Big changes for future basketball playoffs

The changing face of rural Minnesota means fewer and fewer schools will be staying afloat, lowering the number of sports teams available for rural-area playoff sections. Three programs at B-B-E will see a significant change in the teams they will face for playoffs for the next two years. Football is moved to Section 4A (see separate story), while boys and girls basketball are now in Section 6A.

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) recently released the 2009-2010, 2010-2011 competitive section assignments for varsity-level playoffs. The information was highly anticipated by local basketball fans, as it was almost a sure bet that B-B-E would be dropped into Class A for the first time since 2004-2005.

The Jaguars boys and girls basketball teams have been moved into Section 6A, which reaches from Clinton, Minnesota on the south, all the way to Halstad, Ada, and Waubun to the north. (A distance of 170+ miles) B-B-E is in the extreme southeast corner of the section.

Section 6A for boys basketball in the next two seasons will include the following schools that are located in the Moorhead area, and further north: Ada-Borup, Barnesville, Lake Park-Audubon, Norman County East, Norman County West, Ulen-Hitterdal, Waubun, and Park Christian.

Schools in the Fergus Falls area include Battle Lake, Henning, New York Mills, Parkers Prairie, Rothsay, Underwood, Ashby, and Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.

Closer to home, the other teams in Section 6A are Chokio-Alberta, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (2009 Section 6A runner-up), Hancock, Brandon-Evansville, Campbell-Tintah/Fairmount (N.D.), and Wheaton/Herman-Norcross.

One important note is that Hancock, Chokio-Alberta, and Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley have been in discussions over recent months to consider pairing their boys basketball programs. According to recent reports, C-A will pursue agreements with Hancock or Morris Area for boys basketball.

Ada-Borup is the defending section champion, having just placed third in Class A over the weekend.

For girls basketball, Section 6A includes the same teams, with the exception of Chokio-Alberta, which pairs with Morris Area for that sport. Ada-Borup is the two-time defending section champion, as well as the two-time defending Class A state champion.