Sundays in Minnesota usually mean the NFL or a slow morning at the local diner. But tonight felt different. The gym lights were humming in small towns and metro suburbs alike as a rare slate of Sunday hoops took over. Finding mn high school basketball scores tonight can sometimes feel like a scavenger hunt, especially when the big metro dailies haven't updated their digital boards yet.
Honestly, the energy tonight was electric. You've got teams playing on short rest after big Friday night conference matchups, and it shows. The legs looked a little heavy in the fourth quarter of the Luverne and Dell Rapids game, but the heart was definitely there.
The Scores You’re Looking For
Let's get straight to the numbers. Here is what went down across the state today, Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Luverne vs. Dell Rapids
Luverne pulled off a gritty win at home. The final was Luverne 64, Dell Rapids 58. It wasn’t always pretty, but Luverne’s defense in the final three minutes basically sealed the deal. They forced three turnovers in a row that led to easy transition layups.
Jordan vs. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton
This one was a high-scoring affair. Jordan came out firing from deep and never really looked back.
- Final Score: Jordan 82, JWP 71.
- Key Performer: Jordan’s backcourt combined for five threes in the first half alone.
Mankato Loyola vs. Heritage Christian Academy
Heritage Christian traveled well and played with a chip on their shoulder. They walked away with a double-digit victory, finishing 76-62. Loyola kept it close until midway through the second half when HCA went on a 12-2 run.
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Canby vs. Arlington
A classic defensive struggle. If you like old-school basketball, this was your game. Canby managed to grind out a 51-44 win.
Martin County West vs. Red Rock Central
Red Rock Central protected their home court in a nail-biter. They took it 58-55.
Minneapolis South vs. Westonka
Westonka proved to be too much on the glass today. They controlled the paint and won 69-54.
Why These Sunday Games Matter
Usually, Sunday is a day for practice or film study. When you see a schedule like this, it’s often due to previous weather postponements or special showcase events. Minnesota weather in January is unpredictable—shocker, right?—so the MSHSL (Minnesota State High School League) has to be flexible.
These games are massive for QRF rankings. For the uninitiated, QRF is the formula Minnesota uses to seed teams for the postseason. It’s not just about winning; it’s about who you beat and how much they win. A random Sunday victory against a non-conference opponent like Dell Rapids can actually boost a team's standing significantly come March.
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The pace of play tonight was surprisingly fast. Most people think Sunday games will be slow. Wrong. These kids have fresh legs after a light Saturday, and it showed in the Minneapolis South transition game, even if they didn't get the win.
The Rankings Shakeup
With these mn high school basketball scores tonight, the Class A and AA landscapes are shifting.
Wayzata is still sitting at the top of the big school rankings, but teams like Tartan and Richfield are breathing down their necks. Richfield, currently 12-0, has been an absolute juggernaut. They didn’t play tonight, but the results from the surrounding sections mean their path to a top seed is getting clearer.
In Class A, the win by Heritage Christian Academy is a statement. They’ve been hovering around the top 10, and winning a tough road game on a Sunday afternoon proves they have the depth to handle a condensed schedule.
Where to Find Live Updates
If you're like me, you're constantly refreshing your phone for updates. The best places to keep an eye on are:
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- Minnesota-Scores.net: The "bible" for MN prep hoops. It's a bit old-school, but the data is unmatched.
- MSHSL.org: The official source, though sometimes they're a little slower on the weekend updates.
- Strib Varsity: Great for metro scores and high-quality photography.
- Twitter (X) / Local Reporters: Search for hashtags like #mnbb or #mngbb. Local beat writers are usually the first to post a final score.
Basically, if you aren't checking these four spots, you're missing half the story.
Moving Forward into the Week
Tonight was just the appetizer. The schedule for the rest of the week is absolutely loaded. We’ve got Minneapolis North taking on Holy Family on Tuesday, which is going to be a massive test of athleticism vs. disciplined coaching.
Then on Friday, the real fireworks start. Totino-Grace against Cretin-Derham Hall. That’s a heavyweight bout. If you care about D1 prospects, that’s the game to be at.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Parents
If you are tracking a specific team, don't just look at the score. Look at the "points against." In Minnesota high school ball, the teams that make it to the Target Center in March are almost always the ones holding opponents under 55 points consistently.
Also, keep an eye on the "Games Back" column in conference standings. With the weird Sunday games we saw today, some teams are playing 3 or 4 games in a 7-day span. Fatigue is going to be a factor by Friday night.
Next Steps:
- Check the official MSHSL bracket or your school's specific "Activity Scheduler" page tonight to see if any of tonight's results moved the needle on your team's section seeding.
- Bookmark the "Sections" page on Minnesota-Scores to track the QRF movements tomorrow morning.
- Plan your travel for Tuesday's games now; with the snow moving in, those 7:00 PM tip-offs might get moved up.