By Tim McGovern, Herald Sports Editor 

Minnetonka is the state’s No. 1-ranked team in Class 4A boys’ basketball.

And the Skippers sure are playing like it.

Tonka crushed Marshall 84-51 on Friday, in the first game of the Tip-Off Classic in Marshall.

Minnetonka then clipped DeLaSalle 68-55 in the second day of the tournament on Saturday.

“It was a fun, long trip,” Skipper coach John Hedstrom said. “We left Friday afternoon and got back after midnight on Saturday.

The Skippers did a lot of scoring in those hours, as senior Anthony Tucker scored 16 first-half points to help the Skippers to a 21-point advantage over Marshall.

Andrew Latzke finished with 15 points, and Sedrick McBounds added 10. Cole Stefan finished with 15 points off the bench for the Skippers.

Minnetonka seems to be firing on all cylinders, but Hedstrom said the team is missing a fine player. Kyle Risinger is battling through a hip injury suffered during the football season, and is working to get on the court.

The Skippers topped Henry Sibley 78-74 on Tuesday, and host Chaska in a nonconference clash at 7:15 p.m. on Friday night.

“It’s been great so far,” Hedstrom said. “The kids are real cohesive and fun to coach.”

Hedstrom said the 4-0 Skippers are not looking past Chaska, as he knows that the No. 1 target brings out the best in foes.

“It sharpens us,” Hedstrom said. “We have to play well every game.”

And the Skippers want to play deeper in the season.

“We want to win six games in March,” Hedstrom said. “Three in sections and three at state: that’s our goal.”

Hawks looking for a win

Chaska’s boys basketball team fell 72-64 to Eagan on Friday in the home opener. Derek Jerde led the Hawks with 21 points. Tyler Goetz added eight points and Andrew Martinson had seven, with Travis Polster and Paul Yerhot adding six apiece.

Eagan 6-foot-10 senior center Garrett Bassett led all scorers with 19 points, to go with five rebounds, five blocks and four assists.

Ian Lippert and Cody Heinz each scored five points for the Hawks, with Eric Wenz and Tom Zydowsky adding three apiece.

The Hawks trailed Eden Prairie by a point at halftime Tuesday, but fell to 0-3 on the season with a 74-68 loss.

Martinson led the Hawks with 16 points, Goetz had 11 and Jerde hit for 10. Wenz and Zydowski added nine points apiece. Polster finished with five, while Lippert and junior center Bronson Byrne each added four points.

After the clash on Friday at Minnetonka, Chaska enjoys a short holiday break, and enters the Edina Tournament on Dec. 27-28.