Section 3AA Preview

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Playoffs are right around the corner. With small-school section tournaments set to begin in the next few weeks, it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Section 3AA has been unpredictable in recent years, with different teams going on runs each of the last three years. This year could see similar change as there are a number of seemingly capable outfits in lieu of a clear frontrunner. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s a look at Section 3AA</span></p> <p><strong>Favorite: Jackson County Central</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Huskies look like the slight favorite to come out of Section 3AA due in large part to an explosive offense and the presence of senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/rudy-voss/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/rudy-voss/">Rudy Voss</a></a>. Voss stuffs the stat sheet on a regular basis and has a lot on his plate as the primary playmaker and shot-maker for this group, but he’s an all-state caliber guard. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">JCC is loaded with experience too. Andrew Hasebeck, Noah Carr, Jack Brinkman and Bradley Buhl Jr. have been productive starters or key rotation guys for years now. Voss is the offensive engine, but Hasebeck, Brinkman and Buhl have all had huge moments this year. This team has the firepower to beat anybody. If there’s a crack in the Huskies’ armor, it’s on the defensive end of the floor. They don’t have great size or quickness and can struggle to consistently get stops. Will that issue manifest itself in a tournament setting where the pace likely slows down and possessions become even more important?</span></p> <p><strong>Contenders: Minnewaska</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minnewaska went to state two years ago and looks poised to make a run again this year thanks to a terrific defense and veteran guards. The Lakers aren’t going to win many games in the 80s like JCC, but they’ll grind out games on both ends of the floor, control the tempo and execute. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-jensen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-jensen/">Grant Jensen</a></a> and Payton Johnsrud both average 14 points per game and do a great job setting the tone on the perimeter. Junior forward Aaron Ver Steeg has enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds, providing some muscle on the interior. Sam Hested, Brady Hoffman and Luke Barkeim all provide solid complementary offensive production and quality defensive play too. </span></p> <p><strong>In The Mix: Fairmont, Redwood Valley</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Redwood Valley won Section 3AA a year ago and the Cardinals are good enough to do it again. They are always one of the top offensive teams in the area and that’s no different this year, as they average nearly 80 points per game. Senior guard Bryant Haas has taken his game to another level this year with a higher-volume role offensively. Sophomore guard Alex Lang and sophomore big man Carson Woodford have emerged as key contributors and will be guys to watch going forward. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fairmont is always solid and a tough out in the postseason and the Cardinals are right there in the mix again this year. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/wyatt-frank/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/wyatt-frank/">Wyatt Frank</a></a> is one of the best big guys in the section and can go for 20 points and 10 rebounds on a regular basis. Sophomore guard Zach Jorgensen has been a breakout guy, averaging better than 12 points per game and senior guards Jack Hested and Carter Bell have been solid all year. </span></p> <p><strong>Watch Out For: Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta, Paynesville</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paynesville has been decent this year and will head into the subsection tournament with a No. 4 seed, so the Bulldogs will have a tough road if they are going to make a run. But they’ve got one of the best individual players in the section in junior swingman Corbin Froelich. He’s a terrific all-around scorer and two-way guy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta doesn’t have a great record (14-10) but the Tigers are dangerous in large part because of sophomore big man <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-loge/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-loge/">Jackson Loge</a></a>. He’s one of the best players in the state regardless of class size and can dominate in ways few other guys in the section can. They’ve got solid balance after him with Durgin Decker, Thomas Tiernan, Jaden Maanum and Toby Gonnerman. That makes this team one that nobody is going to want to see. </span></p>