SBLive's Minnesota boys basketball Power 25 for Week 4: Park Center takes the top spot

Photos: Benilde-St. Margaret's boys basketball slides past Andover

Park Center boys basketball overcomes early deficit to defeat Lakeville North

1. Park Center (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 2

This week’s games: Dec. 21 vs. No. 11 Holy Family (3-0)

Ranking rationale: In one of, if not the, most anticipated game in the state this season, Park Center erased an early double-digit deficit to down previous No. 1 Lakeville North (3-1) 78-71 on neutral floor. A big, veteran team like Lakeville North threw the first punch, but Park Center battled back to grab a narrow lead at halftime. The Pirates had the Panthers frustrated by forcing turnovers and making plays on offense, but Lakeville North still held a one-point lead with under three minutes remaining. 

Composure down the stretch for the defending state champions helped preserve the win. It was the only time Park Center has been tested this season. Last week before meeting Lakeville North, it won home games against Anoka (1-2) 108-44 and Coon Rapids (2-3) 105-66. 

There are NBA teams who can’t match that type of offensive output.

2. Lakeville North (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 1

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at No. 14 Farmington (3-1), Dec. 22 vs. Rosemount (1-2)

Ranking rationale: There was no shame in the Panthers’ first loss. In fact, playing a neck and neck game with defending state champion and No. 1 Park Center (5-0) further proved they’re among Minnesota’s best. Lakeville North came out guns a blazing in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup at The Big Stage exhibition event in Osseo. North got out to a double-digit lead early on before Park Center asserted its will to take the halftime lead. 

The Pirates led for much of the second half, but the Panthers hung tough and even grabbed a one point lead with a few minutes to go. Senior post Nolan Winter showed why he’s a Mr. Basketball candidate by putting up 27 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Jack Robison, another Wisconsin commit like Winter, added 18 points and was big in the second half. 

Earlier in the week, Lakeville North picked up a 67-58 road win at previous No. 9 Wayzata (1-3). Hudson Vaith led with 23 points as his squad erased a seven-point halftime deficit.

3. Shakopee (3-0)

Last week’s ranking: 4

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at Eagan (3-1), Dec. 22 at Apple Valley (0-5)

Ranking rationale: There’s a lot of evenly distributed talent in Class 4A. The top teams are already cannibalizing one another. Shakopee is one of just nine unbeaten squads left and has been one of the “best of the rest” after the upper echelon of Park Center and Lakeville North. Even then, the Sabers’ path hasn’t been completely smooth. 

Their lone game last week saw them grit out an 82-79 overtime win at Chanhassen (2-3). Junior point guard Jalen Langsy led four players in double figures with 24 points. Shakopee also has a win over Chaska (2-3), a perennially tough program featured in Minnesota Basketball News’ latest Class 4A ranking.

4. Eastview (2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. Burnsville (2-1), Dec. 22 vs. No. 14 Farmington (3-1)

Ranking rationale: Eastview only played once last week, but it made the most of it. The Lightning smoked previous No. 12 Osseo (0-3) 73-56 on the road. It was a 14-point game at halftime. Five Eastview players hit double figures led by 18 points for senior point guard Dylan Omweno. 

The Lightning let future Minnesota-Duluth Bulldog Trey Smith get his with 26 points, but the defense locked down the rest of the Orioles. An upcoming matchup with Farmington could have South Suburban Conference title ramifications.

5. DeLaSalle (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. No. 12 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (3-0), Dec. 22 vs. Minneapolis North (1-1)

Ranking rationale: DeLaSalle is on a four-game winning streak by an average margin of victory of 14.75. Last week, the Islanders throttled Richfield (2-2) 95-70 at home, went on the road to beat previous No. 21 Robbinsdale Cooper (3-1) 73-66 and throttled Stillwater (4-2) 73-48 on neutral floor. Richfield’s only other loss was to Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Lehigh commit senior guard Nasir Whitlock continues to put up gaudy numbers. He’s averaging 29 points per game and poured in 33 against Richfield. A potential Class 3A state tournament matchup is next on the docket for DeLaSalle.

6. Totino-Grace (2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 7

This week’s games: None

Ranking rationale: If you’re going to go two weeks without a game, you might as well go into the break feeling good about yourself. Class 3A Totino-Grace picked up a couple big wins against 4A competition last week, 81-48 at Blaine (2-3) and 88-55 vs. Anoka (1-2). The Eagles are gaining confidence heading into a pair of games in South Dakota against Dream City Christian out of Arizona and Houston from Tennessee. Tyler Wagner had 23 points to lead Totino-Grace against Blaine.

7. Eden Prairie (2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 3

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. Waconia (1-3), Dec. 22 at No. 8 East Ridge (3-1)

Ranking rationale: Playing for the first time in over a week, Eden Prairie looked sloppy in an 85-60 loss at current No. 14 Farmington (3-1). The Tigers played well that night and look formidable with their only loss coming close to current No. 13 Hopkins (5-1), but this was still a game the Eagles would want back. 

They were tied midway through the first half before collapsing on defense and not hitting from the perimeter. Eden Prairie still has a top-10 win vs. current No. 4 Eastview (2-1), as well as a win over a good Class 3A team in St. Cloud Tech (1-3). 

Perhaps being without its head coach, Dave Flom, was a distraction, as he was suspended for the second straight game vs. Farmington for using what’s been reported as racist language during a team meeting. The Eagles will be happy to return home for another non-conference matchup coming Tuesday.

8. East Ridge (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 10

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at Edina (1-3), Dec. 22 vs. No. 7 Eden Prairie (2-1)

Ranking rationale: A 2-0 week in conference play at home moves the Raptors up two spots in the rankings. East Ridge first beat section and conference foe Cretin-Derham Hall (3-2) 76-62. 

Junior guard Alex Mattes and junior post Brayden Carlson each led with 16 points. East Ridge averted disaster in a 75-66 win over Irondale (1-3). The Raptors fought back after squandering a 13-point lead to dominate after regulation. Mattes and Cedric Tomes each scored 20. A couple upcoming games in a row against Lake Conference foes will be a good measuring stick.

9. Orono (3-0)

Last week’s ranking: 11

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at Delano (5-1)

Ranking rationale: That 95-84 season opening win against current No. 13 Hopkins (5-1) keeps looking better and better. Minnehaha Academy (5-2) is a bit down this season, but hanging 100-plus in a win against the Redhawks was still no easy task. 

Winning 84-44 last week at Two Rivers (1-4) in the Spartans’ lone game last week was easy, however. Thirteen different players scored with senior guard Isaiah Hagen’s 17 points leading the way. 

Orono has a couple intriguing tests against non-Minnesota squads next week in a trip to South Dakota, but the Spartans can’t overlook Section 6 and former Wright County Conference rival Delano (5-1) this week. The Tigers are on a five-game winning streak and lost their only game by a point.

10. Mahtomedi (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 15

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at Stillwater (4-2), Dec. 21 vs. North St. Paul (1-4)

Ranking rationale: The Zephyrs move up in the rankings due to attrition among teams ahead of them. They did not play last week as their lone scheduled game December 15 vs. North St. Paul was postponed to this week due to inclement weather. Mahtomedi looked solid against usually strong Class 3A squads Columbia Heights (1-4) and Stewartville (2-2), both of which have been ranked in the top 20 in the class by Minnesota Basketball News. Mahtomedi can prove its worthy of a spot in the top 10 by beating a team in heavy consideration for a Power 25 spot in Stillwater.

11. Holy Family (3-0)

Last week’s ranking: 16

This week’s games: Dec. 21 at No. 1 Park Center (5-0)

Ranking rationale: Holy Family is one of the top scoring teams in Class 2A at 82.7 points per game. To boot, the Fire are doing it against as strong or stronger competition than teams ahead of it. The Victoria-based squad pummeled Glencoe-Silver Lake (3-4) in the Wright County Conference opener and stepped back out of conference play to win 93-74 at 4A St. Louis Park (1-4). 

Edina transfer junior guard Kole Hanson led with 29 points against GS-L and has good size running the offense at 6-foot-3. He had 22 against SLP, only behind 23 from 6-foot-10 post Colin Mulholland and 19 from 6-foot-10 post Baden Kapke. 

Those twin towers and Hanson will hope to pull off the big road upset of 4A No. 1 and reigning state champion, Park Center.

12. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (3-0)

Last week’s ranking: 17

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at No. 5 DeLaSalle (4-1), Dec. 22 vs. Holy Angels (1-3)

Ranking rationale: Benilde-St. Margaret’s snagged one of the more impressive wins of the week with a 82-78 neutral court win over previous No. 13 Andover (3-2). The Red Knights flipped a four-point halftime deficit and used a second straight 30-point game by lengthy sophomore guard Jalen Wilson to lead the way. 

That was their only game last week. They’ll be glad to be rested for the next upcoming test as two teams seeking to be in the Class 3A state title chase square off. At 86 points per game, Benilde-St. Margaret's has the explosiveness to keep up with DeLaSalle.

13. Hopkins (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 18

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at Tartan (2-1)

Ranking rationale: Hopkins’ season opening win against current No. 14 Farmington (3-1) continues to appreciate in value. The Tigers just thumped previous No. 3 Eden Prairie (2-1) by 25. The Royals’ only loss is nothing to be ashamed of as Orono (3-0) has climbed into the top 10 this week. 

Last week, Hopkins won 76-63 at St. Louis Park (1-4) and won 66-60 on neutral court against a Maple Grove (4-1) team that makes its debut in the rankings at No. 19. Junior 6-foot-6 forward Vincent Hillesheim led with 22 points against Maple Grove. 

The team is fifth in Class 4A in scoring average (80.5 points per game), and has done so with five of six games played away from home. Eden Prairie and Wayzata have looked vulnerable thus far, so Hopkins could find its way back atop the Lake Conference at this trajectory.

14. Farmington (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 19

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. No. 2 Lakeville North (3-1), Dec. 22 at No. 4 Eastview (2-1)

Ranking rationale: An argument can be made that Farmington belongs higher. That can all work itself out this week by performing well against a pair of top-five opponents. 

The resume up until now is strong as a season-opening loss to current No. 13 Hopkins (5-1) isn’t looking too bad. Former No. 3 Eden Prairie (2-1) is dealing with some turmoil in its program, but that doesn’t take away from how dominant Farmington looked in its 85-60 home win last week against the Eagles. 

An efficient 21-point night from senior guard Baiden Bean helped his team pull away from a close game in the first half to lead by 13 at the break and by nearly 30 30 midway through the second. The Tigers lack an elite prospect like some of the top teams in Class 3A and Class 4A, but their depth will be an asset this season.

15. Wayzata (1-3)

Last week’s ranking: 9

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. No. 22 Robbinsdale Armstrong (3-1), Dec. 22 vs. Champlin Park (2-2)

Ranking rationale: An 0-3 start was not what the doctor ordered for Wayzata, but there’s reason for optimism after going 1-1 last week. It started with a 67-58 home loss to previous No. 1 Lakeville North (3-1). The Trojans looked like the squad that made a run to the Class 4A title game last season, jumping out to a 31-24 halftime lead. 

It didn’t sustain as the Panthers mounted a big comeback. Still, there was confidence to be gained from pushing one of the state’s best. It paid dividends the next time out in a 77-51 home thrashing of Prior Lake (2-2). It was only a three-point halftime advantage before the floodgates opened in what had to be a cathartic performance. Spencer Hall paced four Trojans in double figures with 14 points against the Lakers.

16. Minnetonka (2-3)

Last week’s ranking: 8

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. Columbia Heights (1-4), Dec. 22 vs. Chanhassen (2-3)

Ranking rationale: The Skippers have been the heartbreak kids early on with their two losses coming by a combined five points. First, they pushed current No. 5 DeLaSalle (4-1) to the brink in a 69-67 loss in Hopkins. 

Then, last week, they fell 81-78 at Chaska (2-3). Minnetonka got off the schneid with a 95-68 win over 2022 Class 3A state tournament team St. Cloud Tech (1-3) in Osseo. 

Junior guard Jordan Cain led four Skippers in double figures with 20 points. Minnetonka has a good chance to build its first win streak with a pair of sub-.500 teams coming to town next.

17. Robbinsdale Cooper (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 21

This week’s games: None

Ranking rationale: Going 1-1 the previous week usually isn’t a formula to move up four spots in the rankings. The Hawks are an exception. Their loss was an admirable one, coming 73-66 at home to current No. 5 DeLaSalle (4-1). 

Robbinsdale Cooper led by five at halftime. Senior Michael Cooper led four Hawks in double figures with 21 points. The loss was atoned by a 63-58 neutral site win against a Champlin Park (2-2) team in consideration of a top-25 ranking. 

Cooper has nearly two weeks off in between games. We’ll see if a team that appears much improved from a 15-10 campaign in 2021-22 can keep it rolling after a long layoff.

18. Andover (3-2)

Last week’s ranking: 13

This week’s games: None

Ranking rationale: Dropping four spots after a 2-1 week seems harsh, but the margins are pretty thin for teams ranked in this range. The Huskies’ loss was nothing to be ashamed of, 82-78 on a neutral court against current No. 12 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (3-0). 

The wins were nice, too, coming 93-90 at previous No. 12 Osseo (0-3) and 74-64 at Spring Lake Park (0-4). Guard Ben Kopetzki continues to light it up, averaging 34.2 points per game and is sinking more than five threes a game.

19. Maple Grove (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week’s games: None

Ranking rationale: The Northwest Suburban Conference is stacked this season. A team perhaps expected to finish middle of the pack like Maple Grove has shined in the early going. The Crimson got off to a 4-0 start with nice wins over Rosemount (1-2) at home and against Cretin-Derham Hall (3-2) on neutral floor. 

The lone loss was a tight one, 66-60, to a hot Hopkins (5-1) team that’s climbed to No. 13. Maple Grove halved a 12-point halftime deficit in the neutral floor game and held Hopkins 10 points below its previous season low scoring output. Junior guard Henry Stang had 21 points.

20. Lakeville South (3-2)

Last week’s ranking: 14

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. Apple Valley (0-5), Dec. 22 at Eagan (3-1)

Ranking rationale: The Cougars dip in the rankings due to a 55-47 home loss to Edina (1-3). Lakeville South bounced back to win its first road game, a 66-39 rout at St. Michael-Albertville (2-2). After scoring eight points combined in his three previous games, 6-foot-6 senior forward Reece Gerl led with 16 in this one. 

STMA had just proved it could beat South Suburban Conference competition with a win over Burnsville its previous game. Lakeville South’s season opening win over 2022 Class 4A state runner up and current No. 15 Wayzata (1-3) still carries some weight.

21. Mounds View (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. North St. Paul (1-4), Dec. 22 vs. Fridley (2-1)

Ranking rationale: Albeit against fairly weak competition, the Mustangs have won every game in front of them. They’re looking to build on a 16-12 campaign a season ago. Mounds View had to eek out a two-point victory at Spring Lake Park (0-4), but all other wins have come by nine or more points. The most recent outing was a 60-43 win at Forest Lake (0-4). Junior 6-foot-3 guard Joey Fretheim led with 19 points. It will be interesting to see how well the Mustangs hang with their Suburban East Conference rivals East Ridge, Cretin-Derham Hall, etc.

22. Robbinsdale Armstrong (3-1)

Last weeks ranking: 24

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at No. 15 Wayzata (1-3), Dec. 21 at Minneapolis Washburn (1-5)

Ranking rationale: The Falcons posted a 2-1 record last week, winning 80-61 at Coon Rapids (2-3), 99-73 at previous No. 23 Blaine (2-3) and falling 64-57 to Cretin-Derham Hall (3-2), which began the season in the top 25 and was in consideration this week. 

Seth Newbern leads a balanced scoring attack at 16.8 points per game. He posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Cretin-Derham Hall. A big matchup against section foe Wayzata up next could have playoff seeding implications.

23. Osseo (0-3)

Last week’s ranking: 12

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. Moorhead (4-1)

Ranking rationale: Eventually Osseo’s going to have to win some games if it wants to stay in the ranking. Still, there’s more than meets the eye with its 0-3 record. 

The Orioles’ three losses have all come to top-25 competition, and two of them were by single digits. Last week resulted in a 93-90 home loss to current No. 18 Andover (3-2) and a 73-56 loss vs. current No. 4 Eastview (2-1). 

Moorhead coming up is no slouch as the Spuds are 4-0 against Minnesota teams, but Osseo should still be expected to finally find the win column and start racking up victories when the schedule eases. Senior wing Trey Smith led with 22 points against Andover and was followed with 21 for junior guard De’Mari Larkins.

24. Mankato East (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 25

This week’s games: Dec. 20 at Rochester Mayo (4-0)

Ranking rationale: The Cougars rolled in their lone matchup last week, a 79-51 thumping of Winona (1-1). 

Mankato East doesn’t have a lot of girth inside, but they possess plenty of versatility with guys who can guard all over the floor and shoot from deep. A nice test coming up against unbeaten Class 4A Rochester Mayo will show what Mankato East can do.

25. Alexandria (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. Rocori (3-1), Dec. 22 vs. Hutchinson (0-2)

Ranking rationale: The Cardinals may rue their 82-78 season-opening loss to current No. 12 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (3-1), but they still have a chance later this month to pick up a big non-conference victory when they take on No. 11 Holy Family (3-0) next week. 

Alexandria didn’t let a hard-fought loss get to it. The Cards are on a three-game win streak, including an 81-66 win last week over defending Class 3A, Section 8 champion St. Cloud Tech (1-3). 

Tech is better than its record may indicate, playing a tough early schedule. Sophomore 6-foot-7 post Chase Thompson led with 22 points against Tech and 6-foot-8 junior Grayson Groves had 21 points and 10 rebounds. That sizable frontcourt duo could be a problem for years to come.