Boys Basketball Hub
Strib Varsity reporter Marcus Fuller looks back on the shocking upsets, renewed dynasties and breakout performances that defined the 2026 boys basketball state tournament.
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The Patriots, who were led by Jamin Metzger with 22 points and 13 rebounds, dominated Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton to win the Class 1A basketball title.
Coach David Collier found a lot of chemistry with a team that mixed the seniors with some talented youngsters.
Goodhue, Minnehaha Academy win 2A semifinals; Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton and Hills-Beaver Creek advance in 1A.
The Wildcats are trying for their first title in the tourney, while Minnehaha Academy has won five times since 2013.
The Patriots, who won the Nine-Player football title in the fall, are led by two-sport standouts. But so is Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton in the Class 1A title game.
Apple Valley upset the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds while the Hawks beat the No. 1 seed to create a Class 4A championship matchup of underdogs.
The system has leveled the playing field for small schools. There’s just not as much glory. Or mingling.
Chaska and Apple Valley pulled off upsets and will play in the Class 4A championship, and DeLaSalle and Totino-Grace punched tickets to the 3A final. Red Lake County, J-W-P, Hills-Beaver Creek and Henning secured spots in the 1A semifinals.
Two upsets led to the seventh-seeded Apple Valley and fifth-seeded Chaska boys basketball teams earning spots in the Class 4A state championship game.
Chaska, making just its second trip to state since its 2004 state title, handed Tartan its first loss of the year with a 60-51 semifinal win in the Class 4A boys basketball tournament.
