Northern Minnesota’s Tiger teams had just a bit less luck than last season in the 2025 state boys basketball tournament.
The Class A defending champs Cherry are this year’s runner-up, losing to Dawson-Boyd 74-81 in the finals March 22 at Williams Arena.
1 of
— Cherry's Noah Sundquist (2) goes up for a fast break shot against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Noah Sundquist (2) goes up for a fast break basket against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
2 of
— Cherry guard Carson Brown (23) dribbles around Dawson-Boyd's Jaxton Hastad in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry guard Carson Brown (23) dribbles around Dawson-Boyd's Jaxton Hastad in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
3 of
— Cherry guard Isaiah Asuma (10) drives to the basket against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry guard Isaiah Asuma (10) drives to the basket against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
4 of
— Cherry guard Isaiah Asuma (10) goes up for a shot against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry guard Isaiah Asuma (10) goes up for a shot against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
5 of
— Cherry's Noah Asuma (5) goes up for a shot against Dawson-Boyd's Jaxton Hastad in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Noah Asuma (5) goes up for a shot against Dawson-Boyd's Jaxton Hastad in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
6 of
— Cherry's Ayden Cappo (0) and Dawson-Boyd's Brayson Boike (5) look for a rebound in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Ayden Cappo (0) and Dawson-Boyd's Brayson Boike (5) look for a rebound in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
7 of
— Cherry forward Mason Heitzman (1) looks for a pass in the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry forward Mason Heitzman (1) looks for a pass in the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
8 of
— Cherry's Noah Sundquist (2) goes up for a rebound in the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Noah Sundquist (2) goes up for a rebound in the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
9 of
— Cherry's Noah Asuma (5) drives against Dawson-Boyd's Jaxton Hastad in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Noah Asuma (5) drives against Dawson-Boyd's Jaxton Hastad in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
10 of
— Cherry head coach Jordan Christianson on the sidelines in the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry head coach Jordan Christianson on the sidelines during the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
11 of
— Cherry fans boo a ref call during the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry fans boo a ref call during the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
12 of
— Cherry players Isaiah Asuma and Ayden Cappo hug as they leave the court during the final seconds of the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry players Isaiah Asuma and Ayden Cappo hug as they leave the court during the final seconds of the Class 1A championship game against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
13 of
— The Class 1A All-Tournament team at Williams Arena.jpg
The Class 1A All-Tournament team at Williams Arena included Nevis' AJ Bessler; Red Lake County Rebels' Connor Duden and Owen Chervestad; and Cherry's Noah Asuma, Carson Brown and Noah Sundquist.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
In a rematch of last year’s semifinal, the Cherry Tigers beat the Nevis Tigers 79-70 to advance to the championship.
Nevis took home the bronze last year, but this time lost to Red Lake County 62-67 in the third-place game. It was the Rebels first-ever state tourney appearance.
1 of
— Red Lake County's Owen Chervestad puts up a shot during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Owen Chervestad puts up a shot during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
2 of
— Red Lake County's Luke Peterson (14) puts up a shot during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Luke Peterson (14) puts up a shot during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
3 of
— Red Lake County's Ethan Johnson handles the ball during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Ethan Johnson handles the ball during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
4 of
— Red Lake County fans cheer during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County fans cheer during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
5 of
— Red Lake County's Gunnar Halverson drives to the basket in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Gunnar Halverson drives to the basket in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
6 of
— Red Lake County's Owen Chervestad (11) dribbles around a screen set by Ben Gullingsrud (15) during their game in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Owen Chervestad (11) dribbles around a screen set by Ben Gullingsrud (15) during their game in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
7 of
— Red Lake County's Gunnar Halverson drives to the basket in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Gunnar Halverson drives to the basket in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
8 of
— Red Lake County's Connor Duden drives to the basket in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Connor Duden goes up for a shot in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
9 of
— Red Lake County's Connor Duden (24) handles the ball during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Connor Duden (24) handles the ball during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
10 of
— Red Lake County head coach Steve Philion on the sidelines during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County head coach Steve Philion on the sidelines during the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
11 of
— Red Lake County's Will Gieseke (12) looks for a pass in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Red Lake County's Will Gieseke (12) looks for a pass in the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
12 of
— Connor Duden fist bumps Red Lake County head coach Steve Philion during the final seconds of the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.jpg
Connor Duden fist bumps Red Lake County head coach Steve Philion during the final seconds of the Class 1A semi-finals against Dawson-Boyd at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
13 of
— Cherry's Mason Heitzman(1) goes up for a shot against Nevis_' Isaac Bessler (3) during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Mason Heitzman(1) goes up for a shot against Nevis' Isaac Bessler (3) during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
14 of
— Cherry players cheer during the final minutes of the semi-final game against Nevis at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry players cheer on the sidelines during the final minutes of the semi-final game against Nevis at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
15 of
— Nevis' Ethan Buckholtz (21) and Cherry's Noah Asuma (5) looks for a rebound during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' Ethan Buckholtz (21) and Cherry's Noah Asuma (5) look for a rebound during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
16 of
— Nevis' AJ Bessler looks for a pass during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' AJ Bessler looks for a pass while being double-teamed by Cherry's Carson Brown and Ayden Cappo during the semi-final game against at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
17 of
— Nevis head coach Scott Kramer on the sidelines during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis head coach Scott Kramer on the sidelines during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
18 of
— Cherry's Isaiah Asuma (10) puts up a shot during the semi-final game against Nevis at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Isaiah Asuma (10) puts up a shot during the semi-final game against Nevis at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
19 of
— Nevis' Eli Lewis (4) drives past Cherry's Ayden Cappo (0) during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' Eli Lewis (4) drives past Cherry's Ayden Cappo (0) during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
20 of
— Nevis' AJ Bessler (35) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' AJ Bessler (35) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
21 of
— Nevis' Devan Lindow (2) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' Devan Lindow (2) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
22 of
— 02 Nevis' AJ Bessler (35) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' AJ Bessler (35) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
23 of
— Nevis' Alex Lester (25) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' Alex Lester (25) goes up for a shot during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
24 of
— Nevis fans protest a call during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis fans protest a ref call during the semi-final game against Cherry at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
25 of
— Cherry's Carson Brown (23) and Nevis' Ethan Buckholtz (21) go up fore a rebound during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry's Carson Brown (23) and Nevis' Ethan Buckholtz (21) go up for a rebound during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
26 of
— Nevis' AJ Bessler (35) looks for a pass while guarded by Cherry's Mason Heitzman (1) during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.jpg
Nevis' AJ Bessler (35) looks for a pass while guarded by Cherry's Mason Heitzman (1) during the semi-final game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Pequot Lakes also fared worse than last season, when the won the Class 2A consolation bracket. The Patriots were crushed by Montevideo 39-62 in the consolation semifinals.
Six Northern Minnesotans were named to the Class A All-Tournament team: Noah Asuma, Carson Brown and Noah Sundquist of Cherry; Connor Duden and Owen Chervestad of Red Lake County and AJ Bessler of Nevis.
