It's a tough call. Who is No. 1?

When questions like this arise, one needs to find a solution. I have found one, which will probably date me.

We are going back in time, but only 50 years. That was the final year of having one overall boys basketball state champion even though we had a two-class system. Class AA champion Little Falls topped Class A champion Chisholm 54-50 in a playoff after each had won their respective classes.

Members of that Bluestreaks team, which beat St. Paul Mechanic Arts in the Class A final, were in attendance for the championship games Saturday at Williams Arena. St. Paul Mechanic Arts dissolved a year later because of a declining student population.

In 2025, we could have two playoff champions. A big-school champion (Class 3A vs. Class 4A) and small-school champion (Class 1A vs. Class 2A) champion. How fun would that be?

Since we know that is an idea the Minnesota State High School League would not approve, here is the Star Tribune's final Minnesota Top 25 rankings of the 2024-2025 season.

It's a tough call, but Class 4A champion Wayzata edges Class 3A winner Alexandria for the top spot in the rankings. The way the Trojans dismantled Cretin-Derham Hall 80-55 in the Class 4A final was impressive. Coach Bryan Schnettler's squad has won three championships in the past five years and were the runners-up the other two times. It's an extraordinary run.

An argument can easily be made for Alexandria, led by Clemson signee 6-8 and senior forward Chase Thompson. The Cardinals captured their first state crown in program history. They were the runners-up on two previous occasions in 1943 and 2021. Two of their setbacks this season came when Thompson was sidelined because of a shoulder injury.

Cretin-Derham Hall, Hopkins and Class 3A runner-up Mankato East round out the top five.

The state's lone unbeaten team, Class 2A champion Albany, lands in the No. 9 position.

Class 1A champion Dawson-Boyd earned the final spot in the Top 25, the Blackjacks' first appearance in the rankings this season.

As Carol Burnett would have sang 50 years ago at the conclusion of her variety show: "I'm so glad we had this time together."

All schools are Class 4A unless noted.

1. Wayzata (28-4) Last week: No. 4

2 Alexandria (Class 3A, 29-3) Last week: No. 3

3. Cretin-Derham Hall (29-2) Last week: No. 1

4. Hopkins (26-2) Last week: No. 5

5. Mankato East (Class 3A, 29-2) Last week: No. 2

6. Tartan (27-1) Last week: No. 8

7. Orono (Class 3A, 24-8) Last week: No. 7

8. Benilde-St. Margaret's (Class 3A, 26-3) Last week: No. 6

9. Albany (Class 2A, 32-0) Last week: No. 9

10. Totino-Grace (Class 3A, 23-7) Last week: No. 12

11. Waseca (Class 2A, 32-1) Last week: No. 11

12. Byron (Class 3A, 28-4) Last week: No. 20

13. DeLaSalle (Class 3A, 24-7) Last week: No. 17

14. Maple Grove (23-9) Last week: NR

15. Shakopee (24-7) Last week: No. 10

16. Champlin Park (23-5) Last week: No. 13

17. Prior Lake (22-7) Last week: 16

18. Moorhead (24-8) Last week: No. 22

19. Rochester John Marshall (26-6) Last week: NR

20. Richfield (Class 3A, 22-6) Last week: No. 19

21. Apple Valley (23-8) Last week: No. 15

22. Anoka (23-8) Last week: No. 23

23. Breck (Class 2A, 21-11) Last week: NR

24. Caledonia (Class 2A, 29-4) Last week: No. 14

25. Dawson-Boyd (Class 1A, 30-3) Last week: NR