Ron Haggstrom, David La Vaque, Jim Paulsen, Heather Rule, Joe Gunther and Theo Franz will spend the boys basketball state tournament’s four days tracking down stories beyond the games. Come back often to see what they’ve found.
It’s a Minnesota boys basketball state tournament dozen-game day. We call this fun.
The Class 4A and 3A quarterfinals will go on during office hours, and the 2A teams will take over the night.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
March 20, 2024 at 11:56PM
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Wayzata sophomore Isaac Olmstead picks up the pace
When it comes to numbers, Wayzata sophomore guard Isaac Olmstead made some big gains this season.
Wednesday’s Class 4A boys basketball state tournament victory against Rogers marked the third consecutive game in which he scored 17 or more points — well above his season average of 10.8.
In addition, he set Wayzata’s record for assists in a season, which he estimated around the “130-something” plateau, in the Section 6 playoffs against Edina.
All this from a point guard listed at 5-10, a generous figure.
“Some day,” Wayzata coach Bryan Schnettler said. “He’s getting there.”
“Not yet,” Olmstead admitted.
Olmstead has already grown in the ways of basketball.
“Him stepping up down the stretch of this season has been good to see,” teammate Jackson McAndrew said. “He’s been leading our offense from his point guard spot.”
Olmstead returned the favor to the 6-7 McAndrew, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year.
“You get it to him in the post — that’s a free assist,” Olmstead said.
When McAndrew left Wednesday’s game with a bloody nose, Olmstead kept feeding his team of willing finishers. He was credited with six assists.
“We have so much talent on our team, and I like to pass the ball a lot,” Olmstead said. “We have a lot of guys who can hit shots, and we moved the ball around today.”
DAVID LA VAQUE
Minneapolis South’s Poet Davis exits proud
Minneapolis South senior guard Poet Davis walked off Williams Arena’s elevated court holding his head high.
There was no shame in losing 72-70 to No. 7-ranked Alexandria in Class 3A quarterfinals. He was proud.
The lone holdover in a program that was decimated two years ago when eight players transferred away, Davis directed the Tigers (21-6) to their first state tournament berth in 32 years.
They finished the regular season ranked No. 4 by Minnesota Basketball News. It came one year after a 6-20 season.
“This really meant a lot to me,” said Davis, who had 23 points, six assists and four steals. “It feels great having left a legacy for the program.”
RON HAGGSTROM
Farmington acknowledges a superfan
Farmington coach Tharen Johnson hoped to deliver a basketball signed by his team to longtime Farmington resident and super fan Ted Schoonover. Schoonover is staying at Good Samaritan Society, a care facility in Inver Grove Heights.
“We just stopped. Unfortunately we weren’t able to see him,” Johnson said from the road. “From the family it sounds like he doesn’t have long left as he is in hospice care. The son, Greg, and Ted’s daughter both talked with our team. They were so appreciative of us stopping and said their dad was always our biggest fan. He had all his Farmington basketball memorabilia up in his room.”
Before this season, the Tigers last reached the state tournament in 1937 — a span of 87 years.
“He hasn’t always been with it the past few weeks healthwise, but he was overjoyed to hear from his kids that we made the state tournament,” Johnson said. “He was surprised and kind of teared up.”
“He comes to every home game, and we recognized him a couple years ago with the Super Fan award,” Johnson said.
DAVID LA VAQUE
A dozen-game day begins
The first fans have made their way into Target Center and Williams Arena for the boys basketball state tournament opening day. Wednesday will be a busy six-game, 12-hour session at both sites.
The Class 4A quarterfinals will start at 10 a.m. at Target Center, coinciding with the Class 3A games at the same time at Williams Arena.
The Class 2A quarterfinals will take over the night session with a split venue, two games at each location. Class 1A’s quarterfinals will be held Thursday at Target Center, starting at 11 a.m.
All four defending champions are back and looking for more. Class 4A title holder Wayzata (27-1) and Class 3A’s Totino-Grace (24-5), the two-time reigning champion, hold the No. 1 seeds and are the top-ranked teams in their classes.
Class 2A defending champion Albany (28-2) is the No. 2 seed behind top-ranked Breck (28-1). In Class 1A, title holder Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (23-7) isn’t seeded and draws No. 1-ranked Cherry (28-2) in the quarterfinals.
The field won’t quite be cut in half today, but look for the defending champions to move on play again Thursday in 4A and 3A and Friday in 2A.
The games are on now. Want to watch them?
RON HAGGSTROM
For now, here are some of the preview stories that have appeared on startribune.com.
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
