Four teams are back from last year's Class 3A field at the State Boys Basketball Tournament .  The Austin Packers are the #2 seed again with the top seed going to the six time defending State Champion Minneapolis DeLaSalle Islanders.  The Packers have lost in the finals three times during the current Islander six year dynasty.

Last year the title game ended 72-44 with Austin.  In 2016 DeLaSalle beat Fergus Falls 79-65 for the 3A crown.  In 2015 the Islanders downed St. Paul Johnson 82-64.  In 2014 DeLaSalle ran away from Austin 60-40 and in 2013 the Packers fell to the Islanders 50-33.  In 2012 DeLaSalle edged Minneapolis Washburn 57-56.

The last team to win the Class 3A title other than DeLaSalle was Orono in 2011 when they defeated Columbia Heights 85-76.

#1 ranked DeLaSalle (24-4) opens Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in Williams Arena with the unrated Hermantown Hawks (14-15).

The Islanders four losses came against Iowa City West 65-62, Hopkins 84-79, Eden Prairie 76-70 and Cretin-Derham Hall 77-76.

The Hawks were the #6 seed in Section 7AAA and defeated #4 seed Cloquet at Cloquet in the title game 68-58.  Section 7AAA was like this year's NCAA Division One Tournament with #6 and #7 seeds winning first round games.

At Noon #4 seed and #7 ranked Columbia Heights (20-6) goes up against #5 seed and #8 rated St. Thomas Academy (20-9).  Both schools were in last year's state tournament.

The Columbia Heights Hylanders participated in the Rochester Rotary Tournament and defeated Rochester Mayo 71-38 and Lake City 94-92 in overtime.  They have lost twice this season to DeLaSalle.  Once by 36 points and the other game by 15 points.

The St. Thomas Academy Cadets had a very tough schedule.  Losing to defending State Champion Apple Valley by one point.  Other losses were against Hopkins, Wayzata, Cretin-Derham Hall and Osseo.

At 2:00 p.m. #2 seed and #2 ranked Austin (26-2) opens with #14 rated Sauk Rapids-Rice (21-8).  The Packers only losses were to Big Nine opponents Owatonna (72-61) and Rochester John Marshall (73-63).

At 4:00 p.m. #3 seed and #3 ranked Mankato East (24-5) opens with #19 rated Delano (18-11).  The Cougars of Mankato East are also out of the Big Nine and all their losses are against three conference opponents.  Twice to Austin, twice to John Marshall and they split with Owatonna.

The Delano Tigers have wins over #5 rated Waseca and #13 ranked Fergus Falls during the regular season and beat #9 ranked Willmar in the Section 5AAA title game.

Goodhue dancers
Goodhue's dance Team at Williams Arena in 2016. photo by Roy Koenig/TSM
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