SBLive's Minnesota boys basketball Power 25: Maple Grove makes leap after win over Park Center (March 6)

National high school top stars, best girls basketball performances of the week (Feb. 27-March 5)

Minnesota high school basketball scores

1. Park Center (23-2)

Last week’s ranking: 1

This week’s games: March 9 vs. Spring Lake Park (9-17)

Ranking rationale: The Pirates are still No. 1, but they aren’t the infallible team they were for the first three months of the season. Park Center suffered a three-point road loss for the second consecutive week, this time 67-64 March 3 to conference and section foe Maple Grove (20-6), which rises six spots to No. 14 this week. 

Maple Grove has a stingy defense that held Park Center well below its Class 4A-best offense averaging 89.1 points per game. Park Center was down 37-36 at halftime in the closely contested matchup. JJ Ware led with 18 points. 

The Pirates went 1-1 on the week with a solid 79-65 win vs. another conference and section rival, Osseo (14-12). Casmir Chavis led the team with 18 points in a game Park Center led 40-26 at the break. 

It will be interesting to see if Park Center and Maple Grove will meet for the second time in the Section 5 championship next week, which would be on neutral floor. The loss in the first meeting did not spoil Park Center’s Northwest Suburban Conference title bid as it finished 17-2, ahead of Andover and Totino-Grace at 16-3.

2. Lakeville North (23-3)

Last week’s ranking: 2

This week’s games: March 7 vs. Rochester John Marshall (12-14), March 11 (with win) vs. Rochester Century (16-10) or Owatonna (19-7)

Ranking rationale: Lakeville North’s resume is still superior over the teams in a logjam from about No. 4 down into the teens, but the Panthers took a stumble like Park Center did this week. North fell 93-90 to a red-hot Shakopee (16-10) team that climbed seven spots to No. 11 this week and that also downed No. 6 Eastview (19-7). A 93-90 road loss snapped a 15-game win streak. North led 39-38 at halftime. It received big nights from Hudson Vaith (28 points), Jack Robison (27) and Nolan Winter (23), but Shakopee had the firepower to pull off the upset. The Panthers bounced back in the regular season finale with an 82-49 win at Prior Lake (12-14), a team that’s spent time in the top 25 this season. North secured the No. 1 seed in Class 4A, Section 1 and is 5-0 within the section. Wayzata is surging, but North gets the No. 2 spot in my power rankings due to a head-to-head win.

3. Wayzata (21-4)

Last week’s ranking: 3

This week’s games: March 7 vs. St. Louis Park (2-24), March 11 (with win) vs. Minneapolis Southwest (19-7) or Robbinsdale Armstrong (9-17)

Ranking rationale: It’ll be hard for Wayzata to climb higher than No. 3 until state tournament time due to no head-to-head matchup with Park Center and a loss to Lakeville North, but the Trojans have separated themselves from the pack and a worthy Class 4A state title contender given the recent missteps by the aforementioned teams last week. 

Wayzata won a hard-fought 64-61 game Feb. 28 at home vs. No. 9 DeLaSalle (20-5), which entered on a 14-game win streak. Hayden Tibbits shined with a team-high 22 points for Wayzata and was instrumental in leading a late-game comeback. The Trojans followed it up by completing the season sweep of No. 10 Buffalo (20-6) by a combined 61 points after a 95-62 road win on March 3. 

One of the state’s top juniors, forward Jackson McAndrew, led with 24 points to go with senior forward Spencer Hall’s 23. Wayzata separated from a 43-35 halftime lead. The Trojans earned the top seed in Section 6.

4. Minnetonka (20-6)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Chaska (9-17), March 11 (with win) vs. Eden Prairie (11-13) or Prior Lake (12-14)

Ranking rationale: No. 4 in the power rankings was on the line when previous No. 5 Minnetonka took on previous No. 4 Totino-Grace (18-8) on March 1. The Skippers came away with the 89-80 road win. 

Minnetonka led 41-39 at halftime. Jordan Cain led with 24 points to go with 23 for Andy Stefonowicz. The Skippers closed the regular season with an 89-65 win at conference and section rival Eden Prairie. 

It was a two-point game at halftime before 'Tonka dropped 52 in the second half. Ibrahim El-Amin paced with 26 points. The blue and white earned the top seed in Section 2, but they can’t sleepwalk through a deep bracket. 

Case in point, the No. 8 seed and Minnetonka’s first round opponent, Chaska, beat Minnetonka 81-78 Dec. 13 in Chaska. Methinks Minnetonka will be fired up for the rematch at home.

5. Totino-Grace (18-8)

Last week’s ranking: 4

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Hill-Murray (2-24), March 11 (with win) vs. St. Anthony Village (16-10) or Columbia Heights (12-13)

Ranking rationale: If the Eagles wanted to keep their No. 4 ranking, they had to beat previous No. 5 Minnetonka (20-6). Class 3A Totino-Grace couldn’t knock off one of 4A’s finest, but it gave the Skippers a good shot in an 89-80 loss in Fridley. The Eagles trailed just 41-39 at halftime. 

Patrick Bath went off for a game-high 31 points. With the spirited loss, an 83-52 win Feb. 28 at Centennial (5-21) and an 87-78 win March 3 at previous No. 12 Andover (19-7), Totino-Grace doesn’t fall far in the rankings and is still the team to beat in 3A in my eyes. Bath’s 12 points led four Eagles in double figures vs. Centennial. 

Totino-Grace pulled away late vs. Andover in a game it led 47-45 at the half.

6. Eastview (19-7)

Last week’s ranking: 6

This week’s games: March 7 vs. Hastings (7-19), March 10 (with win) vs. Rosemount (10-16) or Park of Cottage Grove (9-16)

Ranking rationale: Eastview caught Shakopee (16-10) at the wrong time. The Sabers, which rose seven spots up to No. 11 this week, were fresh off an upset win over No. 2 Lakeville North (23-3) and kept it going with a 75-67 home win vs. the Lightning. Eastview was unable to maintain a 34-29 halftime lead. A 22-point effort by Myles Adams was spoiled. 

The Lightning went 1-1 on the week with a 100-88 win at Prior Lake (12-14) that was the fifth win in a row at the time. Eastview led 49-34 against a team that’s been in the top 25 this season. Jonathan Mekkonen scored a game-high 32 points. Eastview drew the top seed in Class 4A, Section 3. 

It’s one of the weaker sections and the Lightning swept the No. 2 seed, though they do have two losses to teams further down. In the top 25, Eastview gets the nod over a red-hot East Ridge team below them due to a head-to-head win.

7. East Ridge (20-6)

Last week’s ranking: 7

This week’s games: March 8 vs. North St. Paul (7-18), March 11 (with win) vs. Cretin-Derham Hall (13-13) or Tartan (17-9)

Ranking rationale: East Ridge does not have a top-10 win this season, so it’ll be hard to climb much higher than No. 7, but the Raptors are taking care of the teams they’re supposed to. East Ridge is up to a five-game win streak after going 3-0 last week. It won 79-54 Feb. 27 vs. Mounds View (16-10), 72-46 Feb. 28 at Woodbury (4-22) and 65-62 March 3 at Roseville (14-12). 

Parker Wellman had one of his best games of the season with 20 points vs. Mounds View. Alex Mattes led with 24 vs. Woodbury and 21 vs. Roseville. East Ridge went 17-1 to win the Suburban East title. 

It also earned the top seed in Class 4A, Section 4, which is far from menacing. East Ridge went 7-1 within the section with the lone loss coming to Stillwater, a team it split with.

8. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (22-4)

Last week’s ranking: 8

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Hutchinson (7-18), March 11 (with win) vs. Richfield (10-16) or Bloomington Kennedy (10-16)

Ranking rationale: Benilde-St. Margaret’s holds firm at No. 8 after vanquishing a couple sub-.500 foes to close the regular season. The Red Knights won 75-66 Feb. 28 at Chaska (9-17) and 69-51 March 3 vs. New Prague (7-19). Jaleel Donley led B-SM with 24 points against a Chaska team that’s tougher than its record may indicate. 

\The Red Knights may not have been too pleased to only be up 32-27 against New Prague, but they closed strong and received balanced scoring with Jayden Daisy’s 13 points leading three others in double figures. B-SM wrapped up the Metro West conference title by a game, going 12-2. 

It’s also the top seed in Class 3A, Section 6, but it will have to get past No. 13 Orono (21-5), the second seed it split with in the regular season. B-SM gets the nod in the rankings over DeLaSalle due to a head-to-head win.

9. DeLaSalle (21-5)

Last week’s ranking: 9

This week’s games: March 8 vs. St. Paul Como Park (6-17), March 11 (with win) vs. St. Paul Highland Park (14-7) or Two Rivers (9-17)

Ranking rationale: The Islanders gave the No. 3 Wayzata Trojans (21-4) their best shot on Feb. 28, losing a late lead in a back and forth game to fall 64-61 on the road. 

Nasir Whitlock did Nasir Whitlock things, scoring a game-high 31 points and putting in 15 of his team’s points in a row in the second half. Wayzata is a team that could go deep in the Class 4A finals, so there’s no shame in dropping a close one as DeLaSalle preps for the 3A postseason. 

The Islanders went 15-0 to win the Tri-Metro Conference and will be the favorites to make it out of Section 6.

10. Buffalo (20-6)

Last week’s ranking: 10

This week’s games: March 7 vs. Rogers (8-18), March 11 (with win) vs. Bemidji (14-12) or Elk River (12-14)

Ranking rationale: It was tempting to move Buffalo down a few pegs this week, but I still think going 13-1 in the non-conference and finishing 7-5 and in third place in a deep Lake Conference is still worthy of a top-10 spot. The only concern is dropping three out of four games to close the regular season. 

The bright side is they all came against top-20 teams. The dark side is they all came by double digits. Wayzata’s depth and size is tough for Buffalo to match, as it learned in a 95-62 home loss to Wayzata in its only game last week. Fortunately, it can look at the game prior, a 73-62 win vs. then No. 11 Hopkins (17-8) to complete the sweep of one of Minnesota’s blue bloods. 

Senior guard Nate Dahl is averaging 25 points per game and has a good shot at lifting Buffalo to its first Class 4A state tournament appearance and first in any class since 2014.

11. Shakopee (16-10)

Last week’s ranking: 18

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Chanhassen (13-13), March 11 (with win) vs. No. 18 Edina (15-11) or Waconia (12-14)

Ranking rationale: It’s been a bit of an up and down season for the Sabers, but the highs are mighty high right now. 

Shakopee is the biggest riser in this week’s top 25 after defending home court against the top two teams in the South Suburban Conference. It began Feb. 28 with a 93-90 upset of No. 2 Lakeville North (23-3). Termaine Fulton scored 24 points and Jalen Langsy added 23 to help Shakopee overcome a one-point halftime deficit. 

The Sabers also salvaged a season split with No. 6 Eastview (19-7) with a 75-67 win on March 3. Langsy had 24 to lead the way as Shako overcame a five-point halftime deficit. With how deep Class 4A, Section 2 is, if the Sabers are still alive by next week, they’ll likely make their way into the top 10.

12. Hopkins (17-8)

Last week’s ranking: 11

This week’s games: March 7 vs. Minneapolis South (6-19), March 11 (with win) vs. Robbinsdale Cooper (18-6) or Minneapolis Washburn (12-14)

Ranking rationale: Hopkins might not be the dominant program of yesteryear, but a young team winning 68 percent of its games against the demanding schedule it faced is nothing to be ashamed of. 

The Royals only drop a spot in the rankings due to the impressive week Shakopee had. They won their regular season finale and only game last week, 83-77 vs. previous No. 16 Edina (15-11) on March 3. 

Jayden Moore and Anthony Smith each scored 23 points. It’s hard to believe both are underclassmen. That youth may be what keeps them from getting past No. 3 Wayzata (21-4) in the Class 4A, Section 6 playoffs, but the talent is there.

13. Andover (19-7)

Last week’s ranking: 12

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Coon Rapids (6-20), March 11 (with win) vs. Blaine (15-11) or Anoka (11-15)

Ranking rationale: Andover went 2-1 last week with the only blemish coming against top-10 competition. It started swell for the Huskies with an 85-59 win Feb. 27 at Centennial (5-21) and 102-82 Feb. 28 vs. Blaine. 

That was the second time they broke the century mark this season. Andover dropped its regular season finale 87-78 March 3 vs. previous No. 4 Totino-Grace (18-8). Ben Kopetzki dropped 20-plus in every game and handed T-G a 30-piece in a game Andover was within two at halftime. 

Him and Sam Musungu, who averaged 17.3 points per game, make one of the best duos in Minnesota. The Huskies are the only Power 25 team in Class 4A, Section 7, so a second straight trip to state could be in the cards.

14. Maple Grove (20-6)

Last week’s ranking: 20

This week’s games: March 9 vs. Champlin Park (10-15)

Ranking rationale: This week proved no teams are truly safe in Minnesota. Not only did No. 2 Lakeville North (23-3) fall to then No. 18 Shakopee (16-10), but Maple Grove handed No. 1 Park Center (23-2) a 67-64 win March 3 in Maple Grove. 

The Crimson defense is as good as it gets as that was a season-low for the potent Pirates. They managed just 28 points in the second half. Lincoln Palbicki led four Maple Grove scorers in double digits with 14 points. Maple Grove also won 80-56 last week at Rogers (8-18). 

It’s on a six-game win streak heading into the Class 4A, Section 5 playoffs where a rematch against Northwest Suburban Conference rival Park Center could occur in the championship.

15. Orono (21-5)

Last week’s ranking: 13

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Holy Angels (7-18), March 11 (with win) vs. Delano (19-7) or Mound Westonka (6-20)

Ranking rationale: Orono is on an 11-game win streak with 10 wins coming by double digits. The Spartans only drop two spots this week due to upsets over Nos. 1 and 2 to vault a couple teams ahead of them. Last week saw Orono win 91-77 Feb. 28 vs. St. Louis Park (2-24) and 80-55 vs. Chaska (9-17). Isaiah Hagen led with 32 points against St. Louis Park and 30 against Chaska. 

Orono will need similar performances to get through the upcoming Class 3A, Section 6 playoffs headed by No. 8 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (22-4) and with a No. 3 seed Delano squad on the cusp of a 20-win season. Orono could get close to the top 10 if it makes its first state tournament since 2015.

16. Mahtomedi (23-3)

Last week’s ranking: 14

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Fridley (7-17), March 11 (with win) vs. St. Paul Johnson (16-8) or Minneapolis Henry (8-16)

Ranking rationale: Mahtomedi falls a couple spots this week by no fault of its own, but by outstanding performances from neighboring teams in the rankings. The Zephyrs are peaking at the right time with an eight-game win streak leading into the Class 3A, Section 4 playoffs. 

Last week, Mahtomedi won 64-51 Feb. 28 at Tartan (17-9) and 88-81 March 3 at South St. Paul (19-7). Those are two teams that have been just outside the top 25 all season. Owen Carlson led with 23 points against Tartan and 34 against South St. Paul.

17. Holy Family (24-2)

Last week’s ranking: 15

This week’s games: March 9 vs. Ubah Medical Academy (11-6), March 11 (with win) vs. Blake (15-10) or Rockford (16-10)

Ranking rationale: It’s hard for Holy Family with its conference schedule to make big gains in the rankings, and it’s susceptible to being jumped like when Shakopee (16-10 jumped seven spots to No. 11 after beating two top-six teams and Maple Grove jumped six spots after downing No. 1 Park Center (23-2). 

Meanwhile. Holy Family is on a 13-game win streak entering the Class 2A, Section 5 playoffs and is 11-0 this season within its class. Last week, the Fire won 85-54 Feb. 28 vs. Mound Westonka (6-20) and 94-55 March 3 vs. Southwest Christian (8-18). 

Boden Kapke led with 23 points against Mound Westonka and had 20 against Southwest Christian. Butler University will be getting a good one.

18. Edina (15-11)

Last week’s ranking: 16

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Waconia (12-14), March 11 (with win) vs. No. 11 Shakopee (16-10) or Chanhassen (13-13)

Ranking rationale: The Hornets split a pair of tough games last week to close the regular season. 

Edina started with a 67-46 win Feb. 28 vs. then No. 25 Duluth East (19-7) before dropping 83-77 March 3 at then No. 11 Hopkins (17-8). Nine of the Hornet’s 11 losses this season are to current top 25 teams with the other two coming by a combined six points in December. 

Nick Presthus led with 23 points against East and Josiah Coleman led with 16 against Hopkins. Edina’s in a deep Class 4A, Section 2, but without any of the top three teams present, it’s possible the Hornets make their first run to state since 2013.

19. Brainerd (21-5)

Last week’s ranking: 17

This week’s games: March 7 vs. St. Michael-Albertville (8-18), March 11 (with win) vs. Moorhead (18-8) or Sartell-St. Stephen (7-19)

Ranking rationale: Even with a loss to end the regular season, Brainerd claimed the Central Lakes Conference title. 

It spoiled the Warriors’ perfect run through the CLC, but a 68-54 loss March 3 at current No. 22 Alexandria (21-4) still resulted in a series split with Alexandria with two conference losses. John Pecarich scored 26 points and has been strong all season. 

Brainerd went 1-1 on the week with an impressive 92-64 win Feb. 28 vs. St. Cloud Tech (15-10), the third place team in the CLC that was the only other team to knock off Alexandria. Pecarich led with 28 on six made threes and Nick Evanson scored 24. Brainerd led 56-29 at halftime.

20. Farmington (16-10)

Last week’s ranking: 22

This week’s games: March 7 vs. Northfield (15-11), March 11 (with win) vs. No. 21 Lakeville South (15-11) or Rochester Mayo (19-7)

Ranking rationale: After losing five of six games to close January and begin February, Farmington has its groove back with five straight wins to close the regular season. Last week, the Tigers grinded out a 48-39 win Feb. 28 at previous No. 19 Lakeville South (15-11) and 59-46 March 3 vs. previous No. 21 Eagan (14-12). Three of the last four opponents have failed to crack 60 points. 

South had just 15 points at halftime. Baiden Bean led Farmington with 11 points in that one and poured in 26 against Eagan. 

The Tigers earned the No. 2 seed in Class 4A, Section 1, and will look to keep gaining steam with a potential matchup with Lakeville North (23-3) in the championship. A top-15, if not better, spot could be on the horizon with a ticket to state punched.

21. Lakeville South (15-11)

Last week’s ranking: 19

This week’s games: March 7 vs. Rochester Mayo (19-7), March 11 (with win) vs. No. 20 Farmington (16-10) or Northfield (15-11)

Ranking rationale: Lakeville South is on a bit of a downward trend with four losses in its last six games, but it salvaged a top-half finish in the South Suburban Conference with a 59-40 home victory March 3 vs. Burnsville (9-16). DaMarcus Banks and Joe Hager led with 13 points to go with 11 from Reece Gerl. 

That kind of balanced scoring paired with a defense that’s second best in Class 4A, Section 1 in points allowed per game (56.0) could make South a tough out in the postseason. 

The defense also did its work against a tougher schedule than Owatonna, which led at .1 point lower. The Cougars drop a couple spots for a 48-39 loss Feb. 28 vs. current No. 20 Farmington (16-10). It was the seventh time being held under 50 points.

22. Alexandria (21-4)

Last week’s ranking: 23

This week’s games: March 7 vs. St. Cloud Apollo (1-23), March 10 (with win) vs. Rocori (17-9) or Little Falls (14-12)

Ranking rationale: It wasn’t good enough to push them into a conference title, but the Cardinals picked up one of their best wins of the season by spoiling Brainerd’s perfect record in the Central Lakes Conference. 

Alexandria won 68-54 March 3 on senior night against the previous No. 17 team and a team that could make a run to the 4A state tournament. The 3A Cards led 33-25 at halftime. Brainerd star John Pecarich got his points with 28, but it took him 26 shots. 

That made nine wins in a row, which includes a 62-45 win Feb. 28 at Moorhead (18-8), a team that’s been in consideration for the top 25 and is another that could be a 4A threat. Alexandria’s held its last eight opponents to 60 or fewer.

23. St. Thomas Academy (21-5)

Last week’s ranking: 24

This week’s games: March 8 vs. St. Paul Harding (12-10), March 11 vs. South St. Paul (19-7) or Simley (7-18)

Ranking rationale: St. Thomas Academy claimed a share of the Metro East Conference title at 15-1 with No. 16 Mahtomedi (23-3), a team it split with, with an 82-60 win March 3 vs. Hastings (7-19). 

Chamberlain Jack had a big night with 31 points to lead the Cadets. They also handled Hill-Murray (2-24) 78-47 Feb. 28 on the road. The Pioneers had just 11 points at halftime. St. Thomas had 11 players on the score sheet led by 19 from Luke Dobbs. STA has won 16 in a row over the span of nearly two months, but only one win (Mahtomedi) was over a ranked foe. 

The Cadets have a big opportunity to prove themselves if they can knock off No. 9 DeLaSalle (21-5) in the Class 3A, Section 3 championship.

24. White Bear Lake (18-7)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week’s games: March 8 vs. Woodbury (4-22), March 11 (with win) vs. No. 25 Stillwater Area (17-9) or St. Paul Central (15-8)

Ranking rationale: WIth a seven-game win streak, there’s room again for White Bear Lake once again in the top 25. There weren’t any ranked foes on the schedule in that time, but the Bears are doing what they’re supposed to against the teams they should beat. Last week, White Bear Lake gutted out a 75-73 win Feb. 28 vs. Mounds View (16-10) and a 66-65 win March 3 at Park of Cottage Grove (9-16). 

It’s their fourth straight one-possession win. That could be concerning, but also might help the Bears stay cool in crunch time in the postseason, which begins this week. Jack Janicki led with 26 points vs. Mounds View. He had 23 vs. Park, a game WBL fought back from down 38-29 at halftime.

25. Stillwater (17-9)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week’s games: March 8 vs. St. Paul Central (15-8), March 11 (with win) vs. No. 24 White Bear Lake (18-7) or Woodbury (4-22)

Ranking rationale: There isn’t much separating Suburban East and Class 4A, Section 4 rivals No. 24 White Bear Lake and Stillwater, who finished with similar records and split their season series by nearly identical margins. WBL did finish in second in the conference ahead of Stillwater by two games and is the hotter team, so the Bears get the nod. 

The two teams could meet in a rubber match to determine ranking superiority in the section semifinals. Stillwater has been ranked for a good chunk of the season and enters the postseason on a three-game win streak. Every win came last week, starting with 70-55 Feb. 28 vs. Irondale (11-15), 84-73 March 1 at Park of Cottage Grove (9-16) and 67-64 March 3 at Cretin-Derham Hall (13-13). 

Minnesota Mr. Basketball candidate Max Shikenjanski dropped 32, 33 and 26 points in those games to continue his prolific scoring rate.