Eastview, Apple Valley Boys Basketball Seeded No. 1, 2 in Section

Playoffs begin this week for the and boys basketball teams.

But, though both were ranked among the top five teams in the state for the majority of the season, only one would be able to advance to the state tournament since both play in section 3AAAA.

No. 1 section seed Eastview takes on No. 8 Park Cottage Grove at 7 p.m. Wednesday at home.

No. 2 seed Apple Valley starts with No. 7 East Ridge at 7 p.m. Wednesday at home.

The winners of these games will advance to section semifinals on Saturday. Should they continue to advance, the Eagles and Lightning could meet in the section final game a week from Friday.

Last year, it was Apple Valley that made the section final, but . South also .

Neither Lakeville South, nor state-ranked Lakeville North, is in the section 3AAAA bracket this year. Rounding out the competing teams in the bracket are No. 3 seed Cretin-Derham Hall, No. 4 Eagan, No. 5 Henry Sibley and No. 6 Rosemount.

This year, not only have both teams been ranked, both teams' marquee players are ranked in the top 10 in the state in scoring. Apple Valley sophomore Tyus Jones is second with 746 points, and Eastview senior Joey King is ninth with 597.

Eastview ended its regular season 25-1 overall and 17-1 in the South Suburban Conference, its sole loss to also 25-1 (17-1) Lakeville North.

Apple Valley's regular season record was 21-5, and 14-4 in conference.