The 7AAAA Profile

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last March Coon Rapids made their second trip to state in the history of their school. What team will be next coming out of the "next team up" mantra of Section 7AAAA? Is it Anoka's turn? They haven't been to state in 32 years. Next team up!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7AAAA Power Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Anoka</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Andover</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cambridge-Isanti</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Duluth East</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Centennial</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Coon Rapids</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Forest Lake&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Blaine</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Section 15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>First Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450039' first='Cameron' last='Begalle'] of Andover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1288713' first='Trey' last='Borchers'] of Anoka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1592856' first='Jackson' last='Driessen'] of Centennial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574226' first='Peyton' last='Podany'] of Anoka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617722' first='Jaxon' last='Young'] of Coon Rapids</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Second Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617679' first='Alex' last='Kopetzki'] of Andover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121367' first='Dre' last='Ellis'] of Anoka </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2290352' first='Emerson' last='droubie'] of Cambridge-Isanti</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560767' first='Ty' last='Nyberg'] of Duluth East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423569' first='Luke' last='Fenton'] of Andover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Third Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1489494' first='Brennan' last='Meyer'] of Duluth East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2381649' first='Eddie' last='Miles'] of Andover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1874838' first='Ethan' last='Bergloff'] of Cambridge-Isanti</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2109874' first='Jacob' last='Hosfield'] of Centennial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560745' first='DJ' last='Westman'] of Forest Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>One Thought Per Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anoka. With Podany, Borchers, Ellis and a few others returning Anoka was a team that was considered strong for the top here but then when you look at some head to heads, and you consider how it seems almost fate that it is their turn as six of these eight teams have been to state in the last eight years. They do have the best group of athletic and productive guards plus they did beat Andover both times last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andover. I believe Andover has four starters back and maybe even five of their top six guys back from last year. That initially had me thinking they were one as they have a few more guys back than Anoka. But I did then notice that Anoka beat them twice last year so between that, and this odd feeling that everybody is going to get their turn soon at state, I went with Anoka.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cambridge-Isanti. It does not surprise me in the least that Cambridge had the best record last year, I think they are well coached and usually in the thick of things. I think they could have the best record again, now they need to have a better record against section opponents to get that better seed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial. I worry that the Cougars won't have enough depth this year to take the next step. They have had some years lately where the record is not great, but I think they were still better than expected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duluth East. My gut says the Hounds will be better than I have them picked but some of the section opponents results have me going back and forth. I think they have the guard play to be close to, or match the guard play at Anoka and Andover. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coon Rapids. It was cool to see them have a nice run as this was a very senior dominated team. That said, this was a very senior dominated team who lost pretty much their entire rotation besides Young who is very good. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forest Lake. The Rangers are another team that lost a lot to graduation. Coon Rapids was better late in the year but for most of last season they were the best team in the section. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blaine. So many changes and they were only 7-20 last year despite being a veteran team. New coach, new line-up, new everything. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->