Class AAAA: Section Spotlight

It's time for certain programs to take a step forward.  Teams some talent or a strong group and now is the team for these teams to put it together for a big year!

1AAAA.  Rochester Mayo.  The Spartans were a game under .500 last year but that should now change.  Juniors Gabe Madsen and Mason Madsen combined to score about 37 of the teams's 67 points a game last year.  Also returning is third leading scorer Calvin Dixon and big man Adam Leary.  Time for the Spartans to be a Big Nine tough guy. 

2AAAA. Chanhassen.  I realize this section is stacked.  But Jefferson and Minnetonka both lost the majority of their rotation last year while Chanhassen has U of Mary committed Regan Tollefson, Carter Holloway, and Luke Glitzen as a really tough trio.  Finishing in the top five of the section may be tough but at the same time, that doesn't mean this team can't at least flip the 15-12 record around. 

3AAAA. Park of Cottage Grove. Time for the Wolfpack to finally have some good luck.  Between a talent drop off most of the last 15 years and crippling injuries at times, it's about time for Park to have a run.  And with UMD bound Charlie Gorres, senior slasher Dominek Block, and several others.  No reason for Park to struggle - unless there are more injuries. 

4AAAA. St Paul Central.  First off the talent at Central is strong and they bring back everything from a 16 win team.  Daveonte Davis, Dion Ford, and Ronelle Porter lead a group of seniors that should surely win the City Conference and maybe it's to get that big win over section opponents like a Tartan, or CDH, or a NSP.  Let's see what happens. 

5AAAA. Park Center.  Guess who has knocked Park Center out of the playoffs the last three seasons?  Osseo.  Guess who has defeated PC seven of the last nine times? Osseo.  Tim Theisen has continually got the better of this program over and over again.  With Osseo turning over the roster spots mostly to last year's JV guys (they graduated most of their 17-18 rotation) it's time for PC to take the step past the Orioles. 

6AAAA. Not Sure.  Wayzata and Hopkins are monster hitters here.  Hopkins used to go to state all the time, now they are having trouble getting over the Trojan hurdle.  From there, the three Minneapolis schools just don't have the talent and numbers to make a run, St. Louis Park is going through a major roster change, and Armstrong is starting a major program change.  There really isn't a "it's your time to make a move" here unless you are talking Hopkins not being able to beat Wayzata in March the past couple seasons. 

7AAAA. Cambridge.  It's your time Bluejackets.  Henry Abraham has been getting buckets in that jersey since Obama took office.  Henry has several quality teammates around him as well.  They need to get past the hammerings that Forest Lake and Blaine put on them last year, and if they do, state could come their way. 

8AAAA. Buffalo.  The time is now, plain and simple.  All that young talent is now juniors and teams like Tech, Brainerd, and Rogers are going through major changes.  STMA and Moorhead have standouts but bodies to replace and Elk River is always Elk River.  Buffalo should have the deepest starting five in the section, but can they get past a veteran Maple Grove team that has the experience on them?