DeLaSalle guard Nasir Whitlock during the Class 3A State boys basketball championship game against Totino Grace at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday March 26, 2022. Totino Grace won 50-44. Whitlock had a game-high 18 points. 
Minneapolis North guard Mario Sanders calls a play during the Class 2A championship game against Annadale at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday March 26, 2022. Annadale won 60-49. 
Totino Grace guard Tommy Humphries scores two of his nine points during the Class 3A title game against DeLaSalle at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday March 26, 2022. The junior also had six rebounds and two blocks for the 3A state champs. 
Park Center guard Ayouba Berthe during the Class 4A boys basketball championship game against Wayzata at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday March 26, 2022. Park Center won and Berthe scored 13 points. 
Park Center head coach James Ware led the Pirates pass Wayzata to capture the Class 4A state boys basketball championship at Williams Arena on Saturday March 26, 2022.
This week’s photo spread features four major contributors to Championship Saturday at the Boys’ State Basketball Tournament at Williams Arena: Ayoba Berthe (Park Center, Class 4A champion), Tommy Humphries (Totino Grace, Class 3A champion), Nasir Whitlock (DeLaSalle, Class 3A runner-up), and Mario Sanders (Minneapolis North, Class 2A runner-up)—and a first-time championship coach, James Ware (Park Center).
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald is a contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.