WINONA, Minn. –The Winona Winhawks are playing to go to the boys state high school basketball tournament. The obstacle to the Section 1AAA title and the ticket to the state tournament: The Austin Packers. The showdown is 8 p.m. at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Tickets are at the door only: $10 for adults, $6 for students. The Winhawks are 18-10 this season. They go into the sectional championship game after a 62-52 victory Saturday at Stewartville. Jasper Hedin, a senior, led the Winhawks with 30 points. The state tournament begins March 22 in Minneapolis.
Rally round the coach. Coach Kyle Martin peps up his Winhawks squad
Now 12 years later
The Winhawks last advanced to the state tournament in 2010. That team was led by Alec Brown, who went on to play Division I at UW-Green Bay. Brown was drafted by the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and is now playing professionally in Europe.