MSHSL Boys Basketball Section 1AAA and 1AAAA Seedings

The Faribault Falcons appeared to be a lock for the #2 seed after defeating Stewartville, but Friday's double digit loss to Northfield at home must have sealed their fate.

Faribault is the #3 seed when the MSHSL Section 1AAA Tournament opens Wednesday at the high seeds.  The Falcons will host Kasson-Mantorville and if they win would more than likely head to #2 Stewartville.

According to MN-Scores the Section went with a coaches vote in determining the seeding and not QRF.  Stewartville has a better QRF than Faribault.  Which I frankly don't understand.

I am perplexed with the seed Faribault received because they went 9-2 in the Section and Stewartville was 4-3 in the same Section.  The Falcon also defeated Stewartville in their only meeting.

The Falcons split with Northfield while Stewartville defeated them the only game they played against each other.

Stewartville is in the Hiawatha Valley League, comprised of Class 2A, Class 3A and a Class 1A school.

Faribault is a member of the Big Nine Conference with all Class 3A and Class 4A schools.

The Falcons record is 18-8 with five of the losses to Class 4A schools, three wins against Class 4A schools and 15 wins and 2 losses against Class 3A schools.

Stewartville has a 21-5 overall record.  Faribault defeated Stewartville 81-76.  The Tigers were swept by Byron who Faribault lost to in overtime at the Cave.

Stewartville's losses were by double digits each time against Byron.

The Tigers lost to Class 2A Cannon Falls and fell to Class 3A power Benilde-St. Margaret's.  Faribault played no Class 2A or Class 1A schools.

Stewartville played against one Class 4A school, St. Paul Central and won 54-51.

The Tigers swept Class 1A Goodhue, swept Class 2A Lake city, Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Pine Island, Rochester Lourdes.

Stewartville did defeat Caledonia, a Class 2A powerhouse.

Coaches voted for the seeds and were presented with this information.  Section records again were 9-2 for Faribault and 4-3 for Stewartville and head to head went to Faribault.

I would make the same case if the school involved was not Faribault.  It doesn't make sense to me.

Five schools from the Big Nine are in Section 1AAA and three schools from the H-V-L.

Byron deserved the top seed with a 23-3 overall record.  Losses to Northfield, Benilde-St. Margaret's and Cannon Falls.

The Bears will open in the Cave with Winona (3-23).  Stewartville's first opponent is Red Wing (9-17).

Austin (10-16) travels to Northfield (14-12).

The KoMets (9-17) go to Faribault Wednesday, March 5, 2024 with all tip times 7:00 p.m.

Semifinals are Saturday, March 8 at high seed at 7:00 p.m. with the Championship in Rochester on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

My sleeper in the Section is Northfield.  Right now the hottest team in the section.

MSHSL Section 1 Class 4A Tournament seedings were also determined by a coaches vote.

Top seed went to the best team I've seen in person this season, the Rochester John Marshall Rockets (22-4) .  Losses to Burnsville, Anoka, Mankato East and Rochester Mayo.

The Rockets will open with New Prague (3-23)

#2 seed Lakeville North (16-10) will entertain Rochester Century (7-19)

#3 seed Lakeville South (15-11) tangles with #6 seed Owatonna (13-13).

#5 seed Rochester Mayo (18-8) is at #4 seed Farmington (14-12).

That toss-up game caught my eye due to the disparity in winning percentage.  Farmington split with the two Big Nine teams they played this season, losing to John Marshall and defeating Rochester Century.

Mayo lost to the only South Suburban Conference team they played, Eastview in their season opener in Rochester.  Is that why they are traveling to Farmington Wednesday?