It’s time for the contenders to take a step forward and for the pretenders to be eliminated.

Section tournament play is underway, and teams are dropping by the wayside.

The first 17 teams remain the same in the Star Tribune’s statewide Minnesota Top 25 boys basketball rankings, most having drawn either first-round byes or opponents below .500. The action will heat up later this week.

All four classes are represented in the Top 25. The top team in each classification is No. 1 Cretin-Derham Hall (25-1) in Class 4A, No. 3 Mankato East (25-1) in Class 3A, No. 9 Albany (25-0) in Class 2A and No. 25 Cherry (25-1) in Class 1A.

Three other teams remain unbeaten with Albany. They are No. 7 Tartan (25-0) in Class 4A, No. 11 Waseca (27-0) in Class 2A and unranked Southland (28-0) in Class 1A.

All schools are Class 4A unless noted.

1. Cretin-Derham Hall (25-1) Last week: No. 1

2. Hopkins (25-1) Last week: No. 2