Previewing this week’s Breakdown Tip Off Classic
We're still digesting and disseminating the many story lines and top performances from last weekend's Thanksgiving tournaments with plenty more coverage and analysis to come. Before we can even catch our breath, however, it's time to look at what's coming up this weekend – the Breakdown Tip Off Classic circa 2023. Yes, the Thanksgiving tournaments were great but what's ahead in less than 48 hours is even better. The Breakdown Tip Off Classic is the premier multi-team event of the high school regular season. It promises to be a blast. The 22-game showcase opens Friday with six contests beginning at 5:30 p.m. and continues with 16 more games on Saturday. Hopkins High School is the place to be if you want to see the cream of the crop all in one place, all at one time.
WHAT IS THE TIP OFF CLASSIC?
Breakdown Sports USA is a Minnesota-based tournament organizer. Nobody does multi-team basketball events better. Justin Hegna, Dean Kesler and company have 20-year track record of putting on great showcases involving Minnesota's best varsity programs both in summer ball and during the regular season. The Tip Off Classic is their biggest and best. If this year is like previous versions, the gym will be loaded with college coaches at all levels as it normally draws some of the biggest names in collegiate basketball to tap into the state's deep pool of talent. And the atmosphere is always loaded with energy.
WHO IS PLAYING?
Every season we hear the same refrain: Why can't the state tournament include the best teams in Minnesota rather than the section winners? Ask the folks over at Wayzata how they feel about that! Unlike the Minnesota State High School League state tournament, the Breakdown Tip Off Classic almost always features the best of the best. This year that includes the four defending state champs: 4A St. Michael-Albertville, 3A Benilde-St. Margaret's, 2A Providence Academy and Class A Mountain Iron-Buhl. The field looks like this:
- Class 4A – Andover, Champlin Park, Eastview, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Rochester Century, Rosemount, Spring Lake Park, St. Michael-Albertville and White Bear Lake.
- Class 3A – Alexandria, Becker, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Delano, DeLaSalle, Mahtomedi, Stewartville and St. Peter.
- Class 2A – Albany, Crosby-Ironton, Duluth Marshall, Jordan, Minnehaha Academy, Perham, Providence Academy, Sauk Centre, St. Croix Lutheran and Visitation.
- Class A – Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart, Goodhue, Hancock and Mountain Iron-Buhl.
Hopefully I didn't forget anyone! We should also mention the visitors from Hortonville, a strong Wisconson program that features a familiar face in these parts. That would be Prep Girls Hoops Wisconsin 2025 #1 Rainey Welson, who plays her AAU basketball at North Tartan . Welson is a treat to watch.
10 GREAT GAMES TO SEE
Friday
8:30 p.m. – Lakeville North vs Hopkins (West Court)
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – Albany vs Duluth Marshall (West)
11:00 a.m. – DeLaSalle vs Alexandria (West)
12:00 p.m. – Perham vs Minnehaha Academy (East)
1:45 p.m. – Stewartville vs Delano (East)
3:15 p.m. – Crosby-Ironton vs Sauk Centre (East)
3:45 p.m. – Wayzata vs Rosemount (West)
5:00 p.m. – Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart vs Mountain Iron-Buhl (East)
6:30 p.m. – Goodhue vs Hancock (East)
7:00 p.m. – Hortonville (Wisconsin) vs Providence Academy (West)
See the complete schedule and all the details at breakdownsportsusa.com.
