Northstar Hoops Minnesota National Guard – Team of the Week March 20-25
A great high school season ended last week with four teams earning state championship victories. Here are this week’s options for Team of the Week:
Minneapolis North
The Polars steamrolled the rest of the Class A field Thursday, Friday and Saturday winning three games by a combined 138 points. They beat Red Lake and North Woods by 47 points each and Springfield by 44 to win their second straight state title. The Polars lost just two games all year — to the Class AAAA champion Apple Valley and defending Class AAAA state champion Hopkins.
Minnehaha Academy
The Redhawks went into the Class AA State Tournament with an immensely talented but young team. They grew up in a hurry, beating Lake City, Annandale and Crosby-Ironton by double digits to secure a state championship for the second time in five years.
DeLaSalle
The Islanders left little doubt on their way to a sixth straight Class AAA state championship, blowing out Austin by 28 in the state title game. DeLaSalle edged Big Lake in what was just the second game in their 18-game win streak at state decided by less than 10 points. The Islanders got better and better as the tournament went on, beating Columbia Heights by 26 in the semfinals. The Islanders cap off a season in which they lost just three games.
Apple Valley
The Eagles knocked off undefeated Champlin Park in the Class AAAA state title game for the second time in three years, capturing their third state title in the last five years. Apple Valley had to grind its way to this one, winning two of the three games by less than 10 points. The Eagles beat the only two teams to beat them during the regular season by beating Maple Grove by 23 in the semifinals before beating CP in the title.