Rochester Lourdes 48, Redwood Valley 42 4OT

Alex Kapraun drained a three-pointer with 1:22 left in the fourth overtime to give Rochester Lourdes a lead it would not relinquish in the Class AA state semifinals at Target Center.  Kapraun finished with a game-high 20 points, although he was 1-for-8 from three-point range -- his only make was the game winner. Both teams played a deliberate style that kept the score supressed. After regulation, the score was knotted at 37-37. The teams combined for just eight total points in the first three overtimes before Lourdes broke it open late in the fourth. Shane McGrath (10 points, 9 rebounds) and Nic Jensen (10 points) also scored in double-figures for the Eagles (24-7). J.T. Radel (10 points) was the high-scorer for the Cardinals (22-8), but Michael Busack chipped in with 8 points and 18 rebounds.

To read the MN Basketball Hub / Star-Tribune coverage of the game, please click on this link.

Perham 45, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 41 2OT

With 3:36 left in the second overtime, Perham's Nick Tobkin blew past the defender with a cross-over dribble, pulled up at the free throw line and drained a jumper -- not just any jumper, but one that gave the Yellowjackets their first lead since late in the first half, sending them past Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in the Class AA state semifinals at Target Center. The Yellowjackets (30-1) held the lead through the remainder of the second overtime, as Tobkin and Sam Stratton combined to go 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Tobkin finished with 14 points, while Mark Schumacher had 10 points and Jordan Cresap added 5 points and 9 rebounds. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (29-3) shot just 25.5 percent in the game (13-of-51, including 2-of-18 from three). Conrad Masberg scored a team-high 17 points before fouling out in the second overtime. Tate Harmon added 14 points and Jordan Gregor had 4 points and 11 rebounds.

To read the MN Basketball Hub / Star-Tribune coverage of the game, please click on this link.

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 86, MACCRAY 69

The Class A state semifinal didn't exactly begin the way Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa had hoped. Just a few minutes in, the Jaguars (32-0) were trailing MACCRAY (27-4) by double-digits, 18-8. But from there, it was everything they had dreamed. The Jaguars are headed to the state championship game at the Target Center after rallying past MACCRAY, 86-69. A 25-4 run erased the Wolverines' early lead and put B-B-E in control. Kevin Kuefler (27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) paced the Jaguars' attack, while Connor Goodwin (21 points, 9 rebounds), Brian Goodwin (14 points) and Brady Koehler (13 points) gave great depth. Seth Hinrichs led the Wolverines with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Brady Boike chipped in with 17 points and 9 boards.

To read the MN Basketball Hub / Star-Tribune game coverage, please click on this link.

Springfield 63, Chisholm 55 OT

Springfield's Alex Fink scored a game-high 21 points, but none were bigger than his final two. With the Tigers trailing Chishom 51-49 with 3.4 seconds remaining in regulation of the Class A semifinal at Target Center, Fink stepped to the free throw line for a one-and-one. He knocked down both, sending the game to overtime, where the Tigers (25-3) pulled away for a 63-55 victory. Fink also added 12 rebounds and five assists, while Jesse Kieper had 15 points and Wisconsin-bound offensive lineman Tyler Marz 9 points and 9 rebounds for the Tigers. Chisholm (28-4) held a late lead despite being outrebounded 49-35 and shooting just 32.7 percent from the field (18-of-55). Adam Vake recorded a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) for the Bluestreaks, while Tyler Simonson (14 points) and Aden Casey (13 points) hit double figures.

To read the MN Basketball Hub / Star-Tribune game coverage, please click on this link.

 Minnesota Boys Basketball Hub
The crew at the the MN Boys Basketball Hub, in conjunction with the Star Tribune, is featuring coverage at the tournament this season. Check out their main tournament page to keep on top of all the action.

John's Journal
For those interested in former Star Tribune writer John Millea and his thoughts with the MSHSL, he's blogging from the girls' state tournament this weekend.  Just go to the main MSHSL site and hit the tab for "John's Journal." 

Fox video interviews
The FoxPreps.com gang is doing a great job on their website, covering the 2011 state tournament.  Click on the link for additional news and interviews from the games.

Adding a little spice to the tournament, the Breakdown's Justin Hegna looked into his crystal ball to come up with tournament predictions. You may agree or you may disagree, so put your thoughts into our comment streams and vote in our polls below.

Class AAAA

Quarterfinals
Hopkins over Owatonna
Cretin-DH over Duluth East
Lakeville South over Eden Prairie
Osseo over Maple Grove

Semifinals
Hopkins over Cretin-DH
Lakeville South over Osseo

Finals
Hopkins over Lakeville South

Class AAA

Quarterfinals
StP Johnson over New Prague
Columbia Hgts over Marshall
Grand Rapids over Waconia
Orono over St. Cloud Apollo

Semifinals
StP Johnson over Columbia Hgts
Orono over Grand Rapids

Finals
StP Johnson over Orono

Class AA

Quarterfinals
LPGE over Rochester Lourdes
Redwood Valley over Minnehaha
Perham over Virginia
W-E-M over Zimmerman

Semifinals
Redwood Valley over LPGE
W-E-M over Perham

Finals
W-E-M over Redwood Valley