MINNEAPOLIS (AP) &045; Life is good in Braham these days.

The Bombers enter the Class 2A boys’ state basketball tournament on a 55-game winning streak, looking to defend the school’s first-ever state championship.

Sound like pressure?

&uot;It’s not pressure,&uot; leading scorer Isaiah Dahlman said. &uot;Pressure ain’t a thing for us.&uot;

When you’ve been playing together as long as the Bombers have, that kind of confidence comes easy.

&uot;We’ve been playing together since fifth grade,&uot; senior point guard Josh Vaughan said. &uot;We know what everybody is thinking and what they’re doing. We’re great friends and everybody gets along. We love playing together.&uot;

It shows.

Last season, the Bombers advanced to the school’s first state tournament and trounced top-ranked Martin County West, 73-47, in the Class 2A championship game. But this year has been different. They’re not sneaking up on anybody.

&uot;It’s a lot different this year,&uot; Vaughan said. &uot;Everyone plays their best game against us.&uot;

It’s certainly not going to get any easier for Braham in the 2A quarterfinals on Thursday. The Bombers face traditional power DeLaSalle at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

In other 2A matchups: Rockford (27-3) takes on Chatfield (26-2); Crookston (27-2) plays Belle Plaine (16-12) and Moose Lake/Willow River (24-6) faces Luverne (19-8).

The only other returning champion in this year’s tournament is Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in Class 1A.

New champions will be crowned in 3A and 4A because Mankato West and Chaska failed to qualify. With Spencer Tollackson playing at the University of Minnesota, Chaska couldn’t get back to the tournament.

In the 3A quarterfinals at Target Center on Wednesday: newcomer Andover (20-9) plays tourney veteran Monticello (24-4); Shakopee (28-1) takes on Albert Lea (15-13); Rocori (25-3) plays Mankato East (23-5) and Grand Rapids (20-8) faces Richfield (23-4).