Friday nights in Minnesota just hit differently. You can smell the popcorn in the lobby and hear the rhythmic squeak of sneakers on a freshly waxed floor before you even see the scoreboard. It’s that time of year when the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton bleachers are packed and everyone in town is checking their phones for mn high school boys basketball scores the second the buzzer sounds. This week was no exception, providing a mix of predictable dominance and the kind of "did that really happen?" upsets that make the MSHSL tournament season feel so close.
Honestly, the state of the game right now is chaotic. Rankings are shifting faster than a point guard on a fast break. If you haven't been following the Metro East or the Lake Conference closely, you've missed some absolute clinics.
The Big Scores from Friday Night
Last night, January 16, was a marathon. If you were looking for high-scoring affairs, the North Country delivered. Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin absolutely exploded, putting up 103 points against Hill City/Northland. Scoring 100 points in a high school game is a feat, but doing it while holding the opponent to just 33 is a statement.
Down in the metro, the matchups were a bit more grit-and-grind. South St. Paul and Simley went at it in a battle that ended 81-69 in favor of Simley. It wasn't just about the points, though. It was the way Simley controlled the glass. You see these scores and think it’s just numbers, but the physicality in that gym was next-level.
Check out some of these other Friday night finals:
- Hermantown handled Grand Rapids with a comfortable 82-61 victory.
- Moose Lake-Willow River outpaced Two Harbors 87-62.
- Wayzata, the perennial powerhouse, took care of business against St. Michael-Albertville.
Wayzata is still sitting at that #1 spot in Class 4A for a reason. They haven't lost to a Minnesota team all season. Christian Wiggins is basically a human highlight reel at this point. He dropped 28 against Buffalo earlier in the month and followed it up with 34 against Nicolet. If you're betting against the Trojans, you're probably losing money.
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Why Richfield and Totino-Grace are the Talk of Class 3A
People keep arguing about who the real king of 3A is. For a while, it was all about the Eagles. But Richfield is currently sitting on a perfect 12-0 (or better depending on the latest update) and they’ve earned every bit of that #1 ranking. They edged out DeLaSalle 69-68 recently. That’s a "hair-pulling, heart-attack" kind of game. Gideon Horne and Dre Collins are a duo that most defenses just can’t figure out.
Meanwhile, Totino-Grace is right on their heels. They had a weird week where a trip to Wisconsin got cancelled, but they didn't let the rust show. They dismantled Anoka 94-53. Then they had that wild game against East Ridge where they lost 86-79 despite playing great ball. Why? Because Cedric Tomes from East Ridge decided to drop 50 points. Fifty. In a high school game. That’s not a typo.
It’s these kinds of individual performances that don't always show up when you're just glancing at mn high school boys basketball scores on a Saturday morning. You see the loss for Totino-Grace and think they’re slipping, but then you realize they just ran into a buzzsaw.
Small Town Giants: Class A and AA Drama
Don't sleep on the small schools. Seriously. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) is currently 14-0 and they look like they’re playing a different game than everyone else in Class A. They have this defensive pressure that just suffocates teams.
Over in Class AA, Belle Plaine and Morris Area are the names you hear in every barbershop conversation. Belle Plaine recently took down Waseca 82-75. It was close, it was loud, and it showed that Class AA might be the most competitive bracket this year.
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Recent Notable Results
The scoreboard from earlier this week was just as telling.
- Rochester Century topped Austin 69-60.
- St. Peter absolutely crushed Tri-City United 89-24.
- Northome/Kelliher put up 101 points against Blackduck.
It’s interesting to see the disparity in some of these scores. You have these defensive clinics like St. Peter's, and then you have absolute track meets in the north.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rankings
A lot of fans look at the MaxPreps or the AP polls and think that's the end of the story. It isn't. The "Strength of Schedule" factor is massive in Minnesota. Take a team like Cretin-Derham Hall. Their record might not look as "perfect" as some others, but they are playing the toughest teams in the state week in and week out. They just beat East Ridge 82-69, and Ty Schlagel surpassed 1,000 career points in the process.
When you see a 10-2 team ranked higher than a 14-0 team, don't get mad. It’s usually because those 10 wins came against top-25 opponents. The Lake Conference is basically a meat grinder. Maple Grove, Hopkins, and Minnetonka are constantly beating each other up.
Looking Ahead: The Games You Can't Miss
If you're tracking mn high school boys basketball scores, you need to circle a few dates on your calendar. The upcoming matchups between the top 10 are going to decide the seeding for sections, and in Minnesota, the section tournament is often harder than the state tournament itself.
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- Wayzata vs. Minnetonka: Always a grudge match.
- Richfield vs. Totino-Grace: This is the one everyone wants to see for the 3A throne.
- Blaine vs. Rogers: Keep an eye on Blaine; they are 11-0 and people are finally starting to realize they're legit.
The Bengals (Blaine) have been flying under the radar, but after an 89-82 win over Osseo, the secret is out. Henry Semans is a name you'll be hearing a lot more often.
How to Stay on Top of the Action
Basically, if you want the most accurate data, you’ve got to diversify where you look. The MSHSL website is the official word, but for the "vibes" and the immediate aftermath, StribVarsity and Minnesota-Scores.net are the gold standards.
Don't just look at the final score. Look at the halves. A team might win by 10, but if they were down by 20 at halftime, that tells you something about their depth and coaching.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Follow the Section Standings: The overall record matters less than the section record when March Madness hits the North Star State.
- Watch the 1,000-Point Trackers: We just saw Ty Schlagel and others hit the mark; these milestones often correlate with teams peaking at the right time.
- Check the Weather: It sounds silly, but January in MN means postponements. Always verify the game is actually happening before you drive two hours to a gym.
- Support Local: Go to a game. There is nothing like a Tuesday night conference rivalry in a small-town gym.
The road to the Target Center is getting shorter every day. Whether it's a blowout in the North Woods or a triple-overtime thriller in the suburbs, the intensity is only going up from here.