All of the puzzle pieces are waiting for their places in the Boys Basketball State Tournament brackets.
The Jackson County Central boys basketball team is back in the State Tournament for the second time in three years and fifth time in the past decade after knocking off the previously unbeaten Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Tigers 59-54 in the Section 3AA Championship in Marshall on Thursday night.
Last year’s runner-up, Waseca, upset state-ranked Belle Plaine for the Section 2AA title 75-64 this past Wednesday. The 23-7 Bluejays are in the State Tournament for the third straight year and 14th all-time after winning the 2021 state title.
State-ranked Goodhue beat Caledonia 76-71 on Thursday for the Section 1AA title. The 29-1 state-ranked Wildcats will make their third straight appearance and seventh in school history.
The rest of the section championships happened on Friday night.
State-ranked Minnehaha Academy routed St. Croix Lutheran 86-66 in Section 4AA. The 23-5 Redhawks advanced to State for the 10th straight year and 14th time overall.
Blake upset Maranatha Christian Academy 59-54 in Section 5AA. The 19-12 Bears advanced to State for the first time since 2013 and the second time in program history.
Albany stifled Melrose 55-35 in Section 6AA. The 24-6 state-ranked Huskies will appear at State for the eighth time and seek a third title in four years.
Pequot Lakes routed Pierz 73-35 in Section 7AA for a fifth straight State appearance. The state-ranked 28-1 Patriots clinched their eighth trip overall.
Perham upset Staples-Motley 66-62 in Section 8AA. The 18-12 Yellowjackets are back at State for the first time since 2022 and the seventh time in program history.
Class A section champions
Southland in 1A, Hills-Beaver Creek in 3A, and Liberty Classical in 4A are making their State Tournament debut.
Section 2A champion Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton is back at State for the first time since 2008.
Section 5A champion Upsala returns to State for the first time since 2011.
Cherry is making a fifth straight appearance from 7A and looking for a second title in three years after finishing runner-up last year.
Section 8A champion Red Lake County is back for the second straight year and Section 6A champion Henning is taking a second straight shot at their first State title since 2019.
Class AAA section champions
Section 1AAA champion Northfield is in the State Tournament for the first time since 1932. Section 8AAA champion Sartell-St. Stephen is making a second appearance and first since 2013.
Section 7AAA champion Grand Rapids is back for the first time since 2017. Section 6AAA champion Richfield returns for the first time since 2021. Section 3AAA champion Minneapolis South advanced to State for the second time in three years.
Section 2AAA champion Mankato East returns to State for the fifth straight time after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Section 4AAA champion DeLaSalle hasn’t missed State since 2011 but last won it all in 2019 and endured a pair of runner-up finishes since then. Section 5AAA champion Totino-Grace is back again looking for a fourth title in five years.
Class AAAA section champions
Section 1AAAA champion Lakeville South is back at State for the first time since 2011 and 7AAAA champion Blaine returns for the first time since 2016. Section 3AAAA champion Apple Valley returns for the second straight year seeking a fourth title since 2013. Section 5AAAA champion Maple Grove is making back-to-back State trips as well.
Section 2AAAA champion Chaska is back at State for the first time since 2017 and captured the 2004 title. Section 4AAAA champion Tartan is back for the first time since 2014 and won it all in 2000. Section 1AAAA champion Lakeville South is back at State for the first time since 2011.
Section 8AAAA champion Alexandria won the AAA title last year and is hunting the AAAA title this year. Section 6AAAA champion Wayzata is back again looking to repeat and win a fourth title in six years with appearances in the championship each of those years.
Seeding will be announced for all classes on Tuesday night.