Minnesota First Look: Lakeville South
Lakeville South went 14-14 last season, advancing to the Section 1AAAA semifinals before losing to eventual state runner-up Lakeville North. The Panthers relied on several underclassmen and the results were some incredible highs mixed with inconsistency. With four starters back…
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Continue ReadingLakeville South went 14-14 last season, advancing to the Section 1AAAA semifinals before losing to eventual state runner-up Lakeville North. The Panthers relied on several underclassmen and the results were some incredible highs mixed with inconsistency. With four starters back plus a solid core of underclassmen in the pipeline, the Cougars look like a team on the rise.
KEY RETURNERS: Reid Patterson, Riley Mahlman, Joe Bachinski
The Cougars have a terrific junior class led by Reid Patterson and Riley Mahlman. Patterson averaged 16 points per game as a sophomore and showed he’s capable of even more over the summer when he played up a level on the AAU Circuit. He’s got the size, athleticism and skill to be one of the best players in the South Suburban Conference.
Mahlman is one of the most physically imposing big men in the state. He’s got solid skills on the post, a soft touch, good footwork and hands and the motor to average a double-double relatively easily.
Bachinski gives the Cougars a third solid scorer. The 5-foot-11 senior is a solid 3-point shooter who can play on or off the ball. He’s a solid decision-maker who the Cougars can trust to make plays for himself or his teammates and he’s a smart, tough defender.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES: Avery Mast, Jack Leland, Maddox Alipate, Trystan Ressler
The young talent in the Lakeville South program looks promising. Avery Mast was a regular piece last year for the Cougars, averaging six points per game as a freshman. Expect him to take a jump in his sophomore year. He gives the Cougars a solid wing who should be able to take advantage of the extra attention teams devote to Patterson and Mahlman.
Leland came off the bench last year and gives the Cougars another big man who can defend and rebound. Ressler saw fringe minutes as a sophomore last year and could be a breakout guy with more minutes. And Alipate is a player to watch this winter, as he’s one of the better prospects in Minnesota’s 2022 class.
QUESTION: Can the Cougars win Section 1AAAA?
Section 1 has belonged to Lakeville North each of the last eight years with the Panthers routinely demolishing the competition on the way to the state tournament. Lakeville North has been reassigned to Section 3AAAA now, giving way to something new. With Rochester John Marshall also headed towards a rebuilding phase, can the Cougars pounce on what looks like a winnable section? Rochester Mayo will likely be the favorite in the eyes of many, but Lakeville South should be considered right there.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Cougars have been consistently decent in recent years. This team should be more than that. With a really good core of juniors, Lakeville South has the talent requisite of a 20-win club. The Cougars play in a grinder of a conference, so they’ll take some losses of course. But that should prepare them well for what could be an extended postseason run.