The Valley Preview

<p>The Valley Conference was a four team race last year.  This year?  I would say there are two favorites leading the way.  Here is the Valley Preview.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <p><strong>Potential Top Ten:</strong> St. Clair, Mankato Loyola, Martin County West</p> <p>St. Clair is in Class AA basketball which is a tough top ten to crack, but they have the returning players to potentially crack, maybe even early this season.  They have five starters back, they have good playmakers, a solid big, and experienced top players all of which are experienced and seniors.  St. Clair is a big favorite for this section title. Mankato Loyola was 11-4 last season and they bring back two of their three best players.  Loyola has a really strong junior class led by Godfrey and Morgan, with several others ready to step in.  They aren’t fully experienced with all five starters back but Loyola will contend much like St. Clair will.  Loyola is also a top five team in 2A which is no easy accomplishment. MCW has an outside chance at hitting the top ten but with a player like [player_tooltip player_id="962279" first="Zach" last="Anderson"] returning and two other skilled starters back, they should improve greatly on the 11-9 record. </p> <p><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">Compete with Most</strong><span style="font-size: 1rem;">: </span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">T/ML/GHEC, LCWM, Nicollet, Madelia</span></p> <p>T/ML/GHEC lost four starters/four all league honored players but they do bring back the best big in the league in 6’6 [player_tooltip player_id="958717" first="Adam" last="Heckman"].  The Jags will compete with most and there will be several teams that won’t be able to defend the post against Heckman.  But they need a lot of last year’s reserves and JV kids to step into bigger roles and play well. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial won eight games last season, one for every player from their top eight that they have returning.  LCWM Is very likely a contender, it’s just that 8-11 record from last year that gives me a moment’s pause entering the year. Nicollet always has a talent that teams must game plan for and worry about.  This year it’s [player_tooltip player_id="958831" first="Colton" last="Thomsen"].  Do they have enough to contend? Coming in we don’t think so, but they will be a tough team to beat. With a player like [player_tooltip player_id="850733" first="JaSean" last="Glover"] Madelia has to be better this year.  </p> <p><strong>Rebuilding: </strong>Cleveland, Alden-Conger</p> <p>Not much we can say about the Cleveland Clippers, they lost all five starters who are all five honored as all league players.  They also lost their key reserves.  It’s looking like a whole new team meaning they are a mystery. Alden-Conger lost their best couple players from a team that struggled and the experience they have isn’t very big.  It’s another rebuilding year. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>21-22 Conference Predictions</strong></p> <ol> <li>St. Clair</li> <li>Mankato Loyola</li> <li>Martin County West</li> <li>LCWM</li> <li>T/ML/GHEC</li> <li>Madelia</li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Nicollet </span></li> <li>Cleveland</li> <li>Alden-Conger</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason All Valley Conference</strong></p> <p><strong><u>First Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850733" first="JaSean" last="Glover"] of Madelia (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962279" first="Zach" last="Anderson"] of Martin County West (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958697" first="Conner" last="Andree"] of St. Clair (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962250" first="Lawson" last="Godfrey"] of Mankato Loyola (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958717" first="Adam" last="Heckman"] of T/ML/GHEC (sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Second Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958811" first="Mason" last="Ward"] of St. Clair (sr)</p> <p>Simon Morgan of Mankato Loyola (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958745" first="Derrick" last="Zeldenrust"] of St. Clair (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962261" first="Zack" last="Wells"] of LCWM (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958831" first="Colton" last="Thomsen"] of Nicollet (sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Third Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958839" first="Devin" last="Embacher"] of St. Clair (sr)</p> <p>Tanner Sinn of Martin County West (sr)</p> <p>Drew Dahl of LCWM (jr)</p> <p>Mitch Weber of Martin County West (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1288659" first="Kolton" last="Kunz"] of Mankato Loyola (sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Fourth Team</u></strong></p> <p>Blake Altenburg of Madelia (sr)</p> <p>Jakob Fischer of T/ML/GHEC (jr)</p> <p>Jamis Ulman of LCWM (so)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958766" first="Tom" last="Loeffler"] of St. Clair (sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Fourth Team</u></strong></p>