Minnesota River Conference Preview
After several down years as a whole, the Minnesota River had a strong year collectively in 2015-16. With teams like Belle Plaine, Norwood-Young America and Jordan all pushing for close to 20 wins, the conference was good at the top…
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Continue ReadingAfter several down years as a whole, the Minnesota River had a strong year collectively in 2015-16. With teams like Belle Plaine, Norwood-Young America and Jordan all pushing for close to 20 wins, the conference was good at the top and decent through the middle.
There is a lot of premier talent still in place throughout the league, which means it should be competitive again this winter. While Jordan looks like the clear favorite on paper, teams 2-7 might not be separated by as much as a typical conference.
State Contender:
Jordan
Size matters. The Jaguars have loads of it.
Jimmy Vollbrecht is one of the best players in the state and is back after averaging 25 points per game as a junior. At 6-foot-8 Vollbrecht presents a challenge few teams on Jordan’s schedule can contend with.
Eric Tiedman is another matchup nightmare and after averaging more than 12 points per game as a sophomore, he could emerge as one of the best players in the conference as well. At 6-foot-5, he and Vollbrecht form a deadly frontline duo.
Jackson Way and Austin Bendzich are both back after earning minutes in the backcourt last year, which should help stabilize things as teams will likely try to press and prevent the bigs from dominating inside.
A guy to watch for Jordan is 6-foot-9 junior big man Andrew Niebuhr. Niebuhr is extremely long and could be a breakout candidate.
On the verge:
Norwood-Young America, Mayer Lutheran
(NYA Times staff photo by Adam Gruenewald)Norwood-Young America won 20 games a year ago and advanced to the Section 2AA-North final game and the Raiders could find themselves in a similar spot this winter. Kellen Erpenbach is the best guard in the conference and averaged more than 15 points per game a year ago. He’s joined by Carter Clemensen in the backcourt, who averaged just less than 10 points per game. That backcourt should keep them competitive in a lot of games this year. Logan Corlett gives them a third returning rotation player.
Mayer Lutheran’s been down the last two seasons but went 13-12 last year and returns almost every key player on the roster. Cole Hagen could be one of the top players in the conference and is back after averaging about 15 points per game as a sophomore. Gerrett Tjernagel and Kobey Woolhouse both started as sophomores and had their share of big moments as well. Baden Noennig is a guy to watch as well. He averaged about six points per game as just a freshman a year ago.
In the middle:
Belle Plaine, Sibley East
Belle Plaine advanced to the section final last year where the Tigers lost to Maple River. On paper, its going to be tough to get back to that spot as they’ll have to replace all-everything forward Luke Narveson. Narveson averaged more than 20 points per game a year ago and Mitchel Stier was a very good second scorer for them too.
Brody Curtiss is back after starting and averaging just less than 10 points per game as a junior. He’ll provide stability in the backcourt. Nathan Herman gives them two returning starters, as the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 9 points per game a year ago.
Sibley East won just seven games a year ago but the Wolverines played a lot of underclassmen throughout the year.
Gavin Bates averaged 16 points per game as a sophomore and gives them a potentially elite player in the conference. Austin Weckwert averaged double figures as a sophomore as well. Connor Kranz is back to join Bates in the backcourt and Devon Schultz is a 6-foot-8 post who had a great summer on the AAU circuit and could give them a very strong presence inside.
Rebuilding:
Tri-City United, Le Sueuer-Henderson
Tri-City United lost its three best players in Jackson Feddema, Keegan Oak and Carter Rynda. Devon Jacobson and Billy Odenthal are back, which means they shouldn’t fall too far. But the Titans won 11 games a year ago and after graduating their top three players from a year ago means there are more questions than answers at this point.
Le Sueur-Henderson had a really good run of competitive years from 2013 to 2016 but with most of the players gone from those teams, the Giants might be due for a rebuild. Cole Pengilly is back and they’ll lean on him to do a lot. After averaging 12 points per game a year ago, it wouldn’t be surprising if he pumped his scoring average up five or six points per contest.
Conference Power Ranking
- Jordan
- Norwood-Young America
- Mayer Lutheran
- Belle Plaine
- Sibley East
- Tri-City United
- Le Sueur-Henderson
Preseason All MRC
First Team
Jimmy Vollbrecht, Jordan, Sr.
Kellen Erpenbach, NYA, Sr.
Cole Hagen, Mayer Lutheran, Jr.
Gavin Bates, Sibley East, Jr.
Eric Tiedman, Jordan, Jr.
Second Team
Austin Weckwerth, Sibley East, Jr.
Carter Clemensen, NYA, Sr.
Brody Curtiss, Belle Plaine, Sr.
Cole Pengilly, LS-H, Sr.
Garrett Tjernagel, Mayer Lutheran, Jr.
Third Team
Nathan Herman, Belle Plaine, Sr.
Jackson Way, Jordan, Sr.
Devon Jacobson, TCU, Sr.
Devon Schultz, Sibley East, Sr.
Kobey Woolhouse, Mayer Lutheran, Jr.