Chaska defeats top-seeded Tartan in Minnesota High School Boys Basketball State Tournament Class 4A Semifinal

MINNEAPOLIS -The No. 5 Chaska Hawks (27-4) defeated the No. 1 Tartan Titans (30-1) 60-51 in the 2026 MSHSL boys basketball Class 4A semifinal at Williams Arena.

The Hawks and the Titans traded baskets throughout the second half, and as they did, the crowd in The Barn grew louder. Each section was pushing their teams to try and reach a state title game for the first time in over twenty years.

But amidst the noise, Tartan and Chaska still had to execute their switch-heavy defenses. They both have quality 3-point shooters, and both teams were shooting most of their shots from beyond the arc, so the defenses needed to communicate and not miss an assignment.

With under three minutes remaining, and with the game tied, Chaska freshman Jed Keenum ran free of the Tartan defense, and he hit two open 3-point shots to give Chaska the win. He finished with 17 points.

“I don’t think one person on this team doubts me,” Keenum said. “It gives me confidence to just shoot the ball over and over.”

The makes were his fourth, fifth and final 3-pointers of the game, and it was Chaska’s 10th and 11th.

“I think we had some communication errors because of the volume of the arena,” Tartan head coach Mark Klingsporn said. “We just didn’t talk loud enough, and a couple times we got burned because of that. They did a good job. When they got those shots, they made it.”

Tartan entered the game 30-0 and the top seed, but the Hawks executed in the big moments. They earned trips to the free throw line and hit 17-of-21 free throws. They were not phased by a slow start to the game and an athletic Tartan defense. They stayed with Tartan’s shooters.

“In that loud environment, for them to not miss a switch, for them to not gamble and pressure up too much and sag too much, all of a sudden the pressure fell on [Tartan],” Chaska head coach Nick Hayes said.

Tartan had been in big games this season, but nothing replicates the state tournament.

“I think we’ve played enough of those, but I never know if kids truly can get enough of that,” Klinsporn said. “I just don’t know if you can put them in enough situations like that.”

Chaska’s execution and win means it will play in its first state title game since 2004, when the Hawks won the Class 4A title. They’ll play No. 7 Apple Valley, a team with as much momentum as the Hawks.

“We’ve been winning physical games throughout the section, and these guys didn’t blink,” Hayes said. “It speaks to their toughness, their togetherness.”

Minnesota High School Boys Basketball State Tournament Scores, Live Updates, Schedule - March 26

Tartan vs. Chaska: Live Score Updates of Minnesota High School Boys Basketball State Tournament Class 4A Semifinal

The teams are on the court for introductions.

First Half Updates

Chaska wins the opening tip, and the game is underway.

Chaska with four turnovers in the opening three minutes, and Tartan leads 5-3.

The Hawks are only getting looks from beyond the 3-point line, and they're not falling. For Tartan, Babatunde Oyesanmi has 8 points to open the game — Tartan 12, Chaska 3 — 12:00

Chaska gets a few shots to fall, and Tartan turns the ball over, to cut into the Titans' lead — Tartan 14, Chaska 10 - 8:44

Both of these teams are shooting many 3-point shots. Tartan is 4-of-16 and Chaska is 4-of-13. Kalin Jochum has made two for the Hawks, and he has 7 points — Tartan 20, CHaska 17 — 4:49

Chaska is on a 7-0 run, and Tartan's lead is down to 25-24 — 1:52 remaining in the half.

Jed Keenan's 3-point shot gives the Hawks the lead at 27-25 with 49 seconds reminaing in the first half.

HALFTIME: Chaska 27, Tartan 25

Both defenses are forcing shots from 3-point range, and both teams are struggling to shoot the ball.

Chaska is 8-for-26 from the field and 6-for-18 from 3-point range. Tartan is 9-for-35 from the field and 5-for-19 from 3.

Keenan has 11 points for the Hawks. Oyesanmi leads Tartan with 8 points.

Second Half Updates

The second half is underway.

Chaska with a 6-0 run in the opening minutes. The Hawks lead 37-32 with 14:25 remaining.

Chaska has a 42-39 lead with 12:01 remaining in the game. Jaylen Goergen has five points in the second half for Tartan. Jochum continues to lead the Hawks, and he's up to 15 points in the game.

Chaska leads 49-47 with 7:04 remaining. Tartan is starting to close the free-throw disparity, but Chaska has a 15-8 edge in attempts.

Chaska ends an almost four-minute scoreless drought with two made free throws from Evan Atkinson. The game is tied at 51 with 4:49 remaining.

Now Tartan is amdist a scoreless run. Freshman Jed Keenan hits two 3-point shot for Chaska, and the Hawks lead by 7 with 2:00 remaining.

Tartan is shooting 3s, but none are falling. They trail by 7 with 23 seconds remaining.

FINAL: Chaska 60, Tartan 51

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