Sectional Preview: 18
The coming high school season is almost upon us. With that, we are taking a look at each Sectional in the state. Starting with 64 and ending with 1. Today, we are previewing Sectional 18.
Calumet (9-14) – Lost 1st Rd. Sectional
While Calumet had an okay year last year, and this year they are going have to try and combat the loss of eleven seniors. They lose a ton and I am not sure they will be able to recover from it even though they do usually play a lot of different players each year.
Hanover Central (9-14) – Lost 2nd Rd. Sectional
Jordan Smith was a really good player last for Hanover Central last year but he is gone and along with him goes over thirty percent of the scoring from the team. That isn’t including their second leading scorer who is also gone due to graduation. They will be a senior laden team and this year they will need to find scoring they didn’t have last year.
Knox (11-14) – Lost 2nd Rd. Sectional
Unlike most other teams in this sectional, Knox does not lose the top scorer from last year. They don’t even lose one of their top four scorers from the past year. Kooper Broeker is really, really good and he will come in looking to score more than the 19.5 points a game he put up last year. They will be contenders this year with almost all scoring back.
Rensselaer Central (15-9) – Lost Sectional Final
Rensselaer made a run to the sectional final last year before falling to Twin Lakes in a close one. This year they will have to rely on Jaylen Gilbert a lot more than last year after losing five seniors. I have confidence Gilbert can handle the load but I don’t think the other will be able to step up enough in order to contend.
Twin Lakes (25-4) – Lost State Final
Twin lakes may not even win 10 games this year after making it all the way to the state finals last year. Losing their top five scorers will hurt anyone especially when your leading scorer returning averaged 3.8 points a game. Twin Lakes will struggle mightily this season.
Wheeler (17-7) – Lost 2nd Rd. Sectional
Three guys averaged over nine points a game last year for Wheeler and all three of them graduated. They are a pretty young team this year now that five juniors are back and they will look to contend. They have enough youth that I think they can although they won’t win 17 games again.
Contenders For 2017-18: Knox, Wheeler
Prediction: Knox
Player to Watch: Kooper Broeker (Knox)