Four Minnesota Boys Basketball State Champions will be Determined Saturday

The championship games have been set for the final day of boys high school basketball in Minnesota.

KDHL Radio will have all four during our 69th year of baseline-to-baseline coverage of the tournament.

It's always fun to cover the tournament and see some of the best players in the state. but it's always more fun when area teams are participating.

In Class A the Hiawatha Valley League Blue Division Champion Goodhue Wildcats could be considered the Cinderella of the tournament, even though they received the No. 3 seed.

The Wildcats were unranked in the Minnesota Basketball News Coaches Poll and will play the toprated Minneapolis North Polars for the state title.

Goodhue used patience, muscle and very good defense to defeat No. 2 seed and No. 4 rated Central MInnesota Christian in Friday's semifinal 41-38. Minneapolis North meanwhile scored 45 points off 28 Red Lake turnovers in a 82-51 win over Red Lake.

To say tempo will be a key in the Class A title tilt Saturday is stating the obvious.

Numerous dunks were made by the Polars in their win, and their ability to get turnovers without fouling is a marvel to watch. They did not press the entire game, but when they did it seemed the Polars could get a turnover whenever they wanted to.

Goodhue is typically very strong with the ball and does not over dribble -- two good traits to have when you're facing a team that can get you very uncomfortable. But if the Wildcats can make the game a half-court affair, they do have a shot to pull off the upset.

Minneapolis North loves to trap players just as they cross the timeline so they can use it as another defender. When that happens, Goodhue needs to send someone to the basket and get them the ball for easy shots.

My second Tom Heffernan Ford of Lake City key is boxing out.

The Polars have quick leapers, and getting a body on those guys when they crash the glass is essential for Goodhue to have a shot of winning. In their game with Red Lake, Minneapolis North had 44 rebounds and 19 on the offensive glass.

My third Tom Heffernan Ford of Lake City key will be good shot selection.

Goodhue has played disciplined basketball all season, but I don't think they have seen the kind of pressure Minneapolis North can bring to a game. The Wildcats must be strong with the ball and not take wild shots ,ich is easier said than done because the Polars' defense tends to make teams rush their shots because of their shot blocking ability.

The Class 2A Championship has the unranked Jackson County Central Huskies facing the Braham Bombers, rated sixth in the final Minnesota Basketball News Coaches Poll.

The Huskies ended the Annandale Cardinals' dream of getting to the championship 64-46 while the Bombers defeated top-seeded and top-rated St. Croix Lutheran 86-77. All five starters for Jackson County Central logged 32 minutes or more in their win and we will see if that affects them against Braham.

Braham scored 16 more points at the free throw line in their win over the top-rated Crusaders and were 21 of 24. The Bombers go about seven deep.

With television time outs I don't think the minutes logged is really an issue.

The Class 3A title tilt features the four-time defending state champion Minneapolis DeLasalle Islanders going up against the No. 12 rated Fergus Falls Otters.

Islanders head coach Dave Thorson is going for his 500th career victory and his team has a chance to do something no team has ever done in Minnesota high school basketball, and that's win five consecutive state titles.

In their 59-45 win over Monticello in the semis, Minneapolis DeLasalle was out-rebounded but had 11 points off 20 Magic turnovers.

Fergus Falls hit their free throws down the stretch against No. 2-ranked Red Wing and the Wingers did not. That was the main difference.

When you look at the stat sheet you wonder how Red Wing lost. The Otters had more points off turnovers (9-7) but were outscored in the paint by 14 points .

Red Wing had more second chance points (17-7). The bench points were even at 8.

The 4A final features the No. 3-rated Hopkins Royals, with their lone loss to Wayzata this season, and the No. 8-ranked Lakeville North Panthers.

Panthers head coach John Oxton has done a tremendous job getting his team to this title game. They had to defeat the No. 1 seed Osseo Orioles and did in the semis 60-56.

Oxton's teams always play very good defense and he mixes them up so well. It is a joy to watch.

Lakeville North had 16 more points in the paint than the previously unbeaten Orioles and 14 more second-chance points.

Hopkins just took defending state champion Apple Valley completely out of the game by getting 19 points off turnovers. The Royals were deeper, too, outscoring the Eagles 15-8 off the bench.

Coverage starts at 11AM and everything will probably wrap up around 10:30 Saturday night. There will be at least three new state champions when the day is over.

You can listen on KDHL Radio, 920 AM, www.kdhlradio.com or download the free Radio Pup app on your favorite mobile device.

Roy Koenig and I will be at Target Center to bring you all the action.