vikingman wrote:how often have the #1 and #2 teams come from the same region?
The AP poll started in the 1959-60 season. Class B and C were combined in the poll until Class C was dissolved. These are the occurrences of the #1 and #2 teams both coming from the same region:
1961: #1 New Town and #2 Hazen were both in R3 (there were only 4 regions at the time, with 2 teams advancing from each region). #10 Kenmare beat Hazen in the semifinals and New Town in the title game.
1967: #2 Ellendale beat #1 Central Cass 62-58 in the R1 final.
1969: #1 Oak Grove beat #2 Ellendale 47-46 in the R1 semifinals.
1977: #1 Hillsboro beat #2 Devil's Lake St. Mary's 61-52 in the R2 semifinals. Hillsboro also beat #3 Larimore 41-39 in the first round.
1978: #1 Larimore and #2 Mayville-Portland were both in the R2 tournament but did not play each other. May-Port was upset by Hatton on a last second shot in the semifinals. Larimore went on to win the tournament.
1994: #1 Minot Ryan, #2 Mohall and #3 Grenora were all in the R8 tournament. Mohall was upset by Trenton in the first round. Minot Ryan beat Grenora 75-52 in the title game.
2002: #1 Dickinson Trinity beat #2 Mott-Regent 61-56 in the R7 title game.
2017: #1 Four Winds-Minnewaukan beat #2 St. John 64-55 in the R4 title game.
2019: #1 Thompson vs #2 Hillsboro-Central Valley: Thompson has never been to state and is 0-4 in region title games. This is the Burros' 25th region championship appearance (16-8 record previously).