MSHSL State Boys Basketball Preview

KDHL Radio will be providing it's 78th year of baseline-to-baseline coverage of the Minnesota high school boys basketball tournament beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

The Faribault, Minnesota based station used to cover every single game when there were one and even two classes, but when the classes expanded to four in 1997 the decision was made to have 18 games broadcast.

Six quarterfinal round games and the semifinals and championship games in each class.

Two years after Gordy Kosfeld became Sports Director in 2002 the semifinals and title games were carried, but first round games were pared down to four so four games were carried Wednesday through Saturday.

Since the tournament expanded to starting on Tuesday the plan has been to carry area teams early and continue semifinal and title coverage the rest of the way.

KDHL has broadcast the tournament every year since going on the air in 1948 except the COVID year of 2020 when there was no tournament.

The station was poised to cover that year also, but the MSHSL decided to pull the plug during the state girl's tournament and not have the boys in an effort to keep people healthy.

In 2021 MSHSL would not allow KDHL to continue our traditional coverage, limiting the station to cover two area teams if they qualified for the big dance.

KDHL followed Hayfield to their first of back-to-back state titles.

In 2022 MSHSL gave permission to go back to the traditional coverage and officials from MSHSL stated a number of people wondered where the station was the previous year.

So that's why KDHL says this is their 78th year of coverage.  It certainly would have happened if allowed those two seasons.

In 1948 when there was one class, Bemidji defeated Hopkins 38-29 to claim the crown in the first year of coverage.  The Lumberjacks finished their season 28-3.

The tournament actually started in 1913 when Fosston edged Mountain Lake 29-27 at Carleton College in Northfield.

In 1914 Stillwater finished 14-2 after capturing the title game 30-4 over Winona.

1956 Minneapolis Roosevelt finished 20-3 with a 101-54 title game victory over Blue Earth.

A title game that is still talked about happened in 1960 when Edgerton finished their year 27-0 after defeating Austin 72-61 in The Barn.

The final year of one class was 1970 when Sherburn went 26-0 after beating South St. Paul 78-62.

1971 two classes were introduced and through 1975 the two teams that came out of Class A and Class AA played each other for the title.

Gordy Hinck and Mike Morrissey were joined by Gordy Kosfeld with coverage in 1988.  Gordy provided statistics and conducted some halftime interviews with coaches from the area.

Legendary Minneapolis Tribune columnist Sid Hartman called the 1993 Class A title game one of the most boring he had seen.

Maple River got by Faribault Bethlehem Academy 33-29 in a game that featured some incredible defense.  The sneakers were squeaking all over the hardwood.

MSHSL Hall of Fame and Minnesota Basketball Association HOF KDHL sportscaster Mike Morrissey stated over the years the best player he saw at the tournament was Mark Olberding with Melrose.

MSHSL HOF announcer Gordy Hinck enjoyed covering Lake City legend Randy Breuer who went on to play at the University of Minnesota and for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hinck was a Lake City native,

The HOF announcers both passed away when they were 75 years old.

KDHL sportscaster Gordy Kosfeld says there have been numerous outstanding players seen over the seasons, but his favorite was Khalid El Amin with Minneapolis North when he led the Polars to titles in 1995, '96 and '97.

Opening round games in Class 4A, 3A and 2A are scheduled for coverage on KDHL this year.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Gordy will have the Noon Class 4A contest between Section 1 Champion Lakeville South and Section 2 title holder Chaska.

The Cougars are 23-6, the #4 seed, #4 QRF (Quality Results Formula) while the Hawks ranked #5 QRF, 5th seed in the Class 4A Tournament are 25-4 with 22 straight wins and a Metro West Conference title.

Lakeville South finished behind Prior Lake in the South Suburban Conference.

At 6:00 p.m. Class 2A top seed Goodhue tangles with #8 seed Perham.  The Yellowjackets are appearing in their 6th tournament with a title in 2011.

The Wildcats were in Class A last year at state, sport a 29-1 mark with 22 straight wins and are at state for the 7th time.  Their best finish was second in 2016 behind Minneapolis North in Class A.

Roy Koenig joins Gordy for his 15th year of play by play at the tournament on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with games from Williams Arena.

Noon Northfield and Mankato East have an all Big Nine Conference matchup.

The Raiders first appearance since 1932 are 25-3 with the #4 seed and #5 QRF in Class 3A.

The Cougars are coming off back-to-back second place finishes at state, so they do have state experience at their disposal.  They are 21-7, with #5 seed,

The teams split during the regular season.  The Big Nine Champion was Rochester Mayo, a Class 4A school.

Northfield Head Coach Matt Christensen is a Northfield native and says the community is pretty pumped about their first appearance in 94 years. "Especially the alumni from the program."

Roy will also call a Class 2A Quarterfinal 8pm game in The Barn featuring Waseca and #3 seed Minnehaha Academy.

The Bluejays finished second last year, are 23-7 with #15 QRF, 15 straight wins.

The Redhawks are 23-5 with the top QRF, #3 seed with 6 consecutive victories.

If Northfield is in the Consolation Bracket those games will be broadcast on POWER 96 Radio, 95.9 FM and stream worldwide on the FREE POWER 96 app.

All other State Tournament broadcasts are on KDHL, 920 AM, 97.9 FM, stream on the FREE KDHL app.