Park Center, Eden Prairie Win Sweet 16 Tournament

(KNSI) – The best teams in Minnesota high school basketball were crowned at this weekend’s Pacesetter Sweet 16 Tournament, held at the College of St. Benedict.

The tournament features the preseason top four in each class for boys and girls. The 32 teams battle it out with no regard for school size, creating unique matchups that aren’t seen in the MSHSL tournament. Pacesetter Director Jeff McCarron says often the winner of the tournament goes on to raise a trophy at the end of the high school season, but not always.

“Last year Wayzata won our Sweet Sixteen. They didn’t win the [MSHSL] Championship but they were right in there, I think right until the end.”

The 2021 summer tournament concluded with a 69-60 matchup. The Trojans outlasted Morris Area. Wayzata eventually fell at Williams Arena in the AAAA title game to Park Center.

The Pirates are off to a great start following a state championship in the 2021-22 season. They went 31-1 last year in MSHSL play.

SWEET 16” CHAMPIONS 2022

Love my team @parkcenterhoops @HSBElite @FreshCoastHoops @SLAM_HS pic.twitter.com/M0ppaBm8Do

— Xavier Frelix (@XFrelix) August 8, 2022

McCarron says the 2021 Sweet Sixteen girls’ championship ended with a college-type atmosphere as Hopkins edged Minnetonka for their seventh straight tournament win. Both those teams advanced deep in this year’s field, before falling to the red hot Eden Prairie Eagles.

EPHS squeaked by Hopkins, 59-55, in the semifinals. Minnetonka settled for a second-consecutive runner-up result, going down in the championship game.

Reunited and it feels so good!!! Eagles are champions of the 2022 Pacesetter “Sweet 16” Tourney with wins over Providence, DeLaSalle, Hopkins and Minnetonka. Great way to start the new season together! Go Eagles! pic.twitter.com/mkw8g9ncmI

— EPHS Girls Basketball (@EPGirlsHoops) August 7, 2022

The Pacesetter Sweet 16 Tournament is held the first weekend in August each summer so that there is minimal conflict with AAU schedules. It’s billed as the greatest collection of talent under one roof.

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