Outstate teams Owatonna, Perham on top early in Minnesota basketball

When it comes to the top teams in Minnesota boys' basketball, a number of perennial powers are again dominating the rankings. In the latest Associated Press poll Hopkins (Minnetonka) was on top in 4A. While Tartan (Oakdale) moving to No. 2 may be considered a surprise, the Titans are a deep and talented team that appear to be ready for big things the rest of the 2010-11 season. The rest of the top five includes Eastview (Apple Valley), Osseo and Lakeville South. Eden Prairie is ranked sixth, followed by Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul).

It's not until the eighth spot in the rankings that an outstate big school team shows up, and that team is the Owatonna Huskies, who are now 9-0 after a 67-51 win over Big Nine Conference foe Rochester Century Thursday. Vaughn Thada scored 22 points and added three assists and three rebounds, Matt Simon added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Drew Osmundson added 13 points and four assists for the Huskies, who overcame a three-point halftime deficit and trailed by as many as nine in the first half. Owatonna, which advanced to the big school state tournament last season, appears to be ready to contend for the Big Nine Conference and another section title.

The same could be said for Perham, ranked No. 5 in 2A. The combination of Mark Schumacher and Jordan Bruhn has propelled the Yellow Jackets to a 7-0 start. Schumacher, a 6-foot-6 center, leads the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game, while Bruhn averages 11 points per game and had 13 assists in a 64-60 win over Pequot Lakes earlier this season.

Looking for another small school player to keep track of? Zach Huisken, a 6-foot-9 center for Southwest Minnesota Christian (Edgerton), had 17 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocked shots in a 62-46 win over Hills-Beaver Creek recently. SMC has moved to No. 9 in the 1A rankings.

BENILDE-ST. MARGARET'S DEFEATS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN NORTH SUBURBAN CLASH
It's early in conference action, but Benilde-St. Margaret's (St. Louis Park), ranked third in Class 3A, earned a key 78-67 win over No. 8 Columbia Heights Thursday. BSM led by two at halftime but outscored Columbia Heights 41-32 in the second half to pull away. Isaiah Zierden, son of former Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach and current Washington Wizards assistant Don Zierden, pumped in 29 points, while Sanjay Lumpkin added 21 to lead BSM. Ben Glover led four Columbia Heights players in double figures with 17 points. Keanu Glover added 13 points, Zach Lofton 12 and Sami Hadzajlic 10 in the loss.

With the win BSM improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the North Suburban. Columbia Heights meanwhile, is now 0-2 in conference action and 6-2 overall.

BURNSVILLE UPSETS NO. 3 EASTVIEW
It wasn't pretty, but they'll take it. The Burnsville defense dominated in a 44-39 win over No. 3 Eastview Thursday. Tony Delanghe of Burnsville led all scorers with 17 points as the Blaze held the high-powered Lightning to only 17 second half points. The Eastview trio of Joey King (15 points), Shane McSparron (14) and Frank Veldman (10) had good numbers - but were the only three players to score for Eastview. If winning ugly is what needs to be done, the Blaze will take it - because earlier in the week they defeated Bloomington Kennedy 36-34.

THOMAS LEADS WASHBURN IN MINNEAPOLIS CITY CONFERENCE ACTION
The Washburn (Minneapolis) boys' basketball team, ranked No. 6 in the state in 3A, got a prime-time performance from Clarence Thomas in a 90-81 win over Minneapolis Patrick Henry High Thursday. Thomas scored 39 points - 25 in the first half - as Washburn improved to 7-2 on the season and 2-0 in conference action. Thomas, averaging 17.4 points per game, has scored more than 20 points three times, but this was his first game over 30 on the season. Also contributing for Washburn in the win over Henry was Dwight Anderson (16 points), Cedric Chappell (15), and Joseph Doby (10).

KUPLIC IS CRUISING FOR TRINITY AT RIVER RIDGE
Trinity at River Ridge is 5-4 on the season, led by the consistent offensive output of 6-foot-1 junior guard Tony Kuplic. Kuplic is averaging 28.4 points per game and scored 30 and 28 points as Trinity has won its first two games of the new year. He's also contributing 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.6 assists and has a season high of 35 points in a 72-58 win over the International School of Minnesota in late December.

STA'S SJOBERG CONTINUES TO SCORE
St. Thomas Academy 6-foot-5 junior Thomas Sjoberg had his lowest scoring output of the season Monday and it still was a point total any player would be happy with, and it was still another St. Thomas win. Sjoberg scored 15 points as the Cadets, ranked No. 10 in 3A, defeated Henry Sibley 54-49 in a Classic Suburban Conference clash. Sjoberg is averaging 25.1 points per game, including a 37 point outburst in a 80-59 win over St. Agnes Dec. 22. He's scored more than 21 points in five other games this season. St. Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights) looks to contend this season in a conference that also features No. 2 Tartan as its main competitor.

Have a news tip, story idea or comment? Contact Matt Krumrie at mattkrum@yahoo.com.