The Iron Range Preview

<p>Today we preview the Iron Range, with our thoughts also on the King of Iron Range Basketball Bob McDonald. Leading the way in the Iron Range Conference this year?  [player_tooltip player_id="850731" first="Ayden" last="McDonald"] of Hibbing, Bob’s grandson! </p> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <p>Top Ten in State - Hibbing, Deer River</p> <p>If we get a state tournament this year - and man do the kids of Minnesota deserve one, at least in some way - Hibbing is a big favorite to be playing in the final four.  They return all of their starters plus one of their key bench players.  The group of talent includes one of the best players in the state (Ayden), size, and wing shooters/scorers.  And it’s team that has put themselves in position to win by playing against top talent in the winter, spring, and summer.  </p> <p>Deer River won 18 games last season and they return most of their line-up including four starters that scored in double figures a season ago.  [player_tooltip player_id="958848" first="Ty" last="Morrison"] and [player_tooltip player_id="958851" first="Mikhail" last="Wakonabo"] are 20 point per game players, and because of that’s back, some feel that Deer River can knock off North Woods in the section AND go compete for a state title at the Class A level.  I’m not ready to bet against them in a wide open level of play. </p> <p>Compete with Most – Virginia, Greenway, International Falls, Eveleth-Gilbert, Mesabi East, Chisholm</p> <p>Because so many of these teams are returning talent, and so many of them are returning their best players, it’s hard to file any of them under the term "rebuilding".  Every team in the league won at least eight games last season so they all tasted enough victory to compete with most in the league.  A few need to get better defensively as Mesabi East and Chisholm both gave up nearly 80 points a game last season.  </p> <p>Greenway has two all league starters back from a 19 win team.  No Dylan Dechampeau means a slip but maybe not as most expect.  International Falls shouldn’t slip, in fact with four starters back they should take a big jump forward.  They lost their best player but with four starters, they will be better. Eveleth-Gilbert has all of their top talent back including big man William Bittman.  Mesabi East is one team that’s in a tough spot losing a number of starters, but with Hunter Hannuksela back at 28 points a game, they’ll be able to compete with teams. Chisholm was the worst team in the league last year, but they have 3-4 starters back including their top weapons.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>20-21 Conference Predictions</strong></p> <ol> <li>Hibbing</li> <li>Deer River</li> <li>Virginia</li> <li>International Falls</li> <li>Greenway</li> <li>Eveleth-Gilbert</li> <li>Chisholm</li> <li>Mesabi East</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason All Iron Range Conference</strong></p> <p><strong><u>First Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774863" first="Mayson" last="Brown"] of Hibbing (Sr)</p> <p>Hunter Hannuksela of Mesabi East (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="567088" first="Parker" last="Maki"] of Hibbing (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850731" first="Ayden" last="McDonald"] of Hibbing (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958848" first="Ty" last="Morrison"] of Deer River (Jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Second Team</u></strong></p> <p>William Bittman of Eveleth-Gilbert (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774887" first="Eli" last="Erickson"] of Hibbing (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962252" first="Grant" last="Hansen"] of Greenway (Soph)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957200" first="Tre" last="Holmes"] of Hibbing (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958851" first="Mikhail" last="Wakonabo"] of Deer River (Jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Third Team</u></strong></p> <p>Blake Fox of Deer River (Sr)</p> <p>JaJuan Hall of Greenway (Sr)</p> <p>Riley Larson of International Falls (Sr)</p> <p>Nick Peters of Virginia (Sr)</p> <p>Cullen Rein of International Falls (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958849" first="Jude" last="Sundquist"] of Chisholm (Jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Fourth Team</u></strong></p> <p>Jack Homan of Virginia (Sr)</p> <p>Bryant Koenig of International Falls (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962318" first="Sam" last="Rahier"] of Deer River (Soph)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958805" first="Jett" last="Tomczak"] of International Falls (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958735" first="Hayden" last="Verhel"] of Hibbing (Jr)</p> <p>Bryce Warner of Chisholm (Sr)</p>