MSHSL State Boys Basketball Class 1A Preview

Thursday the smallest schools in the state get to take the professional floor of the Timberwolves and show their talents.

10:00 a.m.  Top seed Henning Hornets (30-0) tangles with #8 seed Upsala Cardinals (24-6).

The Hornets are #3 QRF (Quality Results Formula) while the Cardinals are #24 QRF in Class 1A.  Henning was the consolation champion last season.

This is Upsala's third trip to state and their first since 2013.  The Hornets was State Champions in 2019 and is making their sixth trip to the big dance.

Upsala averages 69.7 points and allows 54.0 points per contest.  They have won 12 straight games.

Henning is one of only two undefeated teams at state,.  The other is Class 4A Tartan who won their 30th game Tuesday at Target Center.

There are 158 teams in the smallest schools class.

1:00 p.m. #4 seed, #11 QRF, Southland Rebels (28-1) out of Section 1A is in their first tournament and so is their opponent Hills-Beaver Creek (27-3).  The Patriots are #8 QRF.

Hills-Beaver Creek scores 74.3 points and gives up 50.7 per contest.

The Rebels average 85.1 and allow the lowest opponent score in the entire tournament regardless of class 46.1.

Tate Goergen leads the Rebels in scoring 22.2, teammate Henry Wiste averages 20.3.  Wiste has 53 three point baskets this season, Goergen 47.  Brekken Koenigs, freshman has drained 67 triples which ranked 37th in the state, all classes included.

3:00 p.m. #2 seed, #6QRF, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (28-3) collides with #7 seed, #4QRF, Cherry (25-5)  who fell to Dawson-Boyd in last year's state title game.

The Tigers average 81.7 points and give up 60.2 points, are making their sixth trip to state.

The Bulldogs average 80.1 points, allow 55.6 points per contest and are at state for the 4th time as J-W-P.  Janesville appeared in 1966.  The Bulldogs have appeared in 1996, 1997 and 2008.

Cherry has won 7 straight and so has Liberty Classical.

5:00 p.m. #3 seed, #7 QRF, Red Lake County Rebels (28-3) compete against #6 seed, #1 QRF, Liberty Classical Academy (27-2).

The Lions of Liberty have the highest average points per game in the entire tournament, all classes included, 90.8 while giving up 55.7 points.

The Rebels average 74.6 and give up 51.8.

Sam Rupnow of Liberty Classical ranked 15th in the state in scoring with an average of 29.2 coming into the State Tournament.

The Semifinals will be on KDHL Radio, 920 AM, 97.9 FM, worldwide on the FREE KDHL app Noon and 2:00 p.m. in Williams Arena on Friday, March 27, 2026.