matters when the seeds come out. It’s not just about wins and losses. It’s about who you beat and where you beat them.
For instance, Stewartville is 10-1 and ranked high in Class 3A, but their QRF is slightly lower because they haven't faced the same gauntlet as a team like Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Scores from games like the upcoming St. Michael-Albertville vs. Monticello matchup on January 22 will carry huge weight. STMA has struggled a bit (5-7 record), but their schedule is so hard that a win there could catapult them back into the conversation.
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What to Watch for This Weekend
The schedule for the next 48 hours is packed. If you're looking for the most meaningful mn girls basketball scores, keep your eyes on these matchups:
- Lakeville North vs. Rochester Mayo (Jan 17): Mayo is 15-1 and looking for respect. Lakeville North is a battle-tested 4A squad that will provide the ultimate litmus test.
- Crosby-Ironton vs. Monticello (Jan 15 tonight): Can Monticello slow down Oehrlein? Probably not, but it'll be a shootout.
- Goodhue vs. White Bear Lake (Jan 19): A classic Class 2A vs. Class 4A showdown. These inter-class games are the best for bragging rights.
Honestly, the state of girls' hoops in Minnesota has never been better. We have multiple players who are genuinely national-level recruits. We have coaching that is sophisticated enough to shut down those stars. And we have a fan base that actually shows up.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, stop just looking at the win-loss columns. Start looking at the points against. Look at the road wins. That’s where the real story of the 2026 season is being written.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Recruiters:
- Check the Hub Daily: The Star Tribune Varsity Hub is the most reliable place for live score updates, usually posted within minutes of the final buzzer.
- Follow the QRF Trends: Monitor Minnesota-Scores.net to see how a Tuesday night win affects a team's section seeding in real-time.
- Watch the Livestreams: Many schools now use NSPN or YouTube. Watching a 10-minute highlight reel of Maddyn Greenway or Tori Oehrlein provides more context than a box score ever could.
- Attend a Section Rivalry: The energy in the gym during a game like Minnetonka vs. Wayzata is unmatched. If you're in the Twin Cities, get to a game this Friday night.