MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Isaiah Dahlman is among the most decorated players in the history of Minnesota boys' high school basketball, but he has one more objective left in mind.
Dahlman hopes to cap his career by leading Braham to a third straight state title.
"That's what I want," the 6-foot-7 guard/forward said. "It's been a goal of mine for a long time. I've always wanted to be part of a team that has won those three championships."
Dahlman and Braham will get that chance starting Wednesday, when the No. 1 Bombers (28-2) play New-London Spicer (25-5) in the Class 2A quarterfinals of the state basketball tournament.
Braham has turned into a power the past three seasons thanks chiefly to Dahlman, a Michigan State recruit who became Minnesota's all-time leading scorer in boys' basketball when he had 41 points in the Bombers' 81-54 win over Holdingford in the Section 6 title game Friday.
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Dahlman has 3,294 career points. The old record was 3,292 by Chisholm's Joel McDonald.
"It was a special moment for me, but it wasn't a goal of mine by any stretch," Dahlman said. "I was given a great situation and have played on some great teams."
Those teams have flirted with history. Braham was chasing the state record for consecutive wins in boys' basketball when it lost 80-67 to Eden Prairie, a Class 4A team, on Dec. 30 in the title game of the Hutton Classic tournament at Bethel University. The loss ended Braham's winning streak, which spanned three seasons, at 65 games. The record is 69 by Edina (1965-68).
Braham later lost another game to a tough opponent, 70-62 at Minneapolis Henry on Feb. 13.
"Getting to the state tournament was what we were working for," Dahlman said. "Our goal was never the streak; it was to win the state championship. Playing those teams definitely made us better, and that's why coach (Bob Vaughan) scheduled those games."
Braham's boys basketball team has become the pride of the east-central Minnesota town with slightly more than 1,000 residents, many of whom likely will attend the tournament.
"I think that everyone that's able to come makes the trip," Dahlman said. "The town supports us so well. In every window there's something about us, and they do whatever they can to help.
"It's been a great experience for the whole community."
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If Braham is to win another title, it will have to beat out a quality Class 2A field. In Wednesday's other quarterfinals, No. 2 Pelican Rapids (28-2) plays Benson (22-4), No. 4 Pequot Lakes (28-0) meets Breck (23-6), and No. 8 Maple River (26-4) faces No. 9 Dover-Eyota (27-1).
Here's how the tournament's other classes shape up:
E Hopkins returns to defend its Class 4A title. The No. 2 Royals defeated No. 3 Eden Prairie 55-54 on Friday for the Section 2 crown on a late layup from guard Blake Hoffarber, who gained national notoriety last year when he made an improbable basket from the seat of his pants to force double overtime in the big-school championship game and allow Hopkins to beat Eastview.
The Royals (27-2) will meet Lakeville North (10-19), which advanced to state despite having a losing record, in Wednesday's quarterfinal round. In the other games, No. 5 St. Paul Johnson (23-4) faces Andover (21-8), No. 6 Robbinsdale Cooper (22-3) battles Richfield (21-6), and No. 7 Elk River (26-3) meets Woodbury (21-8).
Cooper will play in its first state tournament since 1975. Coach Kurt Pauly said the Hawks' success has energized the school and community, which had grown accustomed to losing teams.
"I can't tell you how big this is for Cooper," Pauly said. "We have great kids here, but losing does wear on everyone. The community support is second to none."
E Six teams ranked in the top 10 qualified for the Class 3A field, including the top three.
No. 1 Duluth East (27-2), featuring Iowa State recruit Cory Johnson, plays No. 5 Monticello (24-5) in Wednesday's quarterfinals. In the other games, No. 2 Waconia (26-1) faces Lakeville South (17-12), No. 3 St. Thomas Academy (25-4) meets No. 9 Rocori (23-5), and No. 7 DeLaSalle (24-5) squares off with surprise entrant Totino-Grace (8-20).
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St. Thomas is led by 6-foot-9 center Bryce Webster, a University of Minnesota recruit.
"Bryce is a very skilled player who for a big man is very advanced," Cadets coach Mike Sjoberg said. "He is going to be a fan favorite at Minnesota."
E A new champion will be decided in Class 1A because of Ellsworth's incredible comeback victory over two-time defending champion Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in the Section 3 title game.
The Panthers trailed 61-43 with four minutes remaining but staged a big rally and sent the game into overtime on Ben Herman's 3-pointer at the buzzer en route to an 83-80 victory.
Ellsworth (26-4) will play No. 3 Stephen-Argyle Central (28-1) in a quarterfinal Thursday. In the other games, No. 1 Maranatha Christian Academy (30-0) takes on AlBrook (21-5), No. 2 Osakis (29-0) meets New York Mills (21-5), and Rushford-Peterson (20-9), last year's runner-up, faces Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (21-7).
2006 Minnesota Boys State Basketball Tournament
CLASS 1A
Thursday, March 23
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QUARTERFINALS
At Williams Arena, Minneapolis
Stephen-Argyle (28-1) vs. Ellsworth (26-4), 11 a.m.
New York Mills (21-5) vs. Osakis (29-0), 1 p.m.
Maranatha (30-0) vs. AlBrook (21-5), 3 p.m.
Rushford-Peterson (20-9) vs. Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (21-7), 5 p.m.
Friday, March 24
SEMIFINALS
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At Target Center, Minneapolis
Upper bracket winners, noon
Lower bracket winners, 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 25
THIRD PLACE
At Concordia University, St. Paul
Semifinal losers, 10 a.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
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At Target Center
Semifinal winners, noon
CLASS 2A
Wednesday, March 22
QUARTERFINALS
At Target Center, Minneapolis
Pelican Rapids (28-2) vs. Benson (22-4), 6 p.m.
Braham (28-2) vs. New London-Spicer (25-5), 8 p.m.
At Williams Arena, Minneapolis
Breck (23-6) vs. Pequot Lakes (28-0), 6 p.m.
Dover-Eyota (27-1) vs. Maple River (26-4), 8 p.m.
Friday, March 24
SEMIFINALS
At Target Center
Upper bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Lower bracket winners, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 25
THIRD PLACE
At Concordia University, St. Paul
Semifinal losers, noon
CHAMPIONSHIP
At Target Center
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Wednesday, March 22
QUARTERFINALS
At Target Center, Minneapolis
Rocori (23-5) vs. St. Thomas Academy (25-4), 10 a.m.
Totino-Grace (8-20) vs. DeLaSalle (24-5), noon
Monticello (24-5) vs. Duluth East (27-2), 2 p.m.
Lakeville South (17-12) vs. Waconia (26-1), 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 23
SEMIFINALS
At Target Center
Upper bracket winners, noon
Lower bracket winners, 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 25
THIRD PLACE
At Concordia University, St. Paul
Semifinal losers, 2 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
At Target Center
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Wednesday, March 22
QUARTERFINALS
At Target Center, Minneapolis
Elk River (26-3) vs. Woodbury (21-8), 10 a.m.
Richfield (21-6) vs. Robbinsdale Cooper (22-3), noon
St. Paul Johnson (23-4) vs. Andover (21-8), 2 p.m.
Lakeville North (10-19) vs. Hopkins (27-2), 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 23
SEMIFINALS
At Target Center
Upper bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Lower bracket winners, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 25
THIRD PLACE
At Concordia University, St. Paul
Semifinal losers, 4 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
At Target Center
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.
