Tartan High School advances to Class AAAA semifinals as Day 3 of the state tournament shifts to Williams Arena
tartan high school moved one step closer to a state title run after a decisive Class AAAA quarterfinal victory at Target Center, setting up a semifinal matchup as the Minnesota State High School League’s Boys Basketball State Tournament continues in Minneapolis.
What Happens When Tartan High School’s balanced scoring meets the semifinal stage?
The top-seeded Titans powered past No. 8 Blaine, 72-44, in the first game of the Class AAAA quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 24 at Target Center. Senior guard Tyrel Pride led four players in double figures with 17 points and seven rebounds.
Sophomore guard Kevin Wilson, Jr., added 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. Sophomore forward Emmanuel Oyesanmi scored 14 points, while senior forward Duke King finished with 13.
The win pushed the Titans to 30-0 and placed them into the Class AAAA semifinals on Thursday at Williams Arena against No. 5 Chaska. The tournament’s third day also includes the Class 1A quarterfinals at Target Center, alongside the Class 3A and 4A semifinals at Williams Arena, all in Minneapolis.
What If defense remains the separator after the quarterfinal statement?
The quarterfinal turned quickly on defensive pressure and the transition chances it created. Tartan coaxed Blaine into 14 turnovers and made rim protection a visible part of its performance, with blocks highlighted as an “impressive defensive statement. ” Those stops and disruption fed fast-break opportunities that helped the Titans build a 24-point advantage.
By halftime, Blaine was limited to 25 percent shooting as Tartan built a 34-17 lead. The Titans’ defensive focus was especially evident in how they handled Blaine senior guard Shiloh Ayitey, who averages 20 points per game. He did not score his first points until 13: 24 remained in the second half and finished with six points. Four other Blaine players ended with eight points each.
What Happens When the tournament calendar turns to Day 3 in Minneapolis (ET)?
The state tournament continues Thursday in Minneapolis, with the schedule split between two venues. Day 3 features the Class 1A quarterfinals at Target Center and the Class 3A and 4A semifinals at Williams Arena.
In Class 1A action cited from earlier tournament coverage, Kale Misegades led Henning to a quarterfinal win with 35 points and 16 rebounds, while the Hornets held the Cardinals to 32 percent shooting. Quinn Guthrie led Upsala with 12 points. Another quarterfinal described as a game with 13 lead changes ended with Hills-Beaver Creek sophomore guard Brodie Metzger hitting a 3-point shot with 47 seconds remaining to seal the win; he finished with 24 points, while Jamin Metzger scored 21. Elsewhere, Henry Wiste and Tate Georgen led Southland with 21 points each.
Additional results cited included an Eagles win in which the team led by as much as 35 points in the second half, shot 50. 7 percent from the field, and held the Raiders to 39. 2 percent shooting. Jaylan Hynes led the Eagles with 15 points, while Dothan Ijadimbola and Tian Chatman scored 12 points apiece.
For tartan high school, the storyline now centers on whether the same blend of experienced seniors and underclassmen production—paired with a defense that dictated terms in the quarterfinal—translates cleanly to the semifinal stage at Williams Arena.
