The Northland Preview
The Northland Conference is eight teams that play some good basketball in the northern part of Minnesota. NHR takes a closer look at the league today.
Conference Commentary
State Contender: Cass Lake-Bena
The Panthers have the league MVP back in Jarell Jacobs plus another pair of starters from a 28-2 team. They are looking for a return trip to the state tournament after missing the big event in 2019. The Panthers will start the year outside of the top ten with a chance to crack the rankings quickly.
Potential Top Ten: Nevis, Pine-River Backus, Red Lake
Pine River-Backus was 23-5 last season plus they return their best two players. Meanwhile, at Nevis, the Tigers went 18-11 with one of the younger teams in the state. Four double figure scoring level talents return. The Red Lake "dip" to 18-11 will be short lived. Two of their three top guys are back and this group is young (no seniors playing this season).
Compete with Most: Blackduck, Northome/Kelliher, WHA
The Drakes from Blackduck have a chance to flip around their 10-16 record led by Dylan Moen. The Mustangs have a very similar story as Blackduck after their 12-15 year and Ethan Dreher coming back. The best of this bunch will be the WHA Wolves. Cole Rasmussen is a double-double.
Rebuilding: Laporte
Laporte won only one game a year ago but they should be better. However, the rebuild is still in motion as the Cats are likely still a single figure win team.
Predicted Order of Conference Finish
- Cass Lake-Bena
- Pine River-Backus
- Nevis
- Red Lake
- Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
- Northome/Kelliher
- Blackduck
- Laporte
Preseason All Northland Conference
First Team
Jarell Jacobs of Cass Lake-Bena (Sr)
Brady Raph of Pine River-Backus (Sr)
Luke DeWulf of Nevis (Sr)
Derek Lindow of Nevis (Jr)
Delwyn Holthusen of Red Lake (Jr)
Second Team
Riley Chaboyea of Red Lake (Jr)
Cole Rasmussen of WEM (Sr)
Miguel Reyes of Cass Lake Bena (Sr)
Ethan Dreher of Northome/Kellieher (Sr)
Louis Bueckers of Pine River-Backus (Sr)
Third Team
Eddie Kramer of Nevis (Soph)
Timmy Smith of Cass Lake-Bena (Jr)
Dylan Moen of Blackduck (Sr)
Jayden Clyde of LaPorte (Sr)
Mathias Warrington of Nevis (Soph)
