It's a tradition we are very proud of at KDHL Radio. Ever since the Mighty 920 hit the airwaves in 1948, every Minnesota boys state high school basketball tournament has been broadcast.

It was obviously much easier to cover all the games when there was one class for many years. Then two classes were added and that wasn't very hard. Since we've been at four classes it has been more difficult.

In fact, this year we have tweaked the coverage so Class A quarterfinal games, which we have not carried over the past several years, will be on the radio because they are not carried on television. That will be on Thursday.

There are Class 4A, 3A and 2A games on the opening day today. In the past we carried six of those games. Six games are at Williams Arena and six games at Target Center. It's pretty much impossible to carry all the games.

We will carry four games on the opening day today so we can accommodate a church service this evening.

I'll be at the Target Center and Roy Koenig will be at Williams Arena.

Roy will start the day with the four-time defending Class 3A champion Minneapolis DeLasalle Islanders (21-4) playing the Fridley Tigers (13-13).

Top-rated and top-seeded DeLesalle has just one returning starter from a year ago and is trying to accomplish what no team in the history of Minnesota has been able to: win five straight state titles.

Islander head coach Dave Thorson is three wins shy of 500 for his career at DeLasalle. This is his 14th trip to state in 22 years with the Islanders.

At noon I will have the Lakeville North (24-5) versus Maple Grove (25-4) Class 4A game.

The Panthers are the No. 5 seed and Maple Grove is the No. 4 seed, so this is one of those flip of the coin type games.

Last week in Rochester, Lakeville North 6-foot-10 junior Nathan Reuvers was impressive and reports are the Wisconsin Badgers offered him a full scholarship to their school. Reuvers averages just under 20 points per game and over eight rebounds. He has 50 threes on the season and in 113 free throw attempts is shooting just over 80 percent.

At 2PM, Roy will have the Big Nine Conference co-champion Red Wing Wingers (27-2) facing the Simley Spartans (15-14) in a Class 3A quarterfinal game.

The Wingers' 27 wins is the most in school history. They were ranked No. 2 in the coaches poll and are seeded No. 2 in the tournament.

The Spartans' Jack Stensgard was the leading scorer in the state this season, averaging 27.7 points per game.

Red Wing has amassed their record in large part due to defense, so this should be an interesting match-up.

I will finish our opening day coverage with the 8PM game featuring the Gopher Conference co-champion Maple River Eagles (27-3) and the Braham Bombers (28-2)

This is a No. 4 versus No. 5 seed, with the Bombers securing the higher seed. Maple River was in the tournament a season ago.

We are looking forward to bringing you games from the tournament all the way to championship Saturday, when we will have all the state title games.

Along the way we hope to have some gem guests during our Tatge Jewelry Halftime Report.

Who knows, maybe we will visit with one of the Timberwolves at Target Center or their public address announcer.

 

Roy Koenig Minnesota State Tournament Williams Arena Play by Play Man
Roy Koenig Minnesota State Tournament Williams Arena Play by Play Man
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