The Great River Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Central won the league by a game over Pine City and Rush City a year ago, the Eagles could be even better this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Contenders</strong>: East Central, Hinckley-Finlaysion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Central won the league last year and bring back all but two players from last year's team. The two that graduated were two of the top three scorers but the Eagles have a top Class A big in [player_tooltip player_id='1874869' first='Jacob' last='Dixon'] and a quality young backcourt that will mix with veterans. Hinckley-Finlaysion should be a team making the biggest jump. Cyliss LaFave will likely be the best player in the league plus he has a pair of returning starters back with him and some reserves. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Compete with Most</strong>: Rush City, Ogilvie, Braham</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rush City was 12-13 last year but 9-3 in league play. Last year was somewhat of a rebuilding year as so many guys were getting their first experiences on varsity. This year Rush City will have a bit more experience but they lost their top producers from a season ago. Ogilvie should be much improved They lost one guy from their rotation and it was their seventh man. They should make the biggest jump although that 7-19 record makes you worry some about how big of a jump. Braham brings four starters back but lost their best player from a nine win team. You would have to expect that they will be a bit better but how much? The one unknown we have is Braden Grams of Braham who had a good sophomore year but was not listed last year, we aren't sure if he was injured last season or just didn't play basketball. He is playing football at the school right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rebuilding</strong>: Pine City, Mille Lacs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pine City was 9-3 in league play here but a game under .500 overall last season. Their line-up was quite senior dominated so we expect them to be starting quite fresh with new players getting experience this year. Mille Lacs won one game last year, they are building to be more competitive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Conference Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>East Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hinckley-Finlaysion</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ogilive</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rush City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Braham</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pine City </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mille Lacs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason All Great River Conference</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cyliss LaFave of Hinckley-Finlaysion (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1874869' first='Jacob' last='Dixon'] of East Central (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter Kenyon of Oligvie (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tucker Kenyon of Ogilvie (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren Carlson of East Central (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacob Tepley of Braham (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trey Visser of Hinckley-Finlaysion (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Xavior Letexir of East Central (soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cole Herges of Ogilvie (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lukas Schuh of Braham (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Third Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braeden Rood of Rush City (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benjamin Carlin of East Central (soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nathan Hagle of Ogilive (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffin Stiel of Hinckley-Finlaysion (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dakoda Schmidt of Rush City (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charles Ausmus of Pine City (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->