Henning to face Upsala in opening round of Class A tournament

Photo by Chad Koenen
After a one week hiatus the Henning Hornets will return to the Class A state basketball tournament on Thursday morning at the Target Center. The first game between Henning and Upsala will tip off at 11 a.m. The public is invited to line the street on Wednesday morning at approximately 10 a.m. as the basketball team is escorted out of town on their way to the state basketball tournament. The escort will leave the school and travel down Douglas Ave., before heading to State Highway 210.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Henning Hornets, who are 30-0 overall and ranked first in the state, received the top overall seed in Class A and will take on the eighth seeded Upsala Cardinals in the opening round of the state tournament on Thursday, March 26 at Target Center. Tip off of Henning’s opening round game will be at 11 a.m. 

  The Cardinals advanced to state after defeating the Nevis Tigers in the Section 5A tournament last week. Upsala is currently 24-6 overall and ranked 24th in the QRF. They come into the state tournament averaging 69.7 points per game on offense, while giving up 54 points per game on defense.

  Henning defeated Park Christian by a score of 72-61 in the Section 6A final last Friday night to repeat as the Section 6A champions. The Hornets come into the tournament averaging 79.9 points per game on offense, while giving up 50 points per game on defense, both are among the best in Class A. They are also ranked third in the QRF standings.

  The winner of Henning and Upsala will take on the winner of fifth seeded Hills-Beaver Creek (27-3 overall) and fourth seeded Southland (28-1 overall) on Friday, March 27 at 12 p.m. at Williams Arena. 

  The two teams who lose in the quarterfinals will face one another on March 27 at 10 a.m. at Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia University. 

  On the other side of the bracket, second seeded Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton will face seventh seeded Cherry and third seeded Red Lake County will take on sixth seeded Liberty Classical Academy.