Section 2AAA: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up for the Class AAA previews is Section 2AAA which is teams fanning out Southwest of the metro throughout the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Summer Summary</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mankato East lost three key pieces to their second place team in Class AAA basketball but what returns has them in a spot to push back to the title game.  [player_tooltip player_id='1437303' first='Brogan' last='Madson'] is the best senior lead guard in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='2103251' first='Ganden' last='Gosch'] is a D2 prospect committed to Minnesota State-Mankato, and several reserves are ready for bigger roles including [player_tooltip player_id='1886972' first='Amari' last='Nobles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560798' first='Lucas' last='Gustafson'] who both had outstanding 16u seasons for Select and Fury respectively.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mankato West beat Mankato East late in the season last year and gave them a run in the first game.  The Scarlets lost Landon Dimler but with [player_tooltip player_id='2424016' first='Maurice' last='Staley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1574219' first='Kyle' last='Steinke'] back as experienced all league players, West will be a top ten team in Class AAA as well to start the year. If they can develop some depth around Staley and Steinke they may be able to stay there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We expect Marshall to be an improved team behind [player_tooltip player_id='2104550' first='Alex' last='Franson'] at guard, and other returning players.  Hutch should remain a solid team and Worthington around that .500 area, but it should be an East vs West section fight when the section is on the line.  Keep an eye on St. Peter growing this year and becoming solid next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 3 2AAA Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1437303' first='Brogan' last='Madson'] of Mankato East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2103251' first='Ganden' last='Gosch'] of Mankato East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574219' first='Kyle' last='Steinke'] of Mankato West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Teams That Should Improve Their Record</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall (9-18)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Worthington (14-12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Teams That Might Not Match Last Year's Win Total</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Ulm (21-8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hutchinson (17-11)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mankato East (28-3) - stepping up the schedule considerably with the new scheduling rules in the Big Nine. Like I said above, I think we will see them in the AAAA title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Transfer In</em>: none that I know</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Transfer Out</em>: none that I know</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->