Class A State Preview: Backcourts to Watch

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s never too early for way-too-early season. With fall sports hitting the halfway point soon, attention will start turning to the winter season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top backcourts in Class A for this upcoming season:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>BOLD:</strong> Gavin Vosika, Jordan Sagedahl and Drew Sagedahl</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">BOLD will head into the 2019-20 season as one of the most talented teams in the state and the Warriors’ group of guards is arguably the best in Class A. Gavin Vosika is one of the best point guards in the 2020 class and can set the tone on both ends. He’s a stat-stuffer who will have teh opportunity to put up triple doubles on a nightly basis. Jordan Sagedahl is one of the top scorers in Class A and has put up better than 16 points per game each of the last two seasons. And Drew Sagedahl emerged last season as a sophomore as a steady scorer on the wing. He’s a terrific shooter who excels with and without the ball. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Henning:</strong> Isaac Fisher, Parker Fraki, Blake Wallevand and Lee Bjorklund </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Henning won the state title a year ago and has the pieces to contend for a title again this year. Armed with plenty of shooting, playmaking and defenders, the Hornets boast one of the best perimeter cores in Class A. Parker Fraki and Isaac Fisher showed throughout the summer that they are ready to take the reigns as the go-to guys in the backcourt this winter. Wallevand and Bjorklund were role players a year ago and can be trusted to make plays in key spots while also providing top-notch perimeter defense. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Southwest Christian:</strong> Kade Fey, Avery Pater and Jacob Van Dam</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minneota may head into the year as the favorite in Section 3, but Southwest Christian has to be considered every bit a viable contender as Kade Fey, Avery Pater and Jacob Van Dam all return from a team that went to the section 3A final. All three guys were all-conference players a year ago and its rare to find a night in which at least two aren’t producing at a high level. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Minnesota Valley Lutheran:</strong> Dunwa Omot, Jace Morotz</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Chargers lose an all-time school great in Jake Kettner but the backcourt will be strong again with Dunwa Omot and Jace Morotz still handling the ball. Omot averaged better than 16 points per game a year ago and had a terrific summer playing AAU. He’ll take on more ball handling responsibility as a senior and could be in for a huge year. Morotz has been a consistently solid player the last two years and should have no problem continuing to provide stellar two-way play on the wing. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Pine River-Backus:</strong> Brady Raph and Louis Bueckers</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRB will likely be the favorite in Section 5 heading into the year after winning 23 games a year ago. Returning star guards in Raph and Bueckers is big. Raph averaged 18 points and better than five rebounds and three assists while knocking down more than 100 3-pointers. Bueckers averaged better than 13 points and connected on 44 percent of his triples. </span></p>