2024-25 State Tournament: Dawson-Boyd Wins First Title!

The Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks found their way to state for the first time in 34 years and they earned their first title EVER!

With just under 13 minutes to go Cherry went on an 11-0 run after Drew Hjelmeland Drew Hjelmeland 6'7" | PF/SF Dawson-Boyd | 2025 State MN picked up his 4th foul. Coach Cory Larson watched the Tiger momentum build quickly and he had to take a risk putting Drew back on the floor with double figure minutes on the clock. The chance taken, it worked out perfectly.

With Hjelmeland on the floor the Jacks had two 6’8 agile senior bigs – Drew and Brayson Boike Brayson Boike 6'8" | PF Dawson Boyd | 2025 State #326 Nation MN – to contest everything Cherry tried at the rim. And with the Tigers having a nightmare of a day shooting the basketball from the perimeter, 3 of 15 at the arc, Cherry needed to attack. Cherry has the athletes to do it but with positioned size in the way, it was too difficult of a task.

On the other end, Jack junior Gunner Liebl and sophomore Carson Stratmoen Carson Stratmoen 6'0" | CG/PG Dawson Boyd | 2027 State MN were making shots. Carson hit a huge three (one of four on the day) and Liebl sandwiched that make with two of his own allowing Dawson-Boyd to go on their own 11-0 run. And that run put away Cherry for good.

MVP. Brayson Boike Brayson Boike 6'8" | PF Dawson Boyd | 2025 State #326 Nation MN . The SMSU signed forward had one of the best state tournament weeks I have seen. Today he had 29 points on 9 of 13 shooting with three threes made and all eight foul shots sunk. His skill, agility and size were game changers as he finished in comfort and on defense his length took away a number of rim chances that Cherry players usually get. Throw in 31 points and eight boards on 11 of 18 shooting in game one, and 28 points and six boards on 12 of 18 shooting, and that is a monster week: 88 points and 22 rebounds on 32 of 49 shooting in three games.

Top Underclassmen. You have to look at Carson Stratmoen Carson Stratmoen 6'0" | CG/PG Dawson Boyd | 2027 State MN of Dawson-Boyd for this. He made Cherry pay being left open for four triples and 12 points, the biggest coming late in the game during the 11-0 Jacks run.

Three More Title Game Standouts

Gunner Liebl of Dawson-Boyd. For me, the difference between the first DB/Cherry game (won by Cherry in early December) and today’s title game, was the improvement of Gunner. The DB senior size was always their known big item but the development of Liebl into an All State level player giving the Jacks three big time weapons, was everything. He scored 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting and his two late scores during the late 11-0 run likely put the game out of reach.

Drew Hjelmeland Drew Hjelmeland 6'7" | PF/SF Dawson-Boyd | 2025 State MN of Dawson-Boyd. Drew picked up that fourth foul five minutes into the second half. He had to sit but he came back quickly. For Drew to play the last ten minutes without fouling, was everything. His length on defense, decision making, intelligent passing, and steady play calmed DB after a rough spot when he was out. Drew had 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting with five boards and six assists.

Noah Sundquist Noah Sundquist 6'3" | SF Cherry | 2025 State MN of Cherry. The master at using his agility and body control to get to the rim, take contact, and finish, that is Noah. He’s also that passing lane jumping, floor diving, slam dunking force that people love to watch compete. He had 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting with seven boards.