Four Big Nine Teams Still Atop Minnesota Boys Basketball

The first Minnesota Basketball News (MBN) boys basketball rankings of 2018 did not see a bunch of movement despite some top teams going down to defeat last week.

The Big Nine has four teams ranked and three in the top ten of their class.

Austin is now #2, Mankato East #7 and Northfield #11 in Class 3A and Rochester John Marshall #9 in Class 4A.

In Class 2A St. Charles knocked off Caledonia Thursday 79-75 but the rankings, which came out Friday evidently did not take that into account because their record listed for Caledonia did not include a loss.

In Class 3A Mankato East used a tremendous team effort to defeat Matthew Hurt and the Rochester John Marshall Rockets 75-63 Thursday and the MBN didn't list the loss on John Marshall's record either.

Hurt finished with 30 points and 12 rebounds but Mankato East had five players in double figures and used their athleticism to attack the rack and get to the free throw line.

The Cougars were 25 of 34 from the charity stripe and had five players in double figures.

Mankato East also had a rebounding advantage of 40-24.

Mankato East is ranked #7 in Class 3A and followed up the win over John Marshall with a 65-55 victory over #6 Orono Saturday.

In another game involving state ranked teams Austin traveled to Northfield and won 76-57.

There are three Hiawatha Valley League teams in the MBN state rankings in Class 2A #7 Lake City, #17 Rochester Lourdes (fell to Pine Island 52-51 Friday) and #20 Byron.

There are three South Suburban teams in the top 20 in Class 4A.

#3 Lakeville North, #5 Apple Valley and #19 Farmington.

Below are the rankings according to the Minnesota Basketball News.

Class 4A