![Park Center was already a target entering the quarterfinal round, squeaking past Osseo in a two-point win for the section 5 title, knocking off the defending state champions.The Pirates replicated the outcome against Lakeville North, but averted disaster after a 19-point lead evaporated, requiring a 74-72 overtime win at Target Center."The game was intense," said Park Center senior Quinton Hooker. "Playing on the bigger court got to us a little bit."The Pirates (27-3) stormed in the first half, getting 13 points off 10 turnovers from the Panthers (23-7). In the second, JP Macura knocked down threes, while Park Center struggled to score inside, allowing Lakeville North to tie the score at the end of regulation.With 22.4 seconds to go and the score tied, Park Center ran out the clock, but the plan nearly backfired when Hooker's elbow shot bricked. Isaac Matthews came up from the weak side to tip in the game-winner."Missing the shot and not realizing the time was not a veteran move at all, but kudos to Isaac, who crashed the boards, made the layup, and got us to the next level," Hooker said.Three Park Center players finished with double-doubles. Hooker had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Treyton Daniels (pictured) got 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Devin Buckley posted 10 points and 11 rebounds.Macura led Lakeville North with 26 points and seven rebounds.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/10/7c/107c3a610126094c3bf5e4322284c449.jpg?itok=b3r3njGQ "Park Center was already a target entering the quarterfinal round, squeaking past Osseo in a two-point win for the section 5 title, knocking off the defending state champions.The Pirates replicated the outcome against Lakeville North, but averted disaster after a 19-point lead evaporated, requiring a 74-72 overtime win at Target Center."The game was intense," said Park Center senior Quinton Hooker. "Playing on the bigger court got to us a little bit."The Pirates (27-3) stormed in the first half, getting 13 points off 10 turnovers from the Panthers (23-7). In the second, JP Macura knocked down threes, while Park Center struggled to score inside, allowing Lakeville North to tie the score at the end of regulation.With 22.4 seconds to go and the score tied, Park Center ran out the clock, but the plan nearly backfired when Hooker's elbow shot bricked. Isaac Matthews came up from the weak side to tip in the game-winner."Missing the shot and not realizing the time was not a veteran move at all, but kudos to Isaac, who crashed the boards, made the layup, and got us to the next level," Hooker said.Three Park Center players finished with double-doubles. Hooker had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Treyton Daniels (pictured) got 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Devin Buckley posted 10 points and 11 rebounds.Macura led Lakeville North with 26 points and seven rebounds.")
![Apple Valley was the top seed in the class AAAA field, but had not qualified to the state tournament bracket in 2009, presenting a challenge of navigating through the more prestigious atmosphere.The Eagles had also never seen the Brainerd Warriors before, resulting in a sluggish start. Apple Valley trailed by as much as eight in the first half before settling down and coasting to an 81-67 win at Target Center."Brainerd is an extremely well-coached team. They played a hell of a game," said Apple Valley guard Tyus Jones.The win marked the second time Apple Valley (29-1) needed a comeback effort at Target Center; the Eagles rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat Robbinsdale Cooper in January at the Timberwolves Shootout."We just weren't playing like ourselves: missing defensive assignments, missing easy shots that we usually make," Jones said. "As a point guard, you need to try to keep everything calm, not let everything get out of hand, because basketball is a game of runs."Apple Valley employed a 25-11 run to close out the game, working their way through a 56-56 tie with 9:09 to play in the second half.Four players reached double-digits in scoring. Jones got 19 points, seven assists and six steals. Dennis Austin added 19 points and six rebounds.Brainerd (28-2) was led by Marcus Comstock with 17 points and six rebounds.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/a7/1f/a71f7a8fa41a170cbb345d39d2ed3979.jpg?itok=h1h8fwdw "Apple Valley was the top seed in the class AAAA field, but had not qualified to the state tournament bracket in 2009, presenting a challenge of navigating through the more prestigious atmosphere.The Eagles had also never seen the Brainerd Warriors before, resulting in a sluggish start. Apple Valley trailed by as much as eight in the first half before settling down and coasting to an 81-67 win at Target Center."Brainerd is an extremely well-coached team. They played a hell of a game," said Apple Valley guard Tyus Jones.The win marked the second time Apple Valley (29-1) needed a comeback effort at Target Center; the Eagles rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat Robbinsdale Cooper in January at the Timberwolves Shootout."We just weren't playing like ourselves: missing defensive assignments, missing easy shots that we usually make," Jones said. "As a point guard, you need to try to keep everything calm, not let everything get out of hand, because basketball is a game of runs."Apple Valley employed a 25-11 run to close out the game, working their way through a 56-56 tie with 9:09 to play in the second half.Four players reached double-digits in scoring. Jones got 19 points, seven assists and six steals. Dennis Austin added 19 points and six rebounds.Brainerd (28-2) was led by Marcus Comstock with 17 points and six rebounds.")
The class AAAA field in the Minnesota State High School League boys basketball tournament often creates intense hype, as many of the metro area's top stars present themselves in front of fans and college scouts. Wednesday at Target Center was a demonstration of why such a following has developed.
With Osseo eliminated in their sectional final with Park Center, everyone knew a new champion would be crowned. The answer will be discovered on Saturday, but the bracket is already generating high-profile contests.
Apple Valley worked through early bumps to prevail over Brainerd in the first state tournament visit for highly-touted point guard Tyus Jones. His leadership was evident in Apple Valley's second half comeback, but the Eagles boast a deep roster to relieve pressure from the Division I prospect. Freshman center Brock Bertram provides a road block with his 6-foot-10 frame, the same height as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love. Dennis Austin can score off the block with high efficiency, and Dusty Fronk gives Apple Valley a three-point specialist for opponents to deal with.
Eden Prairie advanced out of the quarterfinals for the third straight year. A high complement of football carry-overs gives their team wide versatility, even if the basketball culture trails their football tradition. Their starters lack the name recognition of other teams, but will make themselves memorable to the teams they defeat.
Park Center is the semifinalist with the most questions after a near collapse to Lakeville North. Their go-to player, North Dakota recruit Quinton Hooker (pictured) is skilled enough to navigate through tough terrain, but appeared to suffer some fatigue in the second half before reserve forward Isaac Matthews turned a Hooker miss to a game-winning bucket in overtime.
Edina marks another new entry, taking advantage of a weaker Hopkins team in the section 6 playoffs. The Hornets have a lesser expanse of talent, but pack a powerful one-two combination in Graham Woodward and Reggie Lynch to spring a potential surprise.
![Apple Valley was the top seed in the class AAAA field, but had not qualified to the state tournament bracket in 2009, presenting a challenge of navigating through the more prestigious atmosphere.The Eagles had also never seen the Brainerd Warriors before, resulting in a sluggish start. Apple Valley trailed by as much as eight in the first half before settling down and coasting to an 81-67 win at Target Center."Brainerd is an extremely well-coached team. They played a hell of a game," said Apple Valley guard Tyus Jones.The win marked the second time Apple Valley (29-1) needed a comeback effort at Target Center; the Eagles rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat Robbinsdale Cooper in January at the Timberwolves Shootout."We just weren't playing like ourselves: missing defensive assignments, missing easy shots that we usually make," Jones said. "As a point guard, you need to try to keep everything calm, not let everything get out of hand, because basketball is a game of runs."Apple Valley employed a 25-11 run to close out the game, working their way through a 56-56 tie with 9:09 to play in the second half.Four players reached double-digits in scoring. Jones got 19 points, seven assists and six steals. Dennis Austin added 19 points and six rebounds.Brainerd (28-2) was led by Marcus Comstock with 17 points and six rebounds.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/a3/94/a3947cab2e8b98bc0fcbd9e8d0b58212.jpg?itok=3_ovMnkH "Apple Valley was the top seed in the class AAAA field, but had not qualified to the state tournament bracket in 2009, presenting a challenge of navigating through the more prestigious atmosphere.The Eagles had also never seen the Brainerd Warriors before, resulting in a sluggish start. Apple Valley trailed by as much as eight in the first half before settling down and coasting to an 81-67 win at Target Center."Brainerd is an extremely well-coached team. They played a hell of a game," said Apple Valley guard Tyus Jones.The win marked the second time Apple Valley (29-1) needed a comeback effort at Target Center; the Eagles rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat Robbinsdale Cooper in January at the Timberwolves Shootout."We just weren't playing like ourselves: missing defensive assignments, missing easy shots that we usually make," Jones said. "As a point guard, you need to try to keep everything calm, not let everything get out of hand, because basketball is a game of runs."Apple Valley employed a 25-11 run to close out the game, working their way through a 56-56 tie with 9:09 to play in the second half.Four players reached double-digits in scoring. Jones got 19 points, seven assists and six steals. Dennis Austin added 19 points and six rebounds.Brainerd (28-2) was led by Marcus Comstock with 17 points and six rebounds.")
![Park Center was already a target entering the quarterfinal round, squeaking past Osseo in a two-point win for the section 5 title, knocking off the defending state champions.The Pirates replicated the outcome against Lakeville North, but averted disaster after a 19-point lead evaporated, requiring a 74-72 overtime win at Target Center."The game was intense," said Park Center senior Quinton Hooker. "Playing on the bigger court got to us a little bit."The Pirates (27-3) stormed in the first half, getting 13 points off 10 turnovers from the Panthers (23-7). In the second, JP Macura knocked down threes, while Park Center struggled to score inside, allowing Lakeville North to tie the score at the end of regulation.With 22.4 seconds to go and the score tied, Park Center ran out the clock, but the plan nearly backfired when Hooker's elbow shot bricked. Isaac Matthews came up from the weak side to tip in the game-winner."Missing the shot and not realizing the time was not a veteran move at all, but kudos to Isaac, who crashed the boards, made the layup, and got us to the next level," Hooker said.Three Park Center players finished with double-doubles. Hooker had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Treyton Daniels (pictured) got 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Devin Buckley posted 10 points and 11 rebounds.Macura led Lakeville North with 26 points and seven rebounds.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/4c/6c/4c6cbb016535705618c2a0f6eb3b3ebc.jpg?itok=sht6ZHpf "Park Center was already a target entering the quarterfinal round, squeaking past Osseo in a two-point win for the section 5 title, knocking off the defending state champions.The Pirates replicated the outcome against Lakeville North, but averted disaster after a 19-point lead evaporated, requiring a 74-72 overtime win at Target Center."The game was intense," said Park Center senior Quinton Hooker. "Playing on the bigger court got to us a little bit."The Pirates (27-3) stormed in the first half, getting 13 points off 10 turnovers from the Panthers (23-7). In the second, JP Macura knocked down threes, while Park Center struggled to score inside, allowing Lakeville North to tie the score at the end of regulation.With 22.4 seconds to go and the score tied, Park Center ran out the clock, but the plan nearly backfired when Hooker's elbow shot bricked. Isaac Matthews came up from the weak side to tip in the game-winner."Missing the shot and not realizing the time was not a veteran move at all, but kudos to Isaac, who crashed the boards, made the layup, and got us to the next level," Hooker said.Three Park Center players finished with double-doubles. Hooker had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Treyton Daniels (pictured) got 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Devin Buckley posted 10 points and 11 rebounds.Macura led Lakeville North with 26 points and seven rebounds.")
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