Game site: section finals (and fan bus!)

Still nothing at MSHSL.org.....I am gonna make some calls and get an answer!

And the answer is!

Crosby-Ironton high school. This is just past Brainerd...about 110 miles if memory serves me correct from our B-B-E high school.

Tip-off at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 15 for the right to compete in the state tournament!

DIRECTIONS: it appears that travelers to C-I high school will want to turn left on "Wallace Avenue" in the block across from the Crosby Dairy Queen. Wallace Avenue then turns into Poplar Street, on which the C-I high school is located (711 Poplar Street, Crosby, MN 56441). Getting on the right path through/around Brainerd is an important part of this trip. Once in Crosby, you wind into town past a few curves, and the C-I high school is on the left (north) - can't miss it!

*Update: and my memory was pretty good, this is 109.7 miles from our high school to the C-I high school. This was the site picked for the 2014 section title game before I raised issues with the unnecessary driving for both teams and the section administrators moved it to Alexandria (B-B-E vs. Browerville that year).

I was hoping for Brainerd as the site, but what I want everyone to understand is that a great deal of work goes into finding/selecting sites for these big playoff games. (Insert side bar: I just learned that Cromwell-Wright played one of their playoff games in Brainerd, in the sub-section semifinals against Browerville...so if Brainerd was picked it would have given a small advantage to the Cardinals in this upcoming section final game.)

Or to say it in just a few words: throwing out "I'd like Brainerd" is just giving an uninformed opinion.

 The factors to consider on deciding where to hold these championship games are endless: gym capacity, parking, availability of volunteer workers, security workers, concession workers, is the gym needed for other reasons such as athletic practices, etc? The Region 6A administrators put a lot on the line by stating "TBD" for site locations and then work behind the scenes to have options in mind once the section tournaments begin. Then when the chips are down, and you are down to the two teams who have to play, they have to quickly get agreements in place with school administration at those sites (in this case, C-I school officials)...I have to say we should be thankful that the tradition is in place where "TBD" is stated well ahead of time instead of picking an arbitrary site in these vast, expansive playoff sections up to a year in advance. (That was past practice years ago, which is how we got C-I as a site for the Section 5A finals in 2014 prior to the last-minute change to Alexandria.)

Here's extended coverage at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website...it recycles what has been posted on this blog and also shows a video of the Jaguars during the awards ceremony last night: (short link) https://bit.ly/2XWR7KS.

***Update early afternoon: you can sign up for a coach fan bus via this website link (short link) https://bit.ly/2XX4jzu. Or you can sign up in person at either school building's office in Brooten or Belgrade. The cost is $20. The bus will depart from B-B-E elementary at 3:45 p.m. and then from B-B-E high school (back lot) at 4 p.m. sharp! This is a tremendous option for fans to take advantage of!

And THANK YOU to Fauskee Oil of Brooten for their loyal and steady support of the Bonanza Valley Voice's sports department as we work hard to cover B-B-E sports teams in the playoffs. We are extremely grateful for your advertising!

##ConquerEveryDay