2023 Boys State Tournament Single A Preview

On Wednesday March 22nd the day belongs to Single A, the smallest enrollment schools in Minnesota. Below are the first round match ups and some prospects to watch on games that kick off at 11am with the last game at 5PM.

#1 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton vs Nevis

A rematch of sorts for RTR and Nevis. Both returning teams from 2022, and looking for some better luck in round 1. Both teams lost opening games, and Nevis got the best of RTR 74-71 in the consolation game. RTR comes in this year however the #1 overall seed in Single A with a 28-1 record.

RTR has a pair of players averaging 17 plus a game, Aiden Wichmann Aiden Wichmann 6'2" | PG RTR | 2023 State MN and Drew Werkman Drew Werkman 6'4" | PF RTR | 2024 State MN , and solid contributors Cody Wichmann and Hayden Gravley Hayden Gravley 6'1" | SF RTR | 2023 MN . Nevis went 24-6 and is led by John Paul Benson John Paul Benson 6'2" | SF Nevis | 2024 State MN , Austin Ahrendt and Alex Lester Alex Lester 6'7" | C Nevis | 2025 State MN , all underclassmen.

#4 Cherry vs #5 Border West

Cherry went 26-4 and rolled through sections to state, winning 4 games by 25 or more points in each game. They are led by Minnesota Gophers committed 3-Star guard Isaac Asuma Isaac Asuma 6'3" | PG Cherry | 2024 State #81 Nation MN . Backed by a pair of sophomores, Carson Brown Carson Brown 6'0" | PG Cherry | 2025 State MN and Noah Sundquist Noah Sundquist 6'3" | SF Cherry | 2025 State MN , and his Freshman brother Noah Asuma Noah Asuma 6'1" | SG Cherry | 2026 State MN and cousin 8th grader Isaiah Asuma Isaiah Asuma 5'11" | SG Cherry | 2027 State MN , Cherry is firepowered #4 seed.

Border West went 26-2, they feature 19 point per game scorer Clint Determan, 14 point per game Dylyan Bainbridge, Cole Gilsdorf Cole Gilsdorf 5'11" | PG CGB | 2023 MN , and Andrew Walker. Border West has been rolling to state having not lost a game since December.

#2 New Life Academy vs Sacred Heart

#2 New Life Academy features key players at all positions, big, wing, and guard. Minnesota Gopher commit Erick Reader Erick Reader 6'8" | C New Life Academy | 2023 State MN anchors the middle and Max Briggs Max Briggs 6'0" | PG New Life Academy | 2023 State MN runs the offense. Colton Hendricks Colton Hendricks 6'7" | PF New Life Academy | 2023 MN , Colter Stone Colter Stone 6'4" | SF New Life Academy | 2024 MN , and Austin Woolf have been key contributors all year.

Sacred Heart went 27-4 and beat fellow state team Nevis in January. They’re led by Ethan Arntson and Josiah Sundby.

#3 Spring Grove vs Mankato Loyola

Spring Grove and Mankato Loyola finish out Single A. Spring Grove is 29-1 and Mankato Loyola went 22-8. Spring Grove features Jaxon Strinmoen, Elijah Solum Elijah Solum 6'2" | SG Spring Grove | 2024 State MN , Tysen Grinde Tysen Grinde 6'3" | SG Spring Grove | 2023 State MN and Jacob Olerud. Loyola features Lawson Godfrey Lawson Godfrey 6'1" | SG Mankato Loyola | 2023 State MN who’s scored more than 1700 points in his high school career, and Simon Morgan Simon Morgan 6'3" | SF Mankato Loyola | 2023 State MN who’s scored more than a 1,000 points and grabbed 1,000 career rebounds.