The North Suburban Conference has voted to dissolve and has gained Minnesota State High School League approval to do so effective June 30, 2014, member schools said in a news release Monday.

The 11-member conference already was facing the loss of three schools to the Mississippi 8 next year, and two more to the newly formed Metro West the year after that. The six remaining schools met two weeks ago and decided to disband, according to the release.

Each of those six schools will now look for a new conference. If any school can't find a home by June 18, the high school league will assign them to one, according to a letter from Dave Stead, the league's executive director.

Chisago Lakes, North Branch and St. Francis announced earlier this year they would join the Mississippi 8 next fall. Cooper and St. Louis Park announced earlier this month that they will join the new Metro West Conference in 2014-15.

Schools that have not yet found a new conference are Benilde-St. Margaret's, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Irondale, Spring Lake Park and Totino-Grace.

DEREK WETMORE

Park Center’s Quinton Hooker averaged 23 points per game this season and scored more than 2,000 points for his career.

Quinton Hooker named 2013 Mr. Basketball

The 2012-13 boys' basketball season became an even bigger success for Quinton Hooker on Monday when the Park Center senior was named the 2013 Mr. Basketball in Minnesota.

The Star Tribune first-team All-Metro selection led the Pirates to the Class 4A championship game Saturday, where they fell to Apple Valley, 74-57.

The Mr. Basketball award is given to the top senior boys' basketball player in the state. Hooker, who will play at North Dakota, averaged 23 points per game this season and scored more than 2,000 points for his career.

The other finalists for the award were Graham Woodward of Edina, Anders Broman of Lakeview Christian, Aaron Lien of Moorhead and Riley Dearring of Minnetonka.

JIM PAULSEN