High School Boys Basketball Focus: Five standouts, power rankings and games to watch

Mar. 2—It's March and you know what that means.

The stage gets bigger. The lights get brighter. The games mean more.

Champions will be crowned soon. It's the best time of the year.

A look back at the past week, and a look ahead to some big games in the coming days, in this week's Boys Basketball Focus:

TOP 5 PERFORMANCES

1. Kooper Vaughn, St. Charles

The St. Charles super senior is widely regarded as the best shooter in southeastern Minnesota, and he torched Winona Cotter for seven 3-pointers and a game-high 35 points. It was another terrific performance from the sharpshooter who scored 63 in a game earlier this season.

2. Reid Johnson, Chatfield

Johnson is on another level right now. The Chatfield shooting guard was hot against St. Charles, going for 29 points and 12 rebounds. He knocked down four 3-pointers. He's just six points away from becoming Chatfield's all-time leading scorer, and Johnson committed to the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Friday. That's a pretty good week.

3. Dayne Wojcik, Goodhue

The Goodhue big man has been coming on strong, and he delivered a monster 26-point, 12-rebound double-double in Goodhue's 52-50 win on Feb. 22 over Christ Household of Faith. Wojcik was the best player on the floor, and he delivered the game-winner.

@goodhuebbb defeats CHOF 52-50 on a last second shot by the Great Dayne! @goodhueschool pic.twitter.com/UnSjA50KYV

— Goodhue Activities (@GoodhueAct) February 23, 2021

4. Will Tschetter, Stewartville

Tschetter is the best player in southeastern Minnesota, and he proved it yet again with a 35-point, nine-rebound performance against Rochester Lourdes. Lake City held him to 19 points and that was a major success. That just speaks to how special Tschetter is.

5. John Prestemon, Lanesboro

Prestemon sparked Lanesboro to a huge come-from-behind 64-58 victory against a good Grand Meadow team. Lanesboro trailed 35-25 at the half but stormed back with a huge second half. Prestemon scored 27 points and drained three 3-pointers.

POWER RANKINGS

(Editor's note: These rankings are considered "pound-for-pound" rankings, similar to many rankings systems in boxing and mixed martial arts. They represent the best teams in southeastern Minnesota, relative to the class they play in.)

1. Caledonia (12-1)

Previous rank: (1)

Caledonia got tested when Rushford-Peterson took a 40-36 lead into the half last Tuesday, but it found a way to grind out a 72-69 victory. Head coach Brad King won't like the fact that the Warriors gave up 14 3-pointers to R-P, but the defense was stout in Friday's 72-38 victory against Wabasha-Kellogg. The Warriors might be southeastern Minnesota's best chance at bringing home a state title.

2. Stewartville (10-2)

Previous rank: (2)

Stewartville is a perfect 9-0 in the vaunted Hiawatha Valley League. The Tigers have been so dominant that eight of those wins have been by double digits. They're rolling past opponents thanks to efforts from the second-best player in the state, Will Tschetter, and a supporting cast that is deep, long and tough defensively. A road date at Byron is looming soon which will likely be the Tigers' last big challenge of the regular season.

3. Byron (9-1)

Previous rank: (3)

La Crescent is a really good team, and Byron blew it away, 82-43, on Thursday. That shows Byron's depth and talent. Jake Braaten eclipsed 1,000 career points last week and Easton Hulke also had a 20-point showing against La Crescent. The Bears are rolling, and that Stewartville matchup on Friday is one to look forward to.

4. Austin (10-2)

Previous rank: (4)

Austin took care of business last week, rolling past both Albert Lea and Faribault. Austin has won five in a row and seven out of its last eight games. The Packers' defense has been locked in this year, holding Faribault to 14 points in the entire first half, and they've got plenty of offense from Teyghan Hovland, Okey Okey, Emmanuel Manyuon, Dieth Duop and the crew.

5. Spring Grove (10-1)

Previous rank: (5)

The Lions haven't played since Feb. 19, but they still sit at fifth in the Power Rankings because they've been one of the best teams in Section 1A this year. Southland, Hayfield and Lyle/Pacelli are all really good too, so Spring Grove will hope its long layoff doesn't affect it too negatively.

6. Plainview-Elgin-Millville (10-2)

Previous rank: (6)

P-E-M is a really well-constructed team. Their guards are all capable of big nights. Sometimes, it's Peyton Schumacher who is splashing 3-pointers left and right. Other nights, Conner Schumacher is posting and spinning to the basket and playing like one of the best two-way guards in the area. And then there are nights like Tuesday when Blake Herber (26 points) reminds everyone why he's one of the best players in the Three Rivers Conference. The Bulldogs have a lot of seniors who've played together for a while. It's time to make one more run together.

7. Century (9-4)

Previous rank: (7)

Having an identity of toughness, defense and unselfishness is a great combination. Century hasn't been able to beat the best four teams in the Big Nine (Owatonna, Mankato West, Mankato East, Austin) but it's a perfect 9-0 in all of its other games. Jaden Wysocki is a rising star who scored 17 points in Century's 51-41 win over John Marshall on Friday. Noah Deedrick (13 points, six rebounds), Jaecan Fratzke (eight points) and Peter Lynch (eight points, seven rebounds) were also excellent.

8. Hayfield (10-3)

Previous rank: (9)

Ethan Slaathaug, Isaac Matti, Ethan Pack and Easton Fritcher make up one of the best quartets in southeastern Minnesota. Hayfield has won five games in a row by double figures. The Vikings are a tough team to hold to fewer than 70 points.

9. Lyle/Pacelli (10-2)

Previous rank: (10)

Buay Koak is only a sophomore but he's one of the top players in the Southeast Conference, with a silky smooth game. Lyle/Pacelli is 10-2 and 9-1 in conference play.

10. Chatfield (9-3)

Previous rank: unranked

Chatfield makes its debut in the Power Rankings after a strong week featuring two big wins over St. Charles and Kenyon-Wanamingo. The Gophers are 9-3 overall and 7-3 in Three Rivers Conference play. Reid Johnson will likely break Chatfield's scoring record this week, but the return of big man David Castleberg has also been big for the Gophers. He scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 95-61 win over St. Charles on Tuesday.

GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK

—Spring Grove at Lyle/Pacelli, Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.: Big week for Spring Grove. It will get a chance to play one of the best offenses in the Southeast Conference in Lyle/Pacelli.

—Goodhue at Cannon Falls, Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.: Goodhue and Cannon Falls are both rugged squads who get after it on the defensive end. Cannon Falls guard Marcus Banks can fill it up, too. Will Opsahl and Dayne Wojcik will try to carry Goodhue to another big HVL win.

—Austin at Mankato West, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: The Packers will get their shot at the Big Nine's top dog. They beat Mankato West back on Jan. 23, 61-52. West hasn't lost since then.

—Southland at Spring Grove, Friday, 7:15 p.m.: Southland has been itching for a chance to flex its muscles and prove it's the best team in the Southeast Conference. It will get a chance on Friday. Southland is 11-1. Spring Grove is 10-1.

—Stewartville at Byron, Friday, 7:30 p.m.: The best two teams in the HVL match up yet again. And it's the best two players in the HVL squaring off in Will Tschetter and Jake Braaten. Stewartville held off Byron 72-65 in the first matchup. Can Byron hold serve at home?