The Little Eight Preview
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Ashby and Hillcrest Lutheran Academy shared the title a season ago. Based on the conference website and Minnesota Scores, it looks as if the Little Eight has expanded from seven teams to ten teams this season. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, and Hancock…
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Continue ReadingAshby and Hillcrest Lutheran Academy shared the title a season ago. Based on the conference website and Minnesota Scores, it looks as if the Little Eight has expanded from seven teams to ten teams this season. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, and Hancock have been added to the league.
Conference Commentary
Top Ten in State Potential: Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy and Wheaton/Herman-Norcross are the favorites in the league and if they can put solid runs together they could be top ten teams. These are teams that have 3/4 starters back each and they both had good records last year plus last season. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross won their head to head match-up last year by 12 and they have a bit more returning so we give the preseason nod for number one, but only by a little bit.
Compete with Most: Battle Lake, Brandon-Evansville, Ashby, Hancock, Parkers Prairie
This feels like an absolute toss up. Spots 3-7 to me seem basically interchangeable right now. I want to believe that Hancock may have an edge with Koehl and Ver Steeg back but then again they lost Matt Thompson who was an all state player two separate seasons. Ashby should be good but how can we really tell considering they have only one guy back from last season? Parkers Prairie, Brandon-Evansville, and Battle Lake all have an all conference double figure leading scorer returning so they should be solid as well.
Rebuilding: Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Rothsay, Underwood
Drew Evavold Drew Evavold 6'1" | PG Underwood | 2026 State MN of Underwood gives them hope as he gets into his second year of a five year career while Cole Gilsdorf Cole Gilsdorf 5'11" | PG CGB | 2023 MN of Cltinon-Graceville-Beardsley is a two time all league player so they should be better. Matthew Danielson Matthew Danielson 5'10" | PG Rothsay | 2024 MN should lead Rothsay.
22-23 Conference Predictions
- Wheaton/Herman-Norcross
- Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
- Brandon/Evansville
- Battle Lake
- Parkers Prairie
- Hancock
- Ashby
- Rothsay
- Underwood
- Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley
Preseason All Little Eight Conference
First Team
Mason Arens of Parkers Prairie (sr)
Justin Peterson of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (sr)
Dylan Bainbridge of Wheaton/Herman-Norcorss (sr)
Clint Determan of Whaeton/Herman-Norcross (sr)
Dezmond White Dezmond White 6'0" | PG Brandon-Evansville | 2023 MN of Brandon-Evansville (sr)
Second Team
Jack Mekalson of Battle Lake (jr)
Noah Brumfield Noah Brumfield 6'5" | SF Hillcrest Lutheran | 2024 State MN of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (jr)
Hudson Ver Steeg Hudson Ver Steeg 6'6" | C Hancock | 2024 State MN of Hancock (jr)
Cole Gilsdorf Cole Gilsdorf 5'11" | PG CGB | 2023 MN of Cltinon-Graceville-Beardsley (sr)
Jackson Koehl of Hancock (sr)
Third Team
Drew Evavold Drew Evavold 6'1" | PG Underwood | 2026 State MN of Underwood (fr)
Andrew Walker of Wheaton/Herman-Norcross (sr)
Grant Dawson of Wheaton/Herman-Norcross (sr)
Brodie Ecker of Ashby (sr)
Luke Christensen of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (jr)
Matthew Danielson Matthew Danielson 5'10" | PG Rothsay | 2024 MN of Rothsay (jr)