Bemidji's Carey Woods scores 52 in Minnesota basketball

They say records are meant to be broken, but this one stood for a long, long time.

In a 1978 state tournament game Bemidji High's Jim Jensen scored 50 points in a 98-76 win over Woodbury to set the school record for most points in a game. That record stood for nearly 33 years until it was broken Tuesday night. Carey Woods scored 52 points to help Bemidji defeat Grand Forks Central 93-65, setting a Pioneers single-game scoring record. Woods made six 3-pointers in the first half and scored four points late to set the school record. With the win Bemidji improved to 16-2 on the season and continued its strong season.

Woods and Bemidji are one of the many success stories this season. Here is a look at some others from across the state as action heads into the stretch run of the regular season:

EAGAN BOYS MAKE MOVE
Making the biggest jump in the big school rankings is Eagan. The Wildcats were ranked No. 10 in the state in 4A, but moved all the way up to No. 4 in the Feb. 9 rankings. The Wildcats are 16-3 after a 78-41 win Tuesday over Bloomington Jefferson Tuesday. Jameson Parsons, a standout quarterback in the fall, leads Eagan with 17.1 points per game. Parsons is surprisingly the only player in double figures for Eagan, but it's the depth of this team that makes it so dangerous. Matt Hentges averages 9.8 points per game, followed by Nick Sabatke (8.9), Ryan Patterson (8.3), Shea Mandli (7.8) and Ben Sicoli (6.3). The Wildcats are deep and on any night different players have stepped up to contribute, which is what is needed to contend in the deep and talented South Suburban Conference, where three teams - Eagan, Eastview and Lakeville South - are all 9-2 in conference action.

BEAST OF THE EAST — DULUTH EAST THAT IS
Moving into the No. 9 spot in the recent state rankings is the best team in northern Minnesota, the Duluth East Greyhounds. The Greyhounds are 14-5 after defeating Bemidji and Carey Woods (who scored 30 points one game after setting a school record with 52 points) Thursday. East is led by the talented 6-foot-4 Johnny Woodard. Woodard scored 34 points and teammate Taylor Stafford added 26 to help the Greyhounds prove they are deserving of their first state ranking of the season.



East got another test Saturday when it played a Forest Lake team that is 13-5 and 7-4 in the tough Suburban East Conference

SPEAKING OF THE SUBURBAN EAST
Roseville is still on top of the conference after suffering an 88-74 loss to Mounds View. The Raiders are now 10-1 in conference play and 16-3 overall. Lucas Brown leads Roseville with 19.3 points per game and is one of four Raiders averaging double figures. David Stanley adds 14.2 points per game followed by Emeche Wells (12.2) and MacKenzie Johnson (10.6).

JOHNSON IS BACK ON TOP
Johnson (St. Paul) moved back to the No. 1 spot in the recent Class 3A rankings. The Governors were previously ranked No. 2 but moved ahead after DeLaSalle lost and dropped to No. 3. The Governors - 2010 state champions - are two games up on St. Paul Central in the City Conference (6-0 overall in conference play). Estan Tyler is averaging 19.6 points per game followed by Marcus Marshall at 16.5 and Roosevelt Scott at 15.3. Anthony Lee chips in 8.9 as well.

HILL-MURRAY HOOPS MAKES ITS MOVE
Hill-Murray (Maplewood) is known for its hockey and it has one of the top high school programs in the nation, churning out Division I players, college talent and stellar teams for over 25 years. Its basketball team has always played second-fiddle when it comes time to grabbing headlines. Sure the Pioneers have had some good teams, but this year's team is one ready to make a run. Competing in the always tough Classic Suburban Conference (home of 4A powers Tartan, St. Thomas Academy, Henry Sibley, Richfield), the Pioneers are 10-0 in conference action and 15-5 overall, earning the No. 9 ranking in the recent 3A poll. The big win came Tuesday when the Pioneers shocked Tartan (ranked No. 7 in 4A) 62-54. Jim Remke scored a game-high 19 points for Hill-Murray and Dave Simmet chipped in 12 in that win. Remke averages 20.6 points per game, while Rob Daul is adding 17.1 ppg and Simmet 13.6. With the win Hill-Murray is now two games up on Tartan and three ahead of Richfield in conference play.