Prep Blog: Friday's Top High School Match-Ups

What a week it is to be a follower of high school sports in Minnesota.

State Tournament action is in full swing. The state's best wrestlers took to the mats at Xcel Energy Center over the weekend, but this week it's all about hockey and one the best state tournaments around. The state boys hockey tournament is the best there is in Minnesota, second only to maybe football in the fall.

Both the Class A and AA brackets are relatively wide open with several top teams being knocked out in sections. The state's top swimmers are at the University of Minnesota this week for their state meet, and state tournament bids are at stake in boys basketball. It doesn't get any better than this in early March.

Here are Friday's top high school match-ups. Our featured match-up this week for WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally is actually two boys basketball playoff games with state tournament bids at stake. It should make for an electric Friday at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.

Friday Boys Basketball: Rochester John Marshall (24-4) vs. Lakeville North (23-5)

(Section 1AAAA Championship, Mayo Civic Center)

For the fourth straight year, Rochester John Marshall is facing Lakeville North with a spot in the state tournament at stake. This year, it's a battle of top-10 teams as the Panthers are ranked No. 8 in Class 4A and the Rockets are No. 10. In each of the past three seasons, Lakeville North has knocked off John Marshall. The Panthers scored about 74 points per game during the regular season and are led by post player Nathan Reuvers, who averages about 20 points per game and is being recruited by several Division I schools, including the Gophers. The Rockets are led by brothers Michael and Matthew Hurt. Michael Hurt, who will play for the Gophers next year, scores about 20 points per game. Matthew Hurt will be one of the most sought after basketball recruits in the country in a couple years.

Friday Boys Basketball: Northfield (19-9) vs. Red Wing (26-2)

(Section 1AAA Championship, Mayo Civic Center)

The Northfield boys basketball team is chasing some history this week after the Raiders upset No. 4-ranked Austin in overtime of the Section 1AAA Playoffs. They haven't been to a state tournament since 1932, but they'll get a chance by meeting No. 2-ranked Red Wing in the section championship. Northfield has won four straight since losing to John Marshall on Feb. 12, and the Raiders are led by Luke Harris (17.4 points per game) and Hunter Koep (16.1 per game). The Wingers have been a top-five team most of the year and have three players who average double figures in scoring. They're led by Travis Toivonen's 18 points per game. Red Wing won both regular season meetings between the two schools by double digits.

Boys Hockey Class A Semifinals

One of the best state tournaments around is taking over Xcel Energy Center this week as many of the top boys high school hockey teams in the state are in St. Paul. Thursday's Class A quarterfinal action ended with all four top seeds advancing, making for some interesting semifinal match-ups Friday morning.

Breck (25-3-1) vs. Thief River Falls (23-6)

No. 2-seeded Breck left little double in the state quarterfinals with an 8-0 win over Mankato West where most of the third period was in running time. The Mustangs, which are unbeaten in 16 straight games, face No. 3-seeded Thief River Falls. William Blake and Chase Ellington each had a hat trick for Breck in Wednesday's win.  The Prowlers took care of Princeton with a 6-1 victory. Senior Ethan Johnson scored a hat trick for Thief River Falls in the win and has 49 goals on the season. The Prowlers are 20-1 on the year when they score the first goal.

Hermantown (25-2-1) vs. St. Paul Academy (24-5)

Hermantown showed why it's the top seed in Class A and arguably the favorite to win the championship this year after beating Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 11-3 on Wednesday. Cole Koepke led the Hawks with four goals and two assists in the victory. Their starting five skaters had seven goals and 11 assists in the game. The reward is a semifinal date with St. Paul Academy, who knocked off St. Cloud Cathedral 4-2. The Spartans got what turned out to be the game-winning goal with about five minutes left in regulation from Devlin McCabe. St. Paul Academy added a late empty-net goal for the final margin.

Friday Boys Basketball: Mounds View (22-6) vs. Osseo (28-0)

(Section 5AAAA Championship)

Mounds View sprung an upset Monday night, knocking off Champlin Park to advance to the section 5AAAA title game. The Rebels had much of the same group back from a team that went undefeated last year until the state title game, where they fell to Apple Valley. In any case, the Mustangs have a shot at the state tournament after losing three of four to end the regular season. They'll face unbeaten Osseo Friday night and are led by Nate Albers, who scores nearly 25 points per game. The Orioles have been a top team all year, and they're led by a balanced attack with three players who average about 12 points per game. It's a group that includes Zach Theisen, Damario Armstrong and Kameron Bettie.

Tune into WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally at about 10:20 p.m. Friday as Mike Max, Frank Vascellaro and David McCoy will have all the action covered.