The Breakdown Tip Off Classic provides high-quality early-season matchups each season. It can be a barometer to measure teams. If this year's event is an indication of the season to come, get ready for a wild one.
Early-season event shows parity in boys basketball Metro Top 10
Buzzer-beating shots settled several games pitting teams from the rankings.
December 12, 2023 at 12:50PM
Six teams in the boys basketball Metro Top 10 were involved in thrillers: four games that were decided at the buzzer.
Class 4A defending state champion Wayzata, ranked second at 3-0, edged Class 3A defending state champion Totino-Grace (1-1), ranked fourth, 83-81 on senior forward Jackson McAndrew's off-balance shot from the left elbow at the buzzer. McAndrew, a Creighton recruit, scored 22 of his game-high 38 points in the second half as the Trojans rallied from a seven-point deficit.
No. 1 Park Center (4-0) clipped No. 3 Lakeville North (1-1) 81-79 when senior guard Casmir Chavis drove down the lane and made a floater at the buzzer. The Washington recruit finished with 23 points. Senior forward Jack Robison, a Wisconsin recruit, paced Lakeville North with 25 points.
No. 7 Hopkins (2-1) held off East Ridge 73-72 when the Raptors failed to get off a shot before time expired on their final possession. Hopkins led by 25 in the first half.
No. 9 Breck slipped past Alexandria 71-68 when the Cardinals missed a three-point try at the buzzer. Mustangs senior guard Daniel Freitag, also a Wisconsin recruit, scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half. Gophers commit Grayson Grove, a 6-9 junior forward, was hampered by foul trouble and finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots for Alexandria.
This week's marquee matchup
Shakopee at Wayzata, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Here's a chance to see where the No. 8 Sabers (3-0) stack up against the state's best. The Class 4A defending state champion Trojans (3-0) beat Shakopee 69-63 last season.
Boys basketball Metro Top 10
1. Park Center (4-0). Last week: 1
2. Wayzata (3-0). Last week: 2
3. Lakeville North (1-1). Last week: 3
4. Totino-Grace (3A) (1-1). Last week: 4
5. Benilde-St. Margaret's (3A) (2-0). Last week: 5
6. Minnetonka (2-0). Last week: 6
7. Hopkins (2-1). Last week: 7
8. Shakopee (3-0). Last week: unranked
9. Breck (2A) (2-0). Last week: 10
10. Osseo (2-0). Last week: unranked
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
