Section by Section: Class AA Storylines

State wide, can anybody beat Minnehaha Academy?  That's the Class AA storyline.  But what about each of the sections?  

Section 1AA.  What does the post Owen King era look like? 

Caledonia's standout guard Owen King is now at South Dakota State and looking like a future Jacks star from what we hear.  Problem for Caledonia is that many seniors graduated along with Owen.  Eli King looks like a future star potential wise and Noah King is a bulldog of a guard.  But between all the new players that have to step up and Eli still being young, beating very good teams from St. Charles and Lake City will be a bigger challenge than in past years. 

Section 2AA.  Is Jordan still a step ahead?

The Jordan Hubmen keep riding sizable players and highly intelligent teams to success.  However, for once it looks like the team leader will be a guard and that's Ryan Samuelson.  Another change is that most of the section graduated their top players so Jordan should is as clear of a favorite as they've been .

Section 3AA.  A section of outstate stars.  

This might just be the most fun section in Class AA.  Why?  New London-Spicer (the favorite) is led by Brandon Adelman who plays like the game in a physical fast break way despite often being one of the taller and stronger players on the floor.  He's like a local LeBron for the NLS kids.  Rudy Voss and JCC, the attention may not be there for the player or club but them being a contender is as real as it gets.  Then you have Cole Woodford who is a straight up steal for Jamestown.  He leads Redwood Valley while Morris Area might be the most fun with rolling thunder Camden Arndt playing point forward and Jackson Loge being a young star. 

Section 4AA.  The Redhawks, what's the year look like?

The section, Cristo Rey is making strides but this is a Redhawks section of course.  The scoring difference in section games last year?  37, 33, and 43 points.  Ouch.  I doubt the section games will look any different.  As far as the regular season, the Minnehaha Academy games this year will be fun.  Here is the list: 

Section 5AA.  North has revenge on the mind. 

The Polars have been a team for stars many years.  Trejuan Holloman, Issac Johnson, Odell Wilson, Tyler Johnson, Jamil Jackson, Tayler Johnson, Patrick Dembley, and others, I'm sure I'm forgetting some others, but this team has had stars.  I don't know that the star power is there this year (in the upper grades) but the team is still deep and the talent is still better than the rest of the section.  Maranatha brings back a lot, Breck has David Roddy, and the young talent at BC is no joke, but North has too many experienced good players (Eli Campbell, Nasir El-Amin, Omar Brown) and the star power, it's young but Davon Townley Jr and Willie Wilson have those qualities.  

Section 6AA.  Cathedral vs Melrose, again.

A year ago Melrose won an overtime classic in regulation but Cathedral beat them 59-42 to get to state.  It was the second year in a row the Crusaders beat the Dutchmen to get to state after winning the regular season contests (there were two Melrose over Cathedral wins in 16-17).  Melrose has actually won five straight games over Cathedral in the regular season, but the section games went the way of the Crusaders.  This year though, it's the Cathedral squad that lost their top scorers to graduation while Preston Keaveny and Reegan Nelson return at Melrose. 

Section 7AA.  A new crew. 

Esko has a new coach and no longer has a 7-foot-3 roadblock sitting in the paint.  Esko will still be good but Greenway now has the green light to put together a big run as they are more than Dylan DeChampeau.  Barnum is a 20-win team with leading scorers Tyler Nynas and Samuel Goodwin back and then there is Pequot Lakes who should win 20+ with Jordan Schommer, Tyler Manley, and Vincent Miska back.  Then there is Mesabi East.  With Carson Becicka,Tyler Baribeau, and Hunter Hannuksela on the floor they have no reason to repeat last year's struggles. 

Section 8AA.  Breckenridge vs Perham is a rivalry to know.

Perham always seems to be ranked high with a crazy record but the Cowboys are always the one making that March drive to the Twin Cities.  This year the Cowboys are working to make the state tournament for the fourth time in five seasons while Perham is working to get to state for the first time in six seasons.  Perham won the regular season games last winter in front of a packed house but the section game went to Noah Christensen and the Cowboy crew 49-39.