Final Week of Regular Season 3A Top Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are in the final week of the Minnesota Boys High School basketball regular season before they play sections and the eight teams that win their sections get to decide who's a state champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Mankato East 23-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mankato East's only loss came December 7th, the 2nd game of the season to #1 ranked 4A Hopkins. Since, 22 straight wins. Led by D2 committed seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1437303' first='Brogan' last='Madson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2103251' first='Ganden' last='Gosch'] with 2026 juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1886972' first='Amari' last='Nobles'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560798' first='Lucas' last='Gustafson'] and Braden Petzel the Cougars will play #5 in 2A Breck at home Tuesday and will travel to Winona Friday to finish the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Alexandria 20-3</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [player_tooltip player_id='1572690' first='Chase' last='Thompson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2118449' first='Mason' last='Witt'] led Cardinals will play three games this week to finish off the year. Tonight they'll face [player_tooltip player_id='1560797' first='Jaxon' last='Boschee'] and Bemidji and on a back-to-back travel to Detroit Lakes. Then Friday they finish off the year with St. Cloud Tech. Alexandria hasn't lose a game since December 28th versus #1 ranked Mankato East so they've won 16 games in a row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3 Benilde-St. Margaret's 22-2</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BSM will close the season at Orono Tuesday and at Bloomington Jefferson Friday. Just 3 weeks ago January 30th these two teams faced-off in a 76-72 game BSM won. 2025 Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1572689' first='Jalen' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1572691' first='Jaleel' last='Donley'] know everything about the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] as they are division and Section Rivals. T.J. Stuttley and the rest of Red Knight's will have to lock in to finish off the year right to be ready for Sections.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1yr5mFDp34u0026amp;ab_channel=FreshCoastHoops","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1yr5mFDp34&amp;ab_channel=FreshCoastHoops </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4 Orono 18-6</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minnesota Mr. Basketball candidate [player_tooltip player_id='1579885' first='Nolan' last='Groves'] and fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1484016' first='Brady' last='Wooley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1391203' first='Mitchell' last='Kauch'] will have their hands full to finish the regular season first at home Tuesday with BSM (see above) and then Friday at 12-12 St. Louis Park versus the Curtis twins MIcah Curtis and Marley Curits. Orono lost a tough game February 15th versus #2 Alexandria 96-94 but bounced back with wins versus Chanhassen and Waconia last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5 Totino-Grace 18-5</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3-time Class 3A defending champions and 4 straight 3A championship games Eagles came in this year not favorites in 3A but still rest here at 5. Totino plays almost an entire 4A schedule in the NWSC and will finish the year at Park Center versus the Pirates Tuesday. Park Center who is 14-9, has won 5 straight and 12 of their last 14 are a lot tougher than their record reflects. Senior Wofford committed guard [player_tooltip player_id='1574227' first='Chace' last='Watley'] is having a fantastic year as the leader scoring 21 points per game and 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2126117' first='Malachi' last='Hill'] fills nicely next to Watley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#6 Byron 22-2</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bears of Byron are one of the heaviest senior led teams in the top 10 with [player_tooltip player_id='1575327' first='Max' last='Dearborn'], [player_tooltip player_id='2104485' first='Will' last='Brian'], [player_tooltip player_id='1939373' first='Colin' last='Hansen'], and Aidan Gross are 4 of their top 5 scorers. They have not lost a game since January 4th to BSM and have won 13 games in a row beating Stewartville twice, Lake City, and #8 Cannon Falls. They'll face Northfield's duo [player_tooltip player_id='1385264' first='Isaiah' last='Mahal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1521424' first='Kayden' last='Oakland'] Monday night at home and then travel to St. Peter Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#7 DeLaSalle 20-4</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Islanders have 2025 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2103394' first='Dorian' last='Pruitt'] scoring 15 points per game but their surging has been largely underclassmen 2027 sophomore's [player_tooltip player_id='2126102' first='Jaeden' last='Udean'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas']. DLS plays just one game this week, at Wayzata. In their last 6 games the Islanders are 4-2 with losses to #8 Richfield (See below) and #2 in 4A Cretin-Derham Hall (See here). Last week they comfortably took care of Bloomington Kennedy and Brooklyn Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#8 Richfield 19-5</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richfield is largely led by Augustana committed guard C.J. Armstrong who's scoring 32 points per game. You have to be very aware of [player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140700' first='Tyrece' last='Hagler'] for Richfield as well as they combine for 30 points together. Richfield last week lost to Holy Angels Wednesday but bounced back Friday to win at St. Anthony. Monday night they will play a re-match versus St. Anthony at home and then travel to play 11-13 Minneapolis South Thursday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#9 Stewartville 20-5</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In February [player_tooltip player_id='1476739' first='Caleb' last='Bancroft'], [player_tooltip player_id='1198613' first='Parker' last='Wangen'], and the Stewartville Tigers are 5-2 with a 23 point win versus #8 Cannon Falls Friday February 21st and they were victorious over Rochester Lourdes Monday. Stewartville will close the year against 9-15 Austin Thursday at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#10 Monticello 21-4</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Monticello Magic were 1-26 during the 2022-23 season. Last year 11-16. 2025 seniors Jackson Sorko, [player_tooltip player_id='2125143' first='Brayden' last='Dollard'], and Tre'von Singer really deserve this great season they are having. Since December 28th the Magic have lost just one game and that was February 14th to St. Francis 75-73, a game 2025 senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1874817' first='Connor' last='Peterson'] scored 32 points in. Last week Monticello beat North Branch 93-25 Tuesday and dispatched the now 15-9 Becker Bulldogs 74-62. The Magic close the season at Zimmerman Tuesday night to face [player_tooltip player_id='2145758' first='Thomas' last='McEachern'] and the Thunder who are 17-8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->