Three Up, Three Down: Class AAAA
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What teams are on a run of really good play and deserve some notice? And who is struggling a bit right now looking to turn things around? It’s Three Up, and Three Down for Class AAAA! Three Up Brainerd (6-0).…
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Continue ReadingWhat teams are on a run of really good play and deserve some notice? And who is struggling a bit right now looking to turn things around? It’s Three Up, and Three Down for Class AAAA!
Three Up
Brainerd (6-0). Brainerd is traditionally a very good basketball team and they are beating teams by an average of 15 points per game right now. Nick Evanson Nick Evanson 6'2" | SG Brainerd | 2023 State MN recently had 25 while Johnny Pecarich had 22 points in the win over Centennial. Pecarich also had 22 when Brainerd beat the Fergus Falls Otters 78-53. Bemidji and Willmar made a run at Brainerd but nobody has been able to beat them. Things get tougher next week when Brainerd is at Eden Prairie.
Mounds View (7-0). The Mustangs are winning games they should be AND they are earning victories in the close contests. Road wins at Spring Lake Park and Northfield have helped the Mustangs separate themselves. Colby Deluce Colby Deluce 6'1" Moundsview | 2023 MN leads the team with 21 points per game and behind him is a deep and balanced club that is playing well as an all around unit. Junior Joey Fretheim Joey Fretheim 6'3" | SG Mounds View | 2024 State MN has had a nice start to the season while Jacob Becher Jacob Becher 6'3" | SF Mounds View | 2023 State MN and Tyler Kahl are veterans playing well.
Rochester Mayo (7-0). The surprise in the south is that Mayo Defense! They’e held two opponents below 40 points, Kennedy and Byron could each score only 52, and the one team that could score on Mayo (Mankato East) put up 78 points but Mayo had 80. Isaiah Hanson Isaiah Hanson 6'4" | SG Rochester Mayo | 2023 State MN has been fabulous for the Spartans who are also getting and Kairee Gadson Kairee Gadson 6'2" | PG Rochester Mayo | 2023 MN put up 36 in that win over East! Sawyer Markham Sawyer Markham 6'1" | SG Mayo | 2024 State MN has been a great surprise for Mayo as well giving the team three strong scoring options.
Three Down
Shakopee (4-2). After jumping into the rankings in Class AAAA the Sabers lost a couple in a row over the holidays (to Edina and Eden Prairie). The Sabers have a very strong group of guards as junior Jalen Langsy Jalen Langsy 5'11" | PG Shakopee | 2024 State MN is scoring 20 a game with Termaine Fulton, Issac Snell Issac Snell 6'0" | PG Shakopee | 2024 State MN , and Kaden Braxton Kaden Braxton 6'2" | CG Shakopee | 2024 State MN all playing well around him. Size can be an issue but Shakopee presents so many issues with their guard play.
East Ridge (4-4). The Raptors loaded their schedule with a lot of tough opponents. Their wins list is impressive as they have beat Osseo, CDH, Irondale, and White Bear Lake who had Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN . The losses were a part of a three game streak over the break against Edina, Eastview, and Lakeville South. Alex Mattes Alex Mattes 6'3" | SG East Ridge | 2023 State MN leads the team with 15 points a game while frosh Cedric Tomes Cedric Tomes 6'0" | PG East Ridge | 2026 State MN is scoring 11 points a contest.
Robbinsdale Armstrong (3-4). The Falcons are another team that loaded up their schedule and they started the year with nice wins over Rosemount and Coon Rapids. They have lost four games in a row although that was against Wayzata, Farmington, CDH, and Duluth East. Junior Seth Newbern Seth Newbern 6'2" | PG Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2024 State MN is off to a great start scoring 19 a game while sophomore Desmond Ware Desmond Ware 5'10" | PG Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2025 State MN is scoring 11 a contest.