Minnesota Playoff Central: Friday

<p>Minnesota is full-on Madness in March right now.  State title contending smaller schools saw their title dreams dashed last night in games that signify this time of year. </p> <p><strong>The Big Stage</strong>. Monticello and Gustavus.  These are the two locations for must see double-headers.  #2 in state Waseca earned the top seed so they get under-dog Faribault while #3 Mankato East and #8 Marshall will play the game of the night in Minnesota (both teams are ranked in the top ten).  The Tigers and Cougars played earlier in the year and East won 81-69.  Those games are at Gustvus.   At the AAAA level Section 8AAAA has improved in a big way.  Between Maple Grove, STMA, Moorhead, and Buffalo it's anybody's section.  When it comes to good games 8AAAA is the place to be.  Moorhead plays Buffalo with Matthew Willert taking on Maleeck Harden again (Harden went for 40+ in the previous meeting when the Spuds won).  STMA faces Maple Grove in the 1/4 game. </p> <p><strong>Upset City</strong>!  Number three ranked Minneota was expected to be contending for a state title but last night Dawson-Boyd picked up an 82-73 victory meaning all Class A contenders smiled a little bigger knowing the road to a title just became a tad easier.  Minneota hasn't been to state since 1929 and that drought will continue. Junior 5-foot-8 guard Romell Horton scored 26 points highlighted by several big threes. Senior guard Jake Lee scored 19 in support of Horton.</p> <p><strong>Upset City 2.   </strong>We've spent about 10 straight months telling you about Cole Woodford of Redwood Valley.  The guy who made a big name for himself last night was Connor Josephson, a sophomore guard.  Connor had 17 points with 16 boards and four assists.  Add in the 16 from Woodford and you have the leaders of a 67-58 win over New London-Spicer.  The Cardinals won 67-58 and held Brandon Adelman to eight points. </p> <p><strong>Right on Schedule.  </strong>Springfield is right on schedule beating a 23-3 Mountain Lake Area team in a big way (86-64).  Mr. Basketball Final Five member Isaac Fink went straight at Mountain Lake scoring 25 points in the first half and depriving the opponents from any hope whatsoever.  Fink scored 37 in the game.  Springfield plays one loss WEM next for the sub-section title.  On the other side of the section New Ulm Cathedral will face Minnesota Valley Lutheran. </p> <p><strong>Where’s the Czar?</strong>   The Hoops Czar went to see the 8/9 game between Concordia Academy vs St. Paul Humboldt.  His Twitter game summary tweet was "9 Concordia def 8 Humboldt 82-65. Aaron TerHaar 5 3s and 26 points. Barnabas Preble adds 19 pts. Desmond Lugo 4 3s and 15 pts to lead Humboldt."  You can read his blog at http://tchoops.blogspot.com/</p> <p><strong>Tip of the Hat to the Career</strong>.  Carter Henry of BOLD, Thomas Hennen of Minneota, Brandon Adelman of New London-Spicer, Baden Noennig of Mayer Lutheran, Carter and Cooper Hansen of RTR, and Drew Gustafson of Kimball Area.  That's a heck of a group of players that won't be in the state tournament.  The Hansens didn't get back to state but they have a state title that they will remember forever.  Adelman and Noennig are former Comets teammates that will be at St. Cloud State and Upper Iowa respectively.  And Carter Henry and Thomas Hennen, these are two of the top uncommitted/unsigned seniors in the state of Minnesota. </p>