The 2010 winter sports season concluded with the Minnesota state high school boys basketball tournament last weekend. Here is a look at the developments and some other key highlights from the event, as well as some news and notes related to Minnesota high school boys basketball.
The Starting Five
AAAA: Hopkins 76, St. Cloud Tech 56
Joe Coleman scored 21 points and Marvin Singleton added 19 points and 17 rebounds as Hopkins won its second straight big-school title with a convincing win over St. Cloud Tech. Hopkins finished the season 30-2 and won the seventh state title in school history.
AAA: St. Paul Johnson 59, Grand Rapids 55
Grand Rapids did everything possible to spoil St. Paul Johnson’s dream season, but in the end, the Governors created the necessary breaks to pull out the win and finish the season 32-0 and as state champions. Estan Tyler scored 20 points and Roosevelt Scott 12, and both sank crucial free throws late to help the Governors pull away from a stingy Grand Rapids team. Eric Stark led Grand Rapids with 15 points and Michael Johnson added 13 for the state runner-up.
AA: New London-Spicer 62, Crosby-Ironton 52
Jayme Moten scored 19 points, Erik Tengwall 16 and Aaron Johnson 11 to lead New London-Spicer to the state title. It was another great season for many members of the NLS basketball team, including Moten, who helped the school win the Class AAA state football title in the fall. Mark Hoge of Crosby-Ironton led all scorers with 27 points.
A: Minnesota Transitions 61, Sebeka 52
Rodney Owens picked up the scoring load when standout Kevin Noreen went down with an injury, and Minnesota Transitions went on to win the state title with a 9-point win over Sebeka. Owens, a 6-4 junior, scored 22 points, and Noreen was his usual productive self – scoring 24 points (but 14 below his average) in the win. MTS finished the season 30-3.
Noreen named Mr. Basketball
Noreen was named Mr. Basketball on Sunday, after finishing the season with a state title and averaging 38.6 points per game, 16.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 3.2 blocks. The 6-10 Noreen finished his career with 4,086, becoming the first player in state history to score over 4,000 career points. Noreen broke the previous all-time scoring record of 3,428 points previously held by Cody Schilling of Ellsworth, who now plays at Augustana College. Noreen has signed to play at Boston College next year.
Other finalists were Marshall Bjorklund (Sibley East), Trevor Gruis (Ellsworth), Dyami Starks (Duluth East), and Jacob Thomas (Columbia Heights).
Where they are going?
A number of Minnesota prep stars have signed to play college basketball next season. Here is a list of where some of the top players are going or who they are considering:
Marshall Bjorklund, Sibley East – North Dakota State
Scored over 1,900 career points and averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds on the season
Alec Brown, Winona – Undecided
The demand for the 7-foot center is high – 11 Division I schools have offered him scholarships. Brown averaged 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game.
Trevor Gruis, Ellsworth – South Dakota
The Mr. Basketball finalist had over 1,600 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
Kevin Noreen, Minnesota Transitions – Boston College
With coach Al Skinner out at Boston College, how will that affect Noreen?
Jacob Thomas, Columbia Heights – Long Beach State
Scored over 2,000 points and averaged 26.7 points per game this season
Dyami Starks – Duluth East – Columbia
Scored 2,256 career points. Also gets it done in the classroom.
