While all the news in Minnesota high school sports over the past week revolved around the saga of where Seantrel Henderson of Cretin-Derham Hall will sign, there was still action on the hardwood.
In fact, some interesting scenarios and battles are shaping up across the state. Here is a look at some developments in this Minnesota boys high school basketball notebook.
THE STARTING FIVE
1. MAHNOMEN MAKING MOVE: Mahnomen has won seven straight games after a 63-28 win over Climax/Fisher on Thursday. Brandon White is averaging 27.9 points per game for the Indians, who are 11-4 overall and 8-3 in the Pine to Prairie Conference. While Ada-Borup, ranked No. 4 in 1A, has a three-game lead in the conference race, and is 16-0 overall, Mahnomen continues to play well behind the conference's leading offense (72 ppg). In addition to White, Alex LaVoy is averaging 10.4 ppg, Jacob Pavek 10.2 , Dylan Stevens 8 and Avery Fairbanks 7.4. Pavek and Lavoy are the leading rebounders with Pavek averaging nearly 10 rebounds a game, and LaVoy just over nine rebounds per game.
2. WINONA WINNING: The Winona boys basketball team has won 16 of 17 games this season, and is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A behind St. Paul Johnson. The Winhawks have won 16 in a row after an 80-54 loss to Farmington on Dec. 10. and has a two-game lead over Owatonna and Mankato West in the Big 9 Conference. One of the top players for Winona has been 7-foot center Alec Brown. Brown scored 44 points in a win over Rochester John Marshall on Jan. 20. In that same game Mark Blalock scored 22 points. This 1-2 punch has been key for Winona all season, and a big reason the Winhawks have their eye on a conference and section title.
3. CLASSIC SUBURBAN SHOWDOWN: The race for the Classic Suburban Conference title is going to be a good one. St. Thomas Academy is 7-1, while Tartan is 6-2 heading into action Feb. 5. Sibley travels to play St. Thomas Academy on Friday in a game that has serious conference title implications. Billy Chapman leads St. Thomas with 18.1 points per game, while Mike Rostampour and Jordan Jackson each average 15.8 for Sibley. STA defeated Sibley 66-60 in an early meeting this season. Tartan meanwhile, is looking to an upcoming Feb. 16 game against Sibley and a Feb. 19 game against St. Thomas in its quest for the conference title.
4. MISSOTA MESS: There is a logjam at the top in the Missota Conference. Holy Angels (5-0/9-8), New Prague (4-1/12-5) and Shakopee (4-1/11-5) are battling for conference supremacy down the home stretch. Meanwhile, Hutchinson (3-2 in conference action) has the best overall record at 14-2 and is in contention. Danny Geiger of New Prague leads the conference in scoring at 21.4 points per game.
5. HEDSTROM HEADS OUT: John Hedstrom, the longtime boys basketball coach and athletic director at Minnetonka, has resigned. Hedstrom helped develop Minnetonka into one of the state's most powerful big-school programs. However, in January, Hedstrom was placed on administrative leave by the school. Thursday night, it became official, and the Hedstrom era ended at Minnetonka. There have been no public explanations behind Hedstrom's departure.
THREE TO WATCH
1. Marlin Aho, Menahaga: Aho has been a one-man window cleaner for Menahaga, averaging nearly 11 rebounds a game. In January, Aho has had 13, 18, 18, 14, 11, 15 , 15, 15 and 12 rebounds in eight games. He also chips in on offense too, averaging just over 8.0 points per game for the 11-8 Braves.
2. Calvin Jenkins, Minneapolis Roosevelt: Jenkins scored 33 points in a win over PACT Charter school on Monday and added 15 in a loss to Minneapolis Washburn on Thursday. Jenkins is averaging just over 18 points per game for the Teddies.
3. Matt Daulton, Simley: Daulton is the leading scorer for the Spartans, averaging 14.4 points per game. He is one of three Spartans averaging double figures. The others are Stefan Domeier (11.6) and Andrew Ewing (10.8).
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
1. Jordan Smith, Orono: Smith scored 39 points in a 80-70 win over Wayzata on Monday. Smith is averaging 22.3 points per game for the Spartans, who have won nine straight games and are in first place in the Wright County Conference (7-0/13-3), one game ahead of Waconia.
2. Kody Kramer, Hayfield: Kramer scored 27 points and pulled down 18 rebounds to lead Hayfield to a 70-68 win over Southland on Thursday.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1,000 - The number of career points Brett Hungerholt of Lanesboro has now scored after scoring 24 in a 79-42 win over Hope Lutheran on Thursday.
38 - The number of points Justin Pahl scored in a 85-42 win over Simley on Wednesday. It was a career high for the sophomore, who is averaging 12.3 ppg.
22.2 - The points-per-game average of Alex Richter of Lakeville South.
21.3 - It's the points-per-game average for Nick Quicksell, the leading scorer on the Woodbury boys basketball team. Not only is it a great name for a real estate agent, but it's also the name of one of the more consistent scorers in the Twin Cities over the last couple years.
