Saturday’s games are all set for the Minnesota boys basketball state championship games.

Minnehaha Academy beat Pequot Lakes and Goodhue edged Albany in the 2A semifinals in night games Friday, March 27, at Williams Arena.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton and Hills-Beaver Creek claimed Class 1A semifinal victories.

Two underdogs are in the Class 4A title game.

The 3A championship has a couple of storied programs.

And here’s a preview of the 2A title contest.

And if you have missed the first three days, here are the Live Blog replays:

• Everything that happened on Day 3 (4A, 3A semifinals and 1A quarterfinals
• Everything that happened on Day 2 (3A & 2A quarterfinals)
• Everything that happened on Day 1 (4A & 2A quarterfinals)

View the complete brackets for 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A and follow live scores on our boys basketball hub.

Scroll through the updates below to catch up on Friday’s games:

1/27

. . .

Final: Minnehaha Academy 50, Pequot Lakes 46

Class 2A semifinal

Minnehaha Academy has the talent to win its first state championship since current NBA star Chet Holmgren led the way in 2021.

The Redhawks (25-5) needed to snap Pequot Lakes’ 22-game win streak to get the opportunity to play for a state title for the first time since a runner-up finish three years ago.

Ayden Green, who had 14 points, hit two free throws with five seconds remaining to seal the 50-46 Class 2A semifinal victory tonight at Williams Arena.

Green also scored on a layup with 44 seconds to play for a 48-43 advantage. The junior guard’s clutch play came after Minnehaha Academy’s top scorer Kellen Troup fouled out at the 1:16 mark. Troup finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

The second-seeded Patriots (29-2) pulled within 48-46 on a three-pointer from Samuel Afagwu with 18.6 to play, but it wasn’t enough to pull off the late comeback attempt. Afagwu finished with 15 points. McKenna had 11 points and nine rebounds.

Pequot Lakes had a chance for the go-ahead basket with 15 seconds left in the game, but it was forced to foul after committing a turnover under the basket.

The Redhawks will play No. 1 seed Goodhue on Saturday at 5 p.m. for the Class 2A championship at the Barn.

— Marcus Fuller

Minnehaha Academy retakes the lead down the stretch

Class 2A semifinal

The Redhawks needed a boost down the stretch from their backcourt. Trailing 38-36 with 6:44 to play, Ayden Green scored on a baseline layup to tie the score.

A minute later, Carter Cupito drilled a three-pointer for a 41-38 advantage. Gus McKenna pulled Pequot Lakes within a point at the free throw line.

Minnehaha Academy’s Kellen Troup answered as well to make it 43-40 with two foul shots at the 2:51 mark.

— Marcus Fuller

Pequot Lakes rallies in second half to erase double digit deficit

2A semifinal

The Patriots were battling back-and-forth with Blake in the Class 2A quarterfinals before making a run in the second half for the win. Could that happen again tonight?

Minnehaha Academy looked a bit too comfortable after taking a 29-18 lead following Kellen Troup’s dunk in the second half.

The Redhawks were outscored 14-4 when Gus McKenna and Toleff Birkeland nailed consecutive three-pointers to make it 31-31 with 10:47 left.

Pequot Lakes has outscored Minnehaha 20-6 in the second half.

— Marcus Fuller

Game story: Goodhue survives to make title game

Class 2A semifinal

Goodhue coach Matt Halvorson has a message for his team at halftime of their 76-74 victory over Albany in the Class 2A semifinals tonight at Williams Arena.

“Make ‘em work,” Halvorson said. “Let’s not give up so many easy baskets.”

Goodhue was not only the No. 1 seed in Class 2A, but the Wildcats (31-1) had spent much of the season atop the polls in 2A.

But Albany was the defending Class 2A champions. They’d won on the big stage recently. They weren’t going to be intimidated by the Wildcats’ gaudy record.

Albany built a first-half lead that ballooned as high as 11 points. After the break, Halverson thought his team paid a little more attention on the defensive side of things.

“We did a better job of that in the second half, whether it was contesting threes or taking away some of their screen and rolls,” he said. “And we put together a run,”

Goodhue’s renewed emphasis on physical play paid off.

“We showed a lot of composure after that first half and that comes from leadership,” Halverson said.

“It was probably our fault because we said it’d be more physical at halftime. And those boys do a good job of taking it literally. And I reminded them of is they’re playing in a state semifinal. Everybody is physical here.”

Goodhue took the lead in the last 1:30 of the game when leading scorer Luke Roschen hit three free throws down the stretch for the Wildcat’s final points of the game.

Goodhue also showed its commitment to defense be deflecting an inbounds pass out of bounds. If was eventually ruled in the Wildcats favor, costing Albany (28-4) a crucial possession with less than 10 seconds left.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” said Roschen, who finished with a game-high 23 points. “You dream of those moments when you’re a kid, but you can’t just add three seconds like you can in your driveway. I just knew I had to knock those down.”

— Jim Paulsen

This Cupito can cook in two sports for Redhawks

Class 2A semifinal

Minnehaha Academy’s Carter Cupito only had one field goal in the first half of tonight’s Class 2A semifinal, but it doesn’t take long for him to get his shot going.

Perfect example was when Cupito scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half in Wednesday’s quarterfinal win vs. Waseca.

Minnehaha Academy led Pequot Lakes 31-23 early in the second half tonight with Cupito running the offense.

The son of former Gophers quarterback Bryan Cupito is only an eight grader and he’s also the starting quarterback in football. Check out this story from Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins.

— Marcus Fuller

Defensive battle keeps teams to low scoring first half

Class 2A semifinal

Minnehaha Academy’s Malachi Snell and Kellen Troup scored on back-to-back drives to break what was a 4½ minute drought from the field in the first half of tonight’s Class 2A semifinal.

Troup’s basket was the first for him since the early minutes of the contest, but it gave the Redhawks a 13-12 lead with 8:05 remaining in the first half. Carter Cupito’s first basket of the game on a three-pointer made it 16-12 on the next possession.

Pequot Lakes was shooting 36% from the field and had a three-minute stretch without a field goal. But six turnovers kept the Patriots from taking advantage of Minnehaha Academy’s scoreless stretch.

The winner plays Goodhue for the title at 5 p.m. Saturday at Williams Arena.

— Marcus Fuller

Big game, no pun intended

Class 2A semifinal

Pequot Lakes and Minnehaha Academy started tonight’s Class 2A semifinal with six players 6-foot-5 or taller combined, which would be impressive for even bigger class teams.

The interior matchup between Pequot Lake’s 6-7 junior Sam Afagwu and Minnehaha Academy’s 6-8 junior Kellen Troup was intriguing. Both players went after each other early with Troup scoring the first two baskets.

Afagwu answered right back to give his team a 6-4 lead with 15 minutes left in the first half.

— Marcus Fuller

Minnehaha Academy vs. Pequot Lakes game preview

2A semifinal

Minnehaha Academy has one of the youngest teams in the state tournament, but the program is no stranger to high school’s biggest stage.

The No. 3 seed Redhawks (24-5), who play No. 2 Pequot Lakes in tonight’s Class 2A semifinals, have a chance to advance to their seventh state championship game since 2013, which included five titles in that span.

In Wednesday’s quarterfinal against Waseca, Minnehaha Academy gave up 50 points to Deron Russell but still pulled away in the second half for a 77-69 win. Ayden Green, Carter Cupito and Kellen Troup combined for 61 points. Troup, a 6-8 junior, also had a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

The Patriots (29-1) extended their 22-game winning streak after a 69-60 victory against Blake in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Tollef Birkeland led four players in double figures with 15 points and eight rebounds. Pequot Lakes has five straight state tournament appearances, but it will be vying for its first state championship berth.

— Marcus Fuller

Goodhue wins 76-74

Class 2A semifinal

Luke Roschen made one of two free throws with eight seconds left as top seed Goodhue beat Albany to advance to tomorrow’s 2A championship game.

The Wildcats got the ball after Albany’s inbounds play as deflected by a Goodhue player. It was initially ruled out in favor of Albany, but an official reviewed it and changed the call in favor of Goodhue before Roschen was fouled.

Albany tried to set up a last second shot, but Ashton Olson missed a desperation heave at the buzzer that never caught iron.

Roschen led the Wildcats with 23 points and Alex Loos had 21. Goodhue improved to 31-1 on the season.

Goodhue will play either Minnehaha Academy or Pequot Lakes in the title game at 5 p.m. Saturday at Williams Arena.

— Jim Paulsen

Down to the final seconds ...

Class 2A semifinal

Goodhue’s Michael Roschen missed the front end of a one-and-one. Albany, trailing 73-70, with the ball and a chance to close the gap to a single point. Breaden Justin did just that, scoring on a tip-in.

Then Justin made two free throws to give Albany the 74-73 lead with 23 seconds left.

But Luke Roschen makes two free throws with 12 seconds left and Goodhue leads 75-74.

Stay tuned with Albany setting up for a final shot ...

— Jim Paulsen

Goodhue ahead

Class 2A semifinal

With 4:46 remaining, the Wildcats lead 65-62.

Owen Roschen has been the best player on the floor for Goodhue in the second half. He’s playing well on both sends of the court. He’s got 16 and has repeatedly come up with big plays.

— Jim Paulsen

Wildcats taking control

Class 2A semifinal

Goodhue leads 63-58 with six minutes remaining in the game.

The Wildcats have looked like a different team after halftime. They are overplaying passing lanes, getting hands on passes, and building a lead. But every time it looks like they might pull away, Albany responds.

Goodhue is showing why they are the No. 1 team in the state in the second half, moving the ball crisply around the perimeter and had hitting their shots.

— Jim Paulsen

Goodhue opens up a lead in the second half

Class 2A semifinal

The Wildcats are showing more aggressiveness going to the basket and it’s paying off.

They’ve outscored Albany 14-3 after halftime, taking a 49-41 lead.

— Jim Paulsen

Game heating up

Class 2A semifinal

Both teams are finding their comfort zones.

Goodhue’s Luke Roschen has 11 points, but Albany is spreading the scoring around a little more.

Ashton Olson has 11 points, Jaxson Austin has 8.

A huge three-pointer by Goodhue’s Owen Roschen at the buzzer got the Wildcat faithful to their feet, trimming the Albany lead to three, 38-35.

— Jim Paulsen

Albany more aggressive early

Class 2A semifinal

The Huskies look like a team that has been on this stage more recently. They’re attacking the basket and the glass with equal gusto.

But back-to-back three-pointers by Goodhue’s Luke Roschen and Cody Ryan have pulled the Wildcats to within three, 23-20, with 5:58 left.

— Jim Paulsen

Goodhue, Albany testing the waters

Class 2A semifinal

Four minutes in and the two teams are poking around for weaknesses in their opponents.

So far, nothing major. Albany is having more success from the floor and has opened up a 18-9 lead over the Wildcats with 10:30 left in the half after a three-pointer by Ashton Olson.

— Jim Paulsen

Pregame: Goodhue vs. Albany

Class 2A semifinal

Two programs with strong basketball bases are squaring off in this one, which matches No. 1 seed Goodhue (30-1) vs. No. 5 Albany (25-6).

Both cruised their quarterfinals victories. Albany showed off its state-tournament foundation in an 85-49 victory over Jackson County Central. The Huskies were Class 2A state champions in 2023 and 2025 and are comfortable on the big stage.

Albany’s strength is its balance. The Huskies had three players score in double figures in the quarterfinals.

Jaxson Austin had a team-leading 18 points and added six assists and five rebounds while Ashton Olson chimed in with 14 points and four rebounds. Guard Braeden Justin controlled the point.

What makes Albany stand out is its quality depth. Ten players were reflected in the scoring column in the quarterfinals and as a team, they shot a very solid 58.9 percent from the floor (33-of-59).

Goodhue has spent most of the season atop the Class 2A state rankings. The Wildcats came within a late December loss to Winona Cotter from undefeated season.

Goodhue leans on its talented backcourt duo of Luke Roschen and Alex Loos, both of whom average more than 20 points per game. Roschen averaged 23.5 points per game, Loos 20.9. Both are threats to score from anywhere on the floor.

This one could likely boil down to the game’s final minutes before it’s decided.

— Jim Paulsen

After a 17-year tourney drought, J-W-P keeps its cool on the big stage

Class 1A semifinals

The lights felt brighter inside Williams Arena than Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton’s high school gym, but that didn’t affect the Bulldogs who held off Red Lake County in a 67-58 semifinal game.

“With all these big courts, the lights are just crazy,” said junior guard Gavin Weedman. “It’s just a huge stadium. It’s really cool to play at.”

“It’s just crazy,” added senior guard Daulton Bauer. “I’ve never played in an environment like that or an arena like that. With the raised court, I’ve never seen something like that.”

Some players get to the state tournament and those overhead spotlights, screams from the crowd and the deafening screech of goal horns throw them off their game. The high scorer in today’s semifinal game, Bauer, assured that wasn’t the case for J-W-P, despite returning to the state tournament for the first time in 17 years. Why? The Bulldog mindset.

“From the start of the year we’ve had the mindset of making it here and playing games here,” said Bauer, who scored 29 of J-W-P’s 67 points. “We kind of all have the mindset of staying calm and composed no matter what goes on.”

In a back-and-forth game with state title final stakes on the line, keeping that mentality was more important than ever.

“Today that showed a lot. We went down a couple times, which we aren’t used to at all,” Bauer said. “The community we have, the ability to fill up a bunch of sections in this place, I’m so grateful for it. It’s amazing.”

Come Saturday, March 28, the lights will be brighter, the crowd will be louder and the stakes will be higher than ever. The Bulldogs hope to let the calm wash over them to win the school’s first-ever boys state basketball title.

— Olivia Hicks

J-W-P punches ticket to 1A state final game

Class 1A semifinals

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton held off the Red Lake County Rebels 67-58 in a back-and-forth semifinal. Senior guard Daulton Bauer had a game-high 29 points.

It is the Bulldogs’ first time at state in 17 years and their first time reaching the championship game.

The Bulldogs will face No. 5 seed Hills-Beaver Creek for a shot at bringing home their first state title at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at Williams Arena.

— Olivia Hicks

Get to know J-W-P’s high-scoring brothers

Class 1A semifinals

The Bauer brothers are minutes away from advancing to the state championship.

After years of sharing the court together, Daulton and Gavin Bauer won’t pass to each other on the high school court after senior guard Daulton graduates this spring. But the dynamic sibling duo is going out with a bang on the big stage and hoping to bring the Bulldogs their first state title.

“Ever since we were little, we’ve been dreaming of this afternoon,” Daulton Bauer said after J-W-P’s 81-72 win over Cherry in a quarterfinal Thursday at Target Center.

“That’s what we’ve been working for all our careers,” Gavin Bauer said. “It’s just nice to see a payoff, and especially in front of the community we have.”

Learn more about Daulton’s basketball career here: Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: Seven high achievers

— Olivia Hicks

Apple Valley, Chaska create a Class 4A championship matchup of underdogs

Class 4A championship

The Minnesota high school rendition of college basketball’s March Madness played out in the boys basketball Class 4A tournament this week.

No. 7 seed Apple Valley plays No. 5 seed Chaska in the championship game at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Williams Arena, in a title game nobody saw coming.

Except for maybe the players who are making history happen. No Class 4A final had ever featured a fifth seed vs. a seventh seed.

“I wouldn’t really call it a Cinderella run,” Apple Valley senior Camare’ Young said with a smile. “We had high expectations for ourselves.”

Continue reading: Class 4A boys basketball bracket busters Apple Valley and Chaska meet for title game nobody saw coming

— Marcus Fuller

Red Lake County attempts to catch up

Class 1A semifinals

Red Lake County had a stagnant few minutes here. Will Gieseke’s layup rolled in a perfect circle around the basket’s rim before bouncing off as the Rebels looked for any inch of advantage.

It didn’t help that Daulton and Gavin Bauer found luck in layups.

Sophomore guard Ben Gullingsrud’s three-pointer helped slash a huge advantage but the Bulldogs were quick to respond.

Score: 55-47

— Olivia Hicks

Will Gieseke’s three-pointer ties the game

Class 1A semifinals

J-W-P’s brief time on top is in danger. Senior guard Will Gieseke’s three-pointer pulled a cry of excitement from the Red Lake County crowd.

A foul on Nick Suchy gave the Bulldogs some breathing room as Daulton Bauer made two free throws, but not by much.

J-W-P leads 44-42.

— Olivia Hicks

Gavin Bauer opens up scoring for J-W-P in second half

Class 1A semifinals

The second half is already off to a quick start. J-W-P junior guard Gavin Bauer opened the second half with a layup less than 30 seconds in.

Red Lake County’s immediate attempts to respond fell short, with Will Gieseke’s three-point shot missing the net. RLC’s Connor Duden now has 15 points.

Senior guard Daulton Bauer responded to Duden’s turnover with a steal and layup.

The Bulldogs are on top 36-33.

— Olivia Hicks

Red Lake County fails to bring dominant first-half start into second

Class 1A semifinals

It’s halftime here at Williams Arena, and the J-W-P Bulldogs have made it a close game with Red Lake County, leading 32-29.

Senior guard Connor Duden leads Red Lake County with 13 points and three rebounds. It looked like the state semifinal returners would run away with it, but the Bulldogs are eager to make the most of their first state tourney trip in 17 years.

Junior guard Gavin Bauer led the team with 10 points, making four of his six shots. His brother, senior guard Daulton Bauer, is taking a more conservative approach to shooting, but he’s picking his shots intentionally and delivering with eight points.

Stick around for the second half, but first read up about how Minnesota’s state tournaments match up to others around the nation: A look at America’s most attended high school state championships.

— Olivia Hicks

J-W-P pulls ahead

Class 1A semifinals

Daulton and Gavin Bauer scored 71 of J-W-P’s 81 points in the state quarterfinals, but the Bulldogs seem to be going with a different strategy this semifinal game. Daulton is finding his teammates rather than taking shots himself.

Daulton set up Gavin Weedman for a three-pointer and Gavin for another three-pointer, putting the Bulldogs ahead 30-29 with a minute left in the first half.

Strib Varsity highlighted Daulton Bauer as a player to watch ahead of the tournament: Minnesota boys basketball tournament players to know

— Olivia Hicks

Connor Duden is controlling the game

Class 1A semifinals

If there’s one player to watch on court right now, it’s Red Lake County’s Connor Duden, who already has 11 points for the Rebels.

His three-pointer gave Red Lake County an early lead and key momentum.

He hopes to win a state title this year before he heads to Bemidji State: Minnesota high school recruits signing in Division I, II.

The Rebels lead 27-20 with five minutes left in the first half.

— Olivia Hicks

Red Lake County’s pursuit of state tourney glory

Class 1A semifinals

Get to know the game leaders: Red Lake County is back at the state tournament for the second year in a row and the second year in school history.

“They definitely want to get back to the state tournament,” Red Lake County coach Steve Philion told Strib Varsity back in January. “Once you’ve been there, you want to get back.”

Read more about the Rebels’ journey to the big stage, including starting the season undefeated: Red Lake County boys basketball team off to undefeated start.

— Olivia Hicks

1A: J-W-P’s Caleb Quast leads surge

Class 1A semifinals

Daulton Bauer may have scored 39 of the Bulldogs’ 81 quarterfinal points, but senior forward Caleb Quast is on a scoring streak for J-W-P. He’s scored seven of the team’s nine points and is slowly but surely closing the gap to Red Lake County, which leads 22-14.

If you missed the Bulldogs’ standout quarterfinal performance, get caught up here: boys basketball state tournament scores

— Olivia Hicks

Red Lake County starts with pair of three-pointers

Class 1A semifinals

The Red Lake County Rebels took a 8-6 lead, kickstarted by sophomore guard Ben Gullingsrud’s three-pointer off an assist by senior guard Will Gieseke. Connor Duden put up another three-pointer before J-W-P’s Caleb Quast completed a layup three minutes into the game.

— Olivia Hicks

Pregame: J-W-P vs. Red Lake County

Class 1A semifinals

One spot has been filled in the Class 1A boys basketball state final game. Who will take on Hills-Beaver Creek for the title? We’ll find out today at Williams Arena.

No. 2 seed Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (J-W-P) is about to tip-off against No. 3 seed Red Lake County for a shot at Saturday’s state title-deciding game.

The Bulldogs beat Cherry 81-72 to get here, largely thanks to the Bauer brothers. Senior guard Daulton Bauer will look to bring both his ball control and his scoring ways into this semifinal game. The senior put up 39 points in the quarterfinal game on Thursday and his brother Gavin scored 32. Daulton and junior guard Gavin Bauer brought J-W-P to the state championship after a 17-year dry spell and have been dreaming about it since they were kids. Growing up playing basketball in their backyard, the duo used to yell: “Three, two, one: state championship!” The two hope to make that a reality this week.

Red Lake County won’t go down easy after losing in the state semifinals last year in the Rebels’ first ever trip to state. The team has a few things in its favor, including senior guards Connor Duden and Will Gieseke’s ability to find the basket. Gieseke put up 25 points in Thursday’s 85-63 quarterfinal game.

Stay tuned for updates as the state final match-up is determined, but first, go here to see which team Strib Varsity predicted will win the game

— Olivia Hicks

Hills-Beaver Creek ends Henning’s bid at undefeated championship season

Class 1A semifinals

Micah Bush had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead No. 5 seed Hills-Beaver Creek to an upset over No. 1 seed Henning, 71-67, in the Class 1A semifinals at Williams Arena.

The Patriots, who are playing in their first state tournament, gave the Hornets (31-1) their first loss of the season.

Henning senior Kale Misegades, who finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds, sent the game into overtime when he tied it at 61-61, but his three-pointer in the final seconds of overtime fell short. The Hornets were chasing their first state title since 2019.

Jamin Metzger, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds, hit two free throws for a 69-65 Hills-Beaver Creek lead with 22 seconds left in overtime. Brodie Metzger also finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Riggins Rheault also added 15 points for the Patriots (29-3).

— Marcus Fuller

Hills-Beaver Creek takes lead in OT

Class 1A semifinals

Patriots fans were shocked to see Henning’s Kale Misegades score with seconds winding down to send the game into overtime in the first Class A semifinal.

Hills-Beaver Creek wouldn’t let Misegades take control in the extra period. Jamin and Brodie Metzger scored on back-to-back layups to make it 67-63 with 1:38 left in overtime.

The Hornets were in desperation mode, but they forced a turnover with less than a minute to play to pull within 67-65 on a Misegades layup.

— Marcus Fuller

Kale Misegades sends the game into OT for Henning

Class 1A semifinals

Henning’s undefeated season was on the line. Hills-Beaver Creek was trying to reach its first state title game in program history. Fans on both sides were tense in the final 23 seconds.

The Hornets thought it got a defensive stop after a deflection, but the ball was caught by Karson Metzger, who scored a layup with nine seconds left.

After the ball was handed to him off the inbounds pass, Kale Misegades wouldn’t let his team fall in regulation. The 6-3 senior drove the ball through a few defenders to score with a second remaining to send the game into overtime tied 61-61.

Misegades has 26 points.

— Marcus Fuller

Can Henning keep undefeated season alive?

Class 1A semifinals

Easton Misegades made the biggest shot of the game with a three-pointer to tie it 59-59 with 43 seconds left.

The Hornets relied on senior star Kale Misegades all season to pull them through. Misegades went to the foul line trailing by four points, but he went 1-for-2 to make it 59-56 with 1:25 to play.

Sophomore Brodie Metzger drilled a three-pointer to give Hills-Beaver Creek a 58-55 lead with 2:33 left in today’s Class A semifinal vs. Henning. The Patriots added a free throw to give them their biggest lead of the second half.

— Marcus Fuller

HBC puts pressure on undefeated Henning

Class 1A semifinals

Henning coach Randy Misegades practically stood in game action trying to direct his son, Kale, on a play to get some cushion against Hills-Beaver Creek down the stretch.

The result was a missed shot.

It was too close to call with the Hornets leading 53-52 with under five minutes to play. They’ve never lost a game this season at 31-0, but this was to get to their first state title game since 2019.

After a timeout, HBC called a play that had a similar poor outcome with a turnover. The nerves are showing in crunch time, but on the ensuing possession, the Patriots took a 55-53 lead on a three-pointer from Micah Bush with four minutes to play.

— Marcus Fuller

Former Mr. Football finalist tries to get his basketball team to state final

Class 1A semifinals

Hills-Beaver Creek’s Micah Bush was a top 10 finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Football Award in the fall, but his efforts on the hardcourt is putting his basketball team in position for a state championship berth.

Bush, who had nine points in the first half of today’s semifinal, scored five points in the second half to help the Patriots take the lead. His assist to fellow football teammate Jamin Metzger made it 50-47 HBC with just under nine minuets to play.

The competition for 2025 Mr. Football was tough. See who Bush competed with for the honor, which went to Jackson County Central’s Roman Voss.

— Marcus Fuller

Henning and Hills-Beaver Creek locked in back-and-forth battle

Class 1A semifinals

Henning took a five-point lead to start the second half with Kale Misegades scoring his 17th point on a jumper a few minutes into the period, but Hills-Beaver Creek used a 5-0 run to tie it 37-37.

That’s pretty much how the start of the second half would go for both teams, with several lead changes over an eight-minute period.

Micah Bush gave the Patriots a 41-39 lead at the 14:04 mark, but Misegades tied the game on a layup on the next possession for Henning.

The Hornets trailed again a minute before Easton Misegades’ three-pointer made it 44-42 with 12:48 left in the second half.

Both teams were shooting over 50% from the field at that point.

— Marcus Fuller

Halftime: Henning 33, Hills-Beaver Creek 31

Class 1A semifinals

Henning, the No. 1 team in Class 1A, won by an average margin of 30 points and averaged nearly 80 points per game entering the state tournament.

The Hornets, though, found themselves having a tough time pulling away in the last three games, including a 72-61 win vs. Park Christian in the Section 6 final and a 61-45 win vs. Upsala in the state quarterfinals.

In the first half today, Hills-Beaver Creek twice took the lead, including 31-30 on Jamin Metzger’s layup with 1:18 left. It took a three-pointer from Beck Thorson to keep Henning ahead at halftime.

Kale Misegades leads the Hornets with 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting. The Patriots are being led by Micah Bush with nine points on 4-for-6 field goals.

— Marcus Fuller

Misegades can’t be stopped but HBC takes brief lead

Class 1A semifinals

Hills-Beaver Creek tried to keep Henning star Kale Misegades from dominating the first half of today’s semifinal, but that was a tall task for any defender.

The 6-3 senior guard’s movement without the ball is Steph Curry-like, getting himself open from beyond the arc or for mid-range jumpers off ball screens. Misegades scored his 15th point to give the Hornets a 28-22 lead around the four-minute mark.

That didn’t keep Hills-Beaver Creek from fighting back to take the 29-28 lead after a 7-0 run was capped by Micah Bush with a layup less than two minutes remaining.

Beck Thorson’s three-pointer late in the first half helped Henning answer to lead 33-31.

— Marcus Fuller

1A: Metzger boys get Hills-Beaver Creek back into the game

Class 1A semifinals

Jamin and Karson Metzger scored eight straight points for Hills-Beaver Creek during a run to cut within 17-16 after a layup from Karson with 8:41 to play in the first half.

Henning’s Kale Misegades was the first player in the game to get into double figures with 10 points, including his second three-pointer to give his team a seven-point lead early.

The Hornets couldn’t stretch their lead with HBC’s size advantage as a factor. The Patriots cut it to a two-point deficit on a three-pointer from Micah Bush, but Henning answered with a shot from beyond the arc from Todd Bjerke to make it 23-19 at 5:39 to play in the half.

— Marcus Fuller

Football champion HBC looking to play in hoops state final

Class 1A semifinals

Hills-Beaver Creek was one of two schools that made the state basketball tournament this year after winning Prep Bowl titles in football in the fall.

The Patriots are the only ones still standing after Jackson County Central lost in the quarterfinals, but you can read about their journey to state here:

— Marcus Fuller

Three-point barrage to open semifinal matchup

Class 1A semifinals

Four of the first six field goals for Hills-Beaver Creek and Henning were three-pointers in today’s semifinal matchup at Williams Arena.

Senior guard Kale Misegades, a member of Strib Varsity’s 2026 All-Minnesota team, hit his first shot from beyond the arc to spark a 10-2 run for Henning to start the game.

Hills-Beaver Creek got its second three-pointer of the contest from Riggins Rheault to make it 10-8 with 13:20 left in the first half.

— Marcus Fuller

Pregame: Henning vs. Hills-Beaver Creek

Class 1A semifinals

Top-seeded Henning (31-0) rolls into today’s semifinals at Williams Arena against No. 5 Hills-Beaver Creek, continuing its quest to be the first Class 1A team to win the title and go undefeated since Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa was 33-0 in 2012. The Hornets got 35 points and 16 rebounds from Mr. Basketball finalist Kale Misegades in a quarterfinal win vs. Upsala.

Hills-Beaver Creek (28-3) defeated No. 4 Southland 72-69 in a tightly-contested quarterfinal matchup of two programs in their first state tournament appearance, which also snapped Southland’s 23-game winning streak.

The Patriots were led by Jamin and Brodie Metzger with a combined 55 points and 13 rebounds to advance to the semifinals.

— Marcus Fuller

The system has leveled the playing field for small schools. There’s just not as much glory. Or mingling.

Class 1A semifinals

Preschool kiddos at a high school basketball pep fest?

It might not be a common sight at big-city high schools.

But there they were in the Henning school on Wednesday, benches full of chubby-cheeked urchins, holding their handmade signs-on-a-stick and cheering the boys basketball team that was on its way once again this year to the state tournament in the Twin Cities. By Thursday, March 26, Henning had advanced to the semifinals.

This is what happens in small-town school districts. Henning, population 854, only has one school for grades K-12, so the youngest kids get a taste of the excitement, too. Everyone goes to the pep fest.

From around the state, seven of Minnesota’s smallest rural schools are sending their boys basketball teams to state this week. They’re coming from all corners of Minnesota - the Arrowhead, the Iowa state line, the northwest, central, spittin’ distance from South Dakota, and from Henning, which is in my own backyard in Otter Tail County. They will get the chance, this week, to see who is crowned the best of the little schools.

Continue reading Karen Tolkkinen’s column: I kind of wish rural schools still played against the Blaines and Wayzatas

Go here to see which team Strib Varsity predicted will win the game