Section 2AAA 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;">Here’s a look at Section 2AAA</span></p> <p><strong>Favorite: Mankato East</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Cougars have been ranked in the top-five all season and look like a team that can win multiple games in the state tournament. They’ve dominated Big 9 play all year and their only loss was a competitive early-season outing against DeLaSalle. The Cougars have it all; experience, depth, fantastic guard play, size, athleticism and shooting. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jax-madson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jax-madson/">Jax Madson</a></a> is a three-year starter on the wing who can score against anybody. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joich-gong/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joich-gong/">Joich Gong</a></a> is an elite level two-way point guard who can create his own shot, get his teammates easy shots, control the tempo of the game and defend all over a lineup. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-merseth/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-merseth/">Jordan Merseth</a></a> is a space-eater big man who can score in the post, rebound his area and control the paint on both ends of the floor. Sophomore forward <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bj-omot/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bj-omot/">BJ Omot</a></a> and junior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/pal-kueth/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/pal-kueth/">Pal Kueth</a></a> have taken further steps in their development as two-way players. The Cougars are legit. </span></p> <p><strong>Contender: Marshall</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marshall went into the year with seemingly less buzz than in recent years but the Tigers have been outstanding, going 24-2 and securing the No. 2 seed in the section. Their only two losses are close losses to Mankato East and Waseca and they’ve got good wins over teams from the Sioux Falls area, Waseca, Hermantown and others. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/noah-puetz/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/noah-puetz/">Noah Puetz</a></a> has taken his game to another level this season. He’s scoring at a higher rate, he rebounds, he makes play and he can defend just about anybody on the floor. The junior guard duo of <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bryce-lance/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bryce-lance/">Bryce Lance</a></a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-baker/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-baker/">Josh Baker</a></a> have continued their progressions and are legitimate difference-makers. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-hmielewski/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-hmielewski/">Matthew Hmielewski</a></a>, Trey Steinbach and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/yahya-black/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/yahya-black/">Yahya Black</a></a> round out a terrific rotation, that can absolutely get to the state tournament and win games. </span></p> <p><strong>In The Mix: St. Peter</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">St. Peter moved up to Class AAA after reaching the state tournament a year ago in Class AA - effectively trading section spots with Waseca - and looks like a potential challenger in the section. The Saints don’t have the same kind of juice Mankato East or Marshall have, but they’ve got experience, toughness and an elite big man in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/wyatt-olson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/wyatt-olson/">Wyatt Olson</a></a>. Olson is as good as anybody in the frontcourt, as he’s got terrific footwork, soft touch out to the 3-point line, he’s an adept passer and a fantastic rebounder. They’ve got solid balance around him with experienced guards in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-grant/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-grant/">Ethan Grant</a></a> and Josh Johnson providing double-figure scoring regularly. Ethan Volk, Bennett Olson and Kaden Oeltjenbruns round out a solid rotation. The Saints can score as well as anybody. The big key for them will be getting consistent stops - which has been a struggle for them throughout this season.</span></p>