Coming up: 10 must-see section games this week

The blowouts are in the books. Let the games begin for real. It’s week 2 of section play, where the rubber hits the road and the entire field for next week’s Minnesota state high school tournament will be determined. If you are looking to watch the best of the best in sections these are the games you don’t want to miss. Sleepy Eye vs Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s The civil war resumes in Southern Minnesota Monday night as crosstown rivals Sleepy Eye Public and Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s go head-to head in a section 2A semifinal. Strangely enough, even though the two schools are less than a mile apart, the entire town will expand its carbon footprint by driving 45 miles east for the 7:45 p.m. contest at St. Peter. The Indians of Sleepy Eye (23-5) are led by standout sophomore , an elite point guard who has already committed to Southwest Minnesota State. The 26-2 Knights of St. Mary’s feature , perhaps the best player in the Class A. Last time they met the South Dakota State commit put up 44 points to give SESM the win. The Knights have lost just once in their last 20 games, a two-point heartbreaker at the hands of Yellow Medicine East. They were a worthy tournament team a year ago and are favored to return once again, but it will not be easy. Academy of Holy Angels vs Benilde-St. Margaret’s Benilde is coming off a dramatic last-second triumph over Orono on Saturday, the best post-season contest we have seen so far. Could one of the state’s better rivalries produce similar fireworks on Thursday at 7 p.m.? That’s when they’ll face off at Chanhassen in the section 6AAA final. 21-5 Holy Angels features a multi-pronged attack led by seniors (Missouri Western) and . Benilde has probably the best sophomore in America in , and junior forward came up big on Saturday. The last time they met on Dec. 9 it was Holy Angels that prevailed, but back then BSM was just finding their way, having started the season 1-3 as they adapted to all the fresh faces. The went on to win 13 of their next 14. Perhaps AHA’s three-point bomber will be the difference maker in this one, or will it be BSM freshman ? DeLaSalle at St. Paul Como Park If you like it loud, or if fast and furious is your thing, then a trip to St. Paul is definitely in order on Thursday. That’s where 22-6 DeLaSalle will go at it with 19-6 Como Park at 7 p.m. in one of Minnesota’s best basketball atmospheres. The senior-laden rivals will meet for the section 3AAA championship. Piloted by the stellar backcourt of and (Saint Peter’s), Como offers fast, ferocious fun at both ends of the floor. The Islanders are led by senior , the uber-talented Wisconsin commit who is capable of taking a game over at any time. Sharp-shooting senior (Quincy) and super-skilled freshman will no doubt be big factors in this one. Como played one of the toughest non-conference schedules possible, all in preparation for this game. They prevailed on Dec. 4 in the prequel. We’ll see what happens in the main event. Lake City vs Rochester Lourdes After years of frustration, Lake City finally made it to state last season. Unfortunately they didn’t get to travel to Minneapolis due to the COVID-diluted format and then they laid an egg in the opening round. Now the 20-8 Tigers will have another opportunity when they meet a familiar foe in 20-7 Rochester Lourdes on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester in the section 1AA championship game. Lake City knocked off perennial tournament team Goodhue to get here while Lourdes rolled over Winona Cotter. The teams split a pair of games this winter and neither has any distinct advantage over the other. The key matchup features a pair of super seniors in MSU-Mankato commit of Lake City and Augustana signee of Lourdes. Inside it will be UW-Eau Claire commit doing battle with junior post of Lourdes. Shakopee vs Eden Prairie This was the section Chaska was supposed to win, wasn’t it? Or was it Minnetonka? Turns out neither one of those predictions was accurate and it will be 23-4 Eden Prairie vs 25-3 Shakopee for the section 2AAAA title when they meet Friday at 7 p.m. in EP. It’s no grand surprise that EP is in the championship game. The Eagles’ roster is loaded with talent and experience, including Minnesota commit , Illinois State signee and senior guard (UM-Duluth). The Eagles are deep and can go toe to toe with anyone. Shakopee, on the other hand, is an underdog led by blue-collar warriors wired to defend. The Sabers have won 20 in a row. During that stretch, no opponent has scored over 50, a dozen have been held under 40, six have scored less than 30. Shakopee is led by Jamestown commit while D1 post prospect has been stellar.

MORE GAMES TO WATCH Menahga vs Perham The Braves of Menahga (24-2) will meet the Yellowjackets of Perham (21-7) in a section 8AA semifinal game on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Detroit Lakes when senior post (UM-Crookston) of Menahga will bang bodies with gifted big of Perham (photo above). Coaches Cody Pulju and T.J. Super are two of Minnesota’s best. Wayzata at Hopkins Although the 22-1 Royals have to be considered heavy favorites over the 18-8 Trojans, any encounter between Hopkins and Wayzata captures the imagination, doesn’t it? They’ll meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Hopkins for the section 6AAAA crown when the Trojans will attempt to beat the big blue machine for the first time since 2018. St. Michael-Albertville vs Rogers After years of frustration and a revolving door of coaches, the 26-2 Rogers Royals have caught fire this season and bring a 21-game win streak into Thursday’s 7 p.m. encounter with the Knights for the 8AAAA title. There’s just so much star power in this one as , , , and more do battle. Austin vs Stewartville The Mayo Civic Center in Rochester will be rocking Friday at 8 p.m. when 23-5 Austin meets 19-9 Stewartville for the section 1AAA crown. The matchups in this one are intriguing as Packer standouts , and face off against Tigers , and company. A PAIR OF MAYBES Technically neither of these two games is on the docket just yet. In reality they are nearly a lock as the squads involved are all heavily favored in their still-to-be-contested semifinals. If all goes according to form these potential encounters could be epic. Providence Academy vs Holy Family The section 5AA final is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. The Lions and Fire offer up so much star power as headliners , and of Providence and Holy Family’s , and are among the state’s best. Minnehaha Academy vs St. Croix Lutheran The section 4AA final is set for 8 p.m. Friday at Southwest Christian in Chaska and could mark the return of a rivalry for the ages after a four-year hiatus. The two teams had some fierce battles before SCL moved to up Class AAA. Now they’re back, both teams are loaded and it could be epic. Top photo: Benilde-St. Margaret’s scored a stunning last-second win over Orono on Saturday. Can they prevail against Holy Angels?