Minnesota Playoff Central: Kaiden Peters Wins It!

Last night ten teams earned their way to the 2023 State Tournament highlighted by Kaiden Peters Kaiden Peters 6'2" | CG Plainview/Elgin-Millville | 2023 State MN scoring at the buzzer sending our original Class AA number one to state in surprising fashion!

Playoff Central. In the early summer Plainview/Elgin-Millville was our top pick to win Class AA basketball. Their pair of senior stars Kaiden Peters Kaiden Peters 6'2" | CG Plainview/Elgin-Millville | 2023 State MN and Aeron Stevens Aeron Stevens 6'7" | PF Plainview-Elgin-Millville | 2023 State MN were having an amazing spring with the Minnesota Lightning and they had senior role players back around them. As the summer moved on Holy Family added Collin Muholland and Kole Hanson Kole Hanson 6'1" | PG Holy Family | 2024 State MN as transfers moving the Fire into the number one spot but PEM was two (Yes Holy Family is still the favorite but they have a tough game versus Minneapolis North tonight). However, the long season started with Lake City looking like the better team while Peters missed some time for football and then missed some time for injury.

Last night things turned full circle with PEM knocking off Lake City 58-55 in overtime. Peters made the big shot but Aeron Stevens Aeron Stevens 6'7" | PF Plainview-Elgin-Millville | 2023 State MN was incredible with his 33 points, six rebounds and six assists. The PEM top pair is now headed to state and have a great chance to make the run at a title that many expected they could almost a year ago.

Upset City. If I had to pick an upset of the night it would be St. Francis beating Princeton 59-58. The Saints were 6-21 last season and picked fourth in the preseason predictions while Princeton has been to state three of the last four years. If you were to tell me St. Francis was going to knock off Princeton this year in the section final I would have laughed at you. I pry would have laughed at you had you said that to me two weeks ago! And last night St. Francis proved many wrong with a win over the Tigers. I can’t find any results anywhere to give any player a nod of a good job but I sure found a ton of St. Francis team photos with the trophy and maybe that is the way it should be!

Tickets Punched. Who is in so far?

AAAA: Andover, Eastview, Wayzata, White Bear Lake

AAA: Alexandria, DeLaSalle, Hermantown, Orono, St. Francis, Totino-Grace

AA: Eden Valley-Watkins, PEM

A: RTR, Spring Grove

Top Performers. Spring Grove defeated Goodhue 57-48 (Goodhue cleared a 19 point lead in the second half at one point getting within two) led by the 21 points from junior Elijah Solum Elijah Solum 6'2" | SG Spring Grove | 2024 State MN .

Another big showing for junior Jonathan Mekonnen Jonathan Mekonnen 6'7" | PF Eastview | 2024 State #178 Nation MN , the 6’7 forward had 23 and led his team to state.

Patrick Bath Patrick Bath 6'9" | C Totino-Grace | 2023 State MN had 15 points and 14 rebounds leading Totino-Grace to an eye opening blowout win over Mahtomedi.

Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN led White Bear Lake to state for the first time in 23 years with 23 points as the Bears knocked off East Ridge.

The game of the night was likely from Samuel Musungu Samuel Musungu 6'1" | PG Andover | 2023 State MN who put up 45 points pushing the Huskies back to state beating Cambridge-Isanti.

Tip of the Hat to the Career. A strong list of top seniors saw their careers come to a close last night. Here is a roll call of those players:

Owen Carlson Owen Carlson 6'3" | SG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN of Mahtomedi. Explosive scoring option is headed to CSP.

Cooper Drews Cooper Drews 6'4" | SF Princeton | 2023 State MN of Princeton. Two sport star was truly a basketball star this winter.

Ryan Heise Ryan Heise 6'8" | SF Lake City | 2023 State MN of Lake City. One of the most improved players over 18 months I have ever seen.

Michael Kirchner Michael Kirchner 6'0" | PG St. Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN of St. Thomas Academy. He could go to college and surprise people with a big career.

Alex Mattes Alex Mattes 6'3" | SG East Ridge | 2023 State MN of East Ridge. Mattes is a shooter headed to U of Mary.

Will Opsahl Will Opsahl 6'8" | SF Goodhue | 2023 State MN of Goodhue. Will has made a great case to be Class A Player of the Year.

Emmanuel Schmitter Emmanuel Schmitter 6'3" | SG Eagan | 2023 State MN of Eagan. Schimitter had a great four year career for the Cats.

Will Underwood Will Underwood 6'3" | PG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN of Mahtomedi. Rebounded from a knee injury extremely well.