The Mississippi 8 Preview
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The Mississippi 8 was won by Princeton a season ago but the Tigers lost a lot from their rotation. Who is the favorite coming into the season? This league is one of the most open in the state. Conference Commentary…
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Continue ReadingThe Mississippi 8 was won by Princeton a season ago but the Tigers lost a lot from their rotation. Who is the favorite coming into the season? This league is one of the most open in the state.
Conference Commentary
Top Contenders: Princeton, Cambridge-Isanti, Big Lake, North Branch, Chisago Lakes
Princeton lost all five starters and seven of their top eight scorers from last season. There are surely some players that will step into roles but they have to identify themselves coming up from the JV. Cambridge-Isanti was two games behind Princeton last season but they are in a much different spot with returning players as shooter John Troolin John Troolin 6'3" | SG Cambridge | 2024 State MN returns after scoring 21 a game. North Branch had a winning record again which is big plus they return three all league players and seven guys from their rotation. Big Lake seems to be the team with the most returning experience and talent back. The Hornets will have three returning double figure scorers. That said, my hesitation in claiming them the clear number one is that 7-7 league record from a season ago. It took some time last year but Chisago Lakes finally got over the hump and got some wins beating Becker, beating Princeton, and pushing Big Lake to the end in the playoffs. They should be better this year. Bottom line, it should be a fun race.
Compete with Most: St. Francis, Becker
St. Francis has a lot to replace but they do have the luxury of size and a good player returning from injury. I don’t expect a return to state but I also don’t expect them to fade to the bottom either. Becker has a mix of up and coming young guys with a few quality seniors that should keep them solid.
Rebuilding: Monticello, Zimmerman
The Magic won one game last season, they should have the talent to be better but how much better is the question. Zimmerman won eight games last year and lost most of their line-up to graduation.
23-24 Mississippi 8 Conference Predictions
- Big Lake
- Cambridge-Isanti
- Chisago Lakes
- Princeton
- North Branch
- St. Francis
- Becker
- Zimmerman
- Monticello
Preseason All Mississippi 8 Conference
First Team
Patrick Rowe Patrick Rowe 6'6" | SF Chisago Lakes | 2024 State MN of Chisago Lakes (sr)
John Troolin John Troolin 6'3" | SG Cambridge | 2024 State MN of Cambridge-Isanti (sr)
Brody Beaver Brody Beaver 6'2" | PG North Branch | 2024 State MN of North Branch (sr)
Trevor Maruska Trevor Maruska 6'0" | PG Big Lake | 2024 State MN of Big Lake (sr)
Kyan Bloomquist of Becker (sr)
Second Team
Owen Wilczek Owen Wilczek 6'5" | PF Big Lake | 2026 State MN of Big Lake (soph)
Tyler Minke Tyler Minke 6'2" | SG North Branch | 2025 State MN of North Branch (jr)
Elias Dee Elias Dee 5'11" | PG Cambridge-Isanti | 2024 MN of Cambridge-Isanti (sr)
Caleb Schoenrock Caleb Schoenrock 6'7" | PF St. Francis | 2024 State MN of St. Francis (sr)
Owen Layton Owen Layton 6'2" | SF Big Lake | 2024 State MN of Big Lake (sr)
Third Team
Ian Larsen of Chisago Lakes (sr)
Cash Pettit of Princeton (sr)
Noah Thorsen of North Branch (sr)
Isaiah Terlinden of Big Lake (sr)
Nate Kuznia of St. Francis (sr)
Fourth Team
Emerson Droubie of Cambridge-Isanti (jr)
Harrison Lupkes Harrison Lupkes 6'1" | SG Princeton | 2025 State MN of Princeton (jr)
Brayden Dollard Brayden Dollard 6'1" | SG Monticello | 2025 MN of Monticello (jr)
Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown 6'0" | PG Becker | 2026 State MN of Becker (soph)
Owen Link of North Branch (sr)
Fifth Team
Mitchell Soltau Mitchell Soltau 6'1" | SG Becker | 2025 State MN of Becker (jr)
Patrick Shobe Patrick Shobe 6'6" | PF Monticello | 2024 State MN of Monticello (sr)
Zander Schmidt of Chisago Lakes (sr)
Gianni Artisensi-Skime Gianni Artisensi-Skime 6'4" | SG Zimmerman | 2025 State MN of Zimmerman (sr)
Ben Paulsen of Chisago Lakes (sr)