Southern Minnesota Hoop Fest Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a dozen boys games in the Southern Minnesota Hoop Fest. We pick the games shooting for at least a 75 percent success rate (at least 9 of 12 for you math majors) and tell you why. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mankato East over Stewartville, by nine. Stewartville is a good team but Mankato East has too many pieces to defend at the moment and a point guard in [player_tooltip player_id='1437303' first='Brogan' last='Madson'] that all but a few Class AAA teams have a potential answer for. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buffalo over La Crosse Central, by ten. Central is a .500 team right now, Buffalo a top ten squad looking for a good response after losing to Sauk Rapids-Rice by 25. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Austin over Kasson-Mantorville, by a basket. The KoMets are 4-6 but have had some good moments, Austin is looking desperately for their second win. This seems like a good spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glencoe-Silver Lake over PEM, by four. Both teams are under .500 by a bit, both need this win, I think GSL gets it on the strength of a big [player_tooltip player_id='1284132' first='Eli' last='Ehrke'] game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caledonia over Lake City, by seven. Lake City has won five of six and has improved to 6-3 but I do not believe that [player_tooltip player_id='1284140' first='Hunter' last='Lorenson'] has returned yet from the reports I have seen. Caledonia has more guard depth if he is still out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Byron over South St. Paul, by a dozen. Byron is 7-1, South St. Paul is 2-7. Their talent levels are not as far off as their records but the home court of Bears and the depth of five double figure scorers should lead to an 8th win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cannon Falls over LaCrescent-Hokah by one. This is a monster game. Cannon Falls is 7-1, La Crescent is 8-3, they two of the best four teams in Class AA Section one. [player_tooltip player_id='1288648' first='Aiden' last='Johnson'] is the difference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Grove over JWP, by two. Another excellent game, JWP is 7-3, Spring Grove is 6-1. The Lions are playing the team basketball that has won them so many trophies in recent years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mankato Loyola over Hayfield, by five. Both teams are under .500 as they have graduated much talent and lost a player for another reason as well. Loyola a step better. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breck over LCWM, by 21. LCWM is a very good program and they will be motivated and give Breck some early troubles. But Breck has way too much firepower as a top five team in the state regardless of class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roseville over Mayo, by three. Roseville has an excellent veteran backcourt that should get them the win on the road. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Century over Eagan, by five. Century just beat Rosemount as they are a deeper team with athletes and a good group of defenders. They can defend all five spots and should contend for the Big Nine title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->