Section 1AAA Preview

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The‌ ‌Playoffs‌ ‌are‌ ‌right‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌corner.‌ ‌With‌ ‌small-school‌ ‌section‌ ‌tournaments‌ ‌set‌ ‌to‌ ‌begin‌ ‌in‌ ‌</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">the‌ ‌next‌ ‌few‌ ‌weeks,‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌turn‌ ‌our‌ ‌attention‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌postseason.‌ </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Austin has dominated this section in recent years and the Packers don’t look like they’ll be letting up anytime soon. With Northfield moving up to Class AAAA (though the Raiders are down this year), the gap between Austin and the rest of the section seemingly got bigger. Can someone jump up and surprise?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s a look at Section 1AAA</span></p> <p><strong>Favorite: Austin</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Packers are working on a fourth-straight state tournament appearance and while they haven’t been as dominant as previous years, they are among the 10 best teams in Class AAA. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/agwa-nywesh/">Agwa Nywesh</a> is perhaps the best guard in the section and can score from all over the floor plus impact the game on the defensive end of the floor. Juniors <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/teyghan-hovland/">Teyghan Hovland</a> and Okey Okey have enjoyed breakout seasons and affect the game on both ends of the floor. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/moses-idris/">Moses Idris</a> is an experienced guard who does a great job on the defensive end of the floor too. The Packers aren’t real big (they rarely are), but you know what you are getting from them. They have an elite coach, terrific guards, athleticism all over the floor and the cache that comes from knowing nothing but success over the last handful of years. </span></p> <p><strong>In The Mix: Simley, Byron</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Simley Spartans started the year real poorly, but have seemingly rounded into form as the season’s gone on. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/breyton-buysman/">Breyton Buysman</a> and Ruot Jioklow have been solid, averaging 14 points apiece. Buysman is averaging better than 16 points while Jioklow is averaging 12.3 over the last 10 games. They’ve been excellent and the Spartans have solid balance with guys like Nathan Fischer, Alex Binley and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/luke-vandermeer/">Luke Vandermeer</a> providing good complementary play. This team won’t be a real high seed, but they are playing well lately, with wins over good teams like Tartan and Hastings. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bears have eclipsed 15 wins on the season and look like a team to be taken seriously in the section thanks to solid depth and quality guard play. Jake Braaten is one of the better players in the section, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/easton-hulke/">Easton Hulke</a>’s been consistent, sophomore forward Ahjany Lee has been a breakout guy and will be a guy to watch going forward and complementary guys like Trent DeCook, Jaxon Marine and Travis Underwood have had good moments. </span></p> <p><strong>Watch Out For: Winona</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Winhawks haven’t been great this year, but they’ve got familiarity with Austin and have been tested all year in the Big 9 - so they are still dangerous. Sophomore guard Jasper Hedin has been a breakout guy in the league and gives them some scoring punch. Senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-nibbelink/">Jackson Nibbelink</a> has been solid again this year. Senior forwards Ethan Prodzinski and Parker Jones have been steady as well. </span></p>