Minnesota First Look: SW Minnesota Christian
Southwest Minnesota Christian has been one of the consistently excellent programs in Class A Minnesota for years now and the Eagles shouldn’t be slowing down this winter. After winning 22 games last year, including a share of the Red Rock…
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Continue ReadingSouthwest Minnesota Christian has been one of the consistently excellent programs in Class A Minnesota for years now and the Eagles shouldn’t be slowing down this winter. After winning 22 games last year, including a share of the Red Rock Conference, SW MN Christian returns three starting guards and five of its top-seven players.
KEY RETURNERS: Kade Fey, Avery Pater, Jacob Van Dam
There’s a lot of talent returning for the Eagles and it starts with three returning all-conference members in Fey, Pater and Van Dam.
Pater spearheads the effort on both ends of the floor. He averaged 11.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists while providing top-notch perimeter defense at the point of attack.
Fey emerged last season as a go-to scorer for the Eagles, playing well off Pater, Trey Huisken and the rest of the Eagle’s guards. He’ll have more on his plate this winter as a shot-creator, but he’s a terrific long-range shooter with solid length and athleticism who has a knack for putting up points.
Van Dam gives the Eagles some size on the wing and has been a consistent producer for a couple of years now. The 6-foot-3 senior is a solid 3-point shooter, strong finisher at the rim and capable passer. He’s rock-solid on both ends of the floor.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES: Hunter Vander Haar, Denver Decker
The Eagles were guard-oriented last year and it served them well. They’ll be guard-heavy again this winter with the three all-conference returners manning spots on the perimeter. Denver Decker was a rotation guy a year ago and will likely step into a starting role as a senior.
Vander Haar was the lone underclassman on the team last year and had good moments in a low-wattage role. He won’t be relied upon heavily offensively but he’ll have a big opportunity to play a lot of minutes in the frontcourt. And with the amount of attention opposing teams will pay to the guards, he’ll have a lot of space inside to put up numbers.
QUESTION: Can the Eagles tighten up defensively?
SW MN Christian had one of the most explosive offenses in Class A last year and it was the primary cause for the Eagles’ success. But in the six losses the team took last year, opponents scored more than 70 points all six times. Part of that has to do with the pace the Eagles play at as it lends itself to high-scoring affairs. The Eagles won’t have a lot of size but they do have speed. This team is good enough already to go deep in the postseason. Improvement on the defensive end could make it an even longer stay.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Eagles have the look of a top-15 team in Class A heading into the season. With five returning rotation players including three all-conference guards, few teams have the kind of juice the Eagles do. They’ve got experience on their side as well with five upperclassman figuring to start. They’ll likely be the favorites to win the Red Rock Conference and while Section 3 is one of the best ones in Class A, the Eagles should be considered one of the favorites.