Section 5AAA 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>Section 5 has been one of the more unpredictable ones in Class AAA in the last handful of years. Monticello has come out of the section two out of the last four years. Delano won the section two years ago on its way to winning a state title and Big Lake's found itself contending in recent years. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s a look at Section 5AAA</span></p> <p><strong>Favorite: Delano</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There isn’t a team in the state that has the collective size that the Tigers can put on the floor. With every starter standing 6-foot-5 or bigger, the Tigers are a terrific defensive team that has grown and improved on the offensive end as the season’s gone on. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keagen-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keagen-smith/">Keagen Smith</a></a> and Terron O’Neill have been terrific on the offensive end of the floor, averaging 40 points per game combined. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-longstreet/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-longstreet/">Trey Longstreet</a></a> is one of the best two-way players in the state, averaging 14 points per game from the point guard spot while providing top-notch defense. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/max-otto/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/max-otto/">Max Otto</a></a> is an awesome glue-guy and Jack Balsinger gives the Tigers some muscle inside. The Tigers don’t have great depth - they play five guys most of the game - but they are so big, so versatile on both ends of the floor and experienced. This team is going to be tough to beat. </span></p> <p><strong>Contender: Monticello</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reigning section champs, Monticello has the best individual player in the section in guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/austin-wetter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/austin-wetter/">Austin Wetter</a></a>. The 6-foot-5 senior averages 21 points and six rebounds per game. He’s got a lot on his plate when it comes to creating his own shot and dragging an offense that can bog down at times, but he can take over games on both ends of the floor as well as anybody in the area. The Magic have solid balance after that, with six guys averaging 5-10 points per game including junior big man Gus Hangsleben inside, sophomore guards Carson Kolles and Brady Thompson. Monticello lost to Delano early in the season, but has played well especially over the second half of the year and should be considered the top threat to the Tigers. </span></p> <p><strong>Watch Out For: Fridley, Becker</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fridley’s been mostly middling all season, but the Tigers are going to provide some entertaining games because of their propensity to both score at a high rate, and allow points at an even higher rate. Senior forward Yoal Ruei leads the team in scoring at 16 points per game and is a matchup nightmare inside. He’s surrounded by a guard trio that can really put pressure on teams as Christian Crockett, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-burns/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-burns/">Isaac Burns</a></a> and Micah Niewald all average at least 12 points per game. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bulldogs have struggled to maintain any level of consistency this year but they’ve got a shot to compete because Nck Mittelstaedt is one of the best point guards in the section. The senior guard averages 15 points and better than four assists per game. Senior big man <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cade-callahan/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cade-callahan/">Cade Callahan</a></a> is a productive frontcourt piece. </span></p>