The consensus around the state is that Hopkins is the best team in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. St. Paul Johnson was mentioned in the same breath prior to a loss to Chicago (Ill.) Hyde Park Academy 80-74 in the Augsburg tournament.

Where teams fell after that could be debated, but this year’s version of Eastview and De La Salle could definitely be mentioned as one of the Top 10 teams overall in the state. The best way to judge a team is its ability to win on the road against a quality opponent, in or outside the state borders.

Fans around the state should have a good idea where Minnesota basketball stands after Saturday. It will be determined by a northern school to our east – Superior (Wis.) – that isn’t exactly a basketball hotbed.

The Spartans (7-2), currently not even ranked in their own state by WisSports.net, have a recent history of beating up on Minnesota teams with the exception of Duluth East. They have won 48 of their last 51 against Minnesota squads, and already own a 77-55 thumping over Class 4A, No. 3 Eastview (6-2).

De La Salle (8-1), currently ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, will face the Spartans on their home court at 11 a.m. The fate of the state rests with the Islanders and coach Dave Thorson.

Out and about

If you would like to see one the better Class 1A teams in the state, tonight would be a could time to venture to Rockford and get a look at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa.

The fifth-ranked Jaguars (7-0) average margin of victory is 26.7 points. They have won every game by double digits with one exception, a two-point road win (56-54) at Class 2A Sauk Centre. The Mainstreeters are 6-3 on the season.

Coach Dave Montbriand’s squad has six of its top seven players back from last year’s 25-4 team. The Jaguars are led by senior Kevin Kuefler, a 6-foot-4 forward.

Talented and young

An outstanding junior class has already put a little sting in the Yellow Jackets from Perham (7-0). They are currently ranked No. 5 in Class 2A.

They already own victories over two of the other better teams in Section 8 – Pelican Rapids (62-52) and Pequot Lakes (64-60) – and Class 1A power Ellsworth (77-58).

Junior point guard Jordan Bruhn, who averages 11 points per game, handed out 13 assists in the win over Pequot Lakes.

Junior Mark Schumacher is the Yellow Jackets’ leading scorer at 13.7 points per game. The 6-foot-6 center scored a season-high 23 points against Adrian in the first game of the Worthington tournament.

The scary part, they might just be a year away. They only have two seniors on their roster.

Huisken maturing

Southwest Minnesota Christian, No. 9 in Class 1A, has played a limited schedule (3-1) to this point but junior Zach Huisken has shown signs of maturity.

The 6-foot-9 center had 17 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocked eight shots in a 62-46 triumph over Hills-Beaver Creek.

Huisken has figured out to let the game come to him, and not try to do too much. He isn’t showing the same frustration with double- and triple-teams that has in the past.

His recruiting stock will continue to climb if he continues down the same path.