First Look: 7AAAA
Teams
Andover. We like Corbin Johnson and some of their juniors to be. Will it be enough? We’ll see.
Anoka. Coming off a tough year, a transition time.
Blaine. They bring back nearly everybody and have some quality size and forwards. Key year.
Cambridge-Isanti. The graduated senior group had a nice run. Not sure what they have coming up.
Coon Rapids. From the outside looking in, you root for them. Good coach who is working hard.
Duluth East. Zwak and Cody Carlson are back but they lost a lot of senior contributors.
Forest Lake. The Rangers will be led by Noah Alm. It’s his time to take the wheel.
St. Francis. A lot graduated but it’s a good program. Should still be solid. Whitney leads.
Ten Thoughts
- Many are critical of this section, myself included.Why?Not as deep as the rest of them despite many of the teams being so close to good teams in other sections.When you rank sections, they have been and will commonly by number eight.
- That said, last year the section was better than expected.Teams like Duluth East stepped up to exceed expectations and St. Francis was a really good basketball team a year ago.Really good.
- What will this year be like?I feel like there was more talent in the section this year as compared to last.St. Francis was a pretty easy pick but I don’t think there is an easy pick this season.
- Blaine.Blaine is the team most will pick to be the best as they bring back so much, Ben Scherer is a D2 committed kid, and Zach Baker looks much improved.That said, they were under .500 a year ago.
- I definitely got some heat last year for a prediction about St. Francis or something, not sure what it was but I want to say I think they are doing a really good job up there.Lots of graduated players but they should still be solid.
- Four different teams have won the section the last four years.To keep that string going it would have to be Forest Lake or Cambridge, amongst teams that we expect to have a shot at it.
- Speaking of Forest Lake, I was last at a game in their building eight years ago and I was totally caught off guard and the atmosphere there and the way they played.
- Definitely need to get out to some of these gyms.Haven’t been to St. Francis, Cambridge, or Andover gyms before for games.
- Will Coon Rapids climb up? Not sure.That said, coached against them a couple years ago and they really played hard and the right way.Can that pay off? Time will tell.North St. Paul is similar and that hard work should be rewarded the next couple years but South St. Paul has had a couple really good coaches that couldn’t turn it around so you never know.
- Last spot is for Will Starks.He didn’t coach last year but whenever I see Duluth East basketball I will think of him.I miss his random messages that always included some joke or the interactions with a smile. RIP Friend.
Section Team
Noah Alm, Forest Lake
Zach Baker, Blaine
Cody Carlson, Duluth East
Sam Gerrity, Blaine
Corbin Johnson, Andover
Nik Keller, Blaine
Tim Leo, Blaine
Logan Rezac, Andover
Ben Scherer, Blaine
Ryan Svihel, St. Francis
Robbie Whitney, St. Francis
Joey Zwak, Duluth East