Section 8AAAA Preview: Five-Peat?

<p>One mainstay in AAAA state basketball over the last four years has been the Crimson of Maple Grove. Multiple teams will challenge from the metro and outstate. We take a look today at Section 8AAAA and the list of teams in the mix for a trip to the Target Center.</p> <p><em><strong>Seeding</strong></em></p> <ol> <li><strong>Maple Grove</strong></li> <li><strong>Moorhead</strong></li> <li><strong>Buffalo</strong></li> <li><strong>Rogers</strong></li> <li><strong>St. Michael-Albertville</strong></li> <li><strong>Elk River</strong></li> <li><strong>Brainerd</strong></li> </ol> <p><strong>Contenders: Maple Grove, Moorhead</strong></p> <p>The Crimson made a point to grab games against all six section opponents and went unbeaten in those contests, including a December thriller at home in double overtime over Moorhead 78-73. They stand 21-5 on the year led by senior point guard <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/lovell-williams/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/lovell-williams/">Lovell Williams</a></a></strong>, who leads the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game. He's scored double digits in all but three games this year. <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/reshaun-parker/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/reshaun-parker/">RaShaun Parker</a></a> </strong>has 66 three-pointers and sophomore <strong>Jon Haakenson </strong>has been a steady third backcourt piece. Maple Grove has a more reliable bench than in past seasons as well which could serve them well if foul trouble arises. <strong>Henry Fahnbulleh </strong>has been impressive as a backup big, rebounding both ends. Maple Grove evades the first round with a bye into the semis as the number one seed.</p> <p>Moorhead has just as many weapons to choose from. It's been quite the four-year turnaround; the Spuds were 3-23 when this year's seniors were freshmen. Now they're 20-6 and looking to build upon a section semifinal appearance last season. Seven players average at least seven points (!!!!) and it begins with 6-foot-6 wing <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drew-hagen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drew-hagen/">Drew Hagen</a></a> </strong>at 17 PPG. Big man <strong>Donnavin Hinsz </strong>anchors defensively while <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brady-walthall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brady-walthall/">Brady Walthall</a></a> </strong>and <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blake-walthall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blake-walthall/">Blake Walthall</a></a> </strong>fill it up from outside. <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/quentin-hegg/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/quentin-hegg/">Quentin Hegg</a></a> </strong>and <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-feeney/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-feeney/">Trey Feeney</a></a> </strong>add even more depth to a team that could pick from just about anyone to lead on any given night. The Spuds' only section loss was to Maple Grove.</p> <p><strong>In The Hunt: Buffalo</strong></p> <p>The 2020 Bison class was building for this. Two straight section final appearances foreshadow only good things for 2020, and a brutally tough Lake Conference slate prepares them for postseason play at 14-12. No <strong>Aidan Bouman </strong>this season as he left early for Iowa State football, and jack-of-all-trades forward <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tony-dahl/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tony-dahl/">Tony Dahl</a></a> </strong>tore his ACL in the summer. But Dahl returned on Friday night to get some run before playoffs begin Tuesday, and he will be a crucial part of this team's success no matter how readjusted to game play he is; I don't know if I've seen another player as tough as him. <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matt-willert/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matt-willert/">Matt Willert</a></a> </strong>is practically unguardable scoring 25.3 PPG this season and senior teammate <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-maatz/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-maatz/">Brandon Maatz</a></a> </strong>has become more versatile on the perimeter as a creator too (14 PPG). Soph <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/antonio-bluiett/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/antonio-bluiett/">Antonio Bluiett</a></a> </strong>defends as well as anyone in Minnesota while scoring 13.4 a game. Will they have the depth to get over the top of MG and Moorhead? Their top four guys are good enough for sure.</p> <p><strong>Watch Out For: Rogers, St. Michael-Albertville</strong></p> <p>The Royals knocked out Buffalo in the season opener and finished their first NWSC season 10-16 securing a home playoff game. <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/thomas-glad/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/thomas-glad/">Thomas Glad</a></a> </strong>leads the team in scoring at 12.7 per game and <strong>Sam Simpson </strong>is right behind with 11.9 a contest. Rogers went 0-9 in the month of January but are playing better ball winning six of their final 10. They did lose to STMA head-to-head to open up that nine-game skid. Should be a great 4/5 game and whoever wins it will likely give the Crimson all they can handle.</p> <p>The Lake schedule did STMA no favors as they finished just 7-19, but the talent on the roster doesn't reflect such a record. Playing all season without senior shooter <strong>Peyton McLean</strong>, the Knights have a stellar frontcourt of <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kale-hoselton/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kale-hoselton/">Kale Hoselton</a></a> </strong>and <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/evan-wieker/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/evan-wieker/">Evan Wieker</a></a></strong>, both leading the team with 13 PPG. <strong>Jack Carroll </strong>and <strong>Johnny Tennyson </strong>have emerged as double figure threats as well. They don't have tons of size but the forwards can create their own shots (Wieker has improved dramatically as an offensive catalyst) and they hit the glass hard. Guard play is one of the question marks and the rest of the section has strong backcourt production. Either way, maybe the most dangerous seven-win team in AAAA.</p>