Area Basketball Teams Affected By Section Re-Alignment

Mar 18

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Minnesota State High School League recently announced new sectional assignments for both boys and girls basketball for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. Minnesota State High School League Policy is to review and re-assign sections every two years, based on enrollment information from the Minnesota Department of Education.

So what does this mean for our local teams, starting with girls basketball the biggest effect is in Class A. Barnum, Cromwell and McGregor all which were in section 5A will all return to section 7A where they have been up until four years ago.

In section 7AA the only change is that Proctor will now move back up to section 7AAA after spending two years in section 7 AA. Milaca will replace Proctor as the new 7AA school to keep the section at 16 teams.

Section 7AAA, this year’s smallest section with only five teams, will again have eight teams assigned to 7AAA. With the addition of Proctor, Princeton, North Branch, and Chisago Lakes joining Hermantown, Cloquet, Grand Rapids and Hibbing. Bemidji which had played in section 7AAA the past two years will move back to Section 8AAA.

In Boys Basketball sectional reassignments things are a little different across the board. Barnum and McGregor will remain in Section 5A for boys basketball, while Cromwell will again move back to Section 7A.

There were no changes to Section 7AA for boys basketball, the oddity coming in girls basketball where Proctor was moved up to 7AAA while the Proctor boys basketball team will remain as a 7AA opponent and school.

Section 7AAA for the boys will again have eight teams, after dropping to six teams this past season. Princeton and Zimmerman will join current Section 7AAA teams Cloquet, Grand Rapids, Chisago Lakes, Hibbing, Hermantown, and North Branch.

The high school league determines placement in new sections based on the following criteria; moving as few teams as possible, no overlapping of section, and balance the number of teams out in each section, along with balancing within two to four teams in all sections.

The High School League does not consider rivalries, strength of the program, or strength of other teams in the section or individual request to the Minnesota High School League.

These balances will change as new programs start up or new co-ops are formed, or as teams drop or dissolve co-ops. The Board has the ability to adjust balances in the off-year should sections become extremely unbalanced due to program changes.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at

dwight@northlandsportsonline.com