Section 2A: A Section Packed with Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we go through the top pair of returning guys in Section 2A, keep in mind how many prospects there are in this section! We touch on several of them!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BOLD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen Baumgartner (2026). A strong and athletic player that does a lot of the work near the rim. Owen averaged nine points and nearly seven rebounds a game for a state tournament team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyler Ruschen (2026). A 5'9 guard that is the other returning starter from a state team and one of two returning players from the main six that made state. Tyler averaged seven points a contest and moves into a bigger role along with Owen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Mountain</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson Schiller (2026). Carson is a 6'2 guard that was one of four players Cedar Mountain had that could hit double digits for their team and the only one that returns. Carson is now the go to guy for the Cougars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blake Koerner (2028). Blake and Jackson Guetter should move into bigger roles. They are offensive weapons on the football team right now and they were a part of the main six for Cedar Mountain a year ago. Blake is a 5'7 guard that is only a sophomore but already doing some amazing things at the varsity sports level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cleveland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126152' first='Carson' last='Lyons'] (2027). The 5'9 guard scored in double digits last season and is a two time all league honored player entering his upperclassmen years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2860159' first='Braeden' last='Smith'] (2027). Smith is a strong 6'1 that will play both forward spots. Lyons and Smith are the two key returning figures along with a couple seniors to be. Cleveland has half of their eight man rotation returning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2119602' first='Cole' last='Jacobson'] (2026). Cole is a very interesting athlete. He is 6'6/6'7 and a two time all league player already that plays quarterback and does a lot on the wing for GFW. A three sport athlete that has already scored in the area of 1,400 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luke Bastian (2026). Luke is a 6'1 stronger player that will be a key forward for GFW.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Janesviille-Waldorf-Pemberton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dalton Bauer (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] DeLo). Bauer is relentless. He will defend, he will rebound, he will attack and he will get his team 20. Dalton's return along with most of the team's line-up makes JWP a favorite in 2A and a top five area team in state. The floor leader for his team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2386616' first='Gavin' last='Bauer'] (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']). Gavin is one of the most accomplished players in the state in his class coming into this season. Gavin had a great 15u season with the Fury and he was Freshmen All State last year and a preseason Class A all state pick this year (that will be announced in November). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lester Prairie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eli LaMott (2027). A 6'2 scorer that was one of three point producers that were relied on and the one that is coming back for the Bulldogs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cory Schauer (2026). A 5'10 strong forward at nearly 200 pounds, Cory is the other piece back from a Bulldog rotation last year that had four or five key seniors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madelia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2425100' first='Kaydon' last='Firchau'] (2028, Southwest MN Stars). Kaydon was one of the top scorers in the section last year and one of the elite scorers of the freshman class last year. Firchau earned a ton of individual honors last year and now the focus is taking the team into the area of section title competitor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mayer Lutheran</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125730' first='Ben' last='Lindesmith'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select']). Ben averaged 12.4 points, 4.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds and two steals a game as a sophomore and is now the main playmaker for the Crusaders. A good shooter that can get to the rim and finish off the corner turn attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason Lunow (2027). Mason is one of the few others returning to Mayer and he is a 5'11 wing that came off the bench last season and should step into a bigger role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicollet</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson Kettner (2027, Minnesota Sting). Carson was the go to guy last year and is already a two time honored all league player as a 5'10 scoring wing. Kettner played well with the Sting this 16u year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keegan Hulke (2026). The Raiders were a .500 team last season and all their pieces return so a 20 win season can be in the conversation. Hulke is a 6'1 forward that scored in double figures last year on average. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleepy Eye</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140563' first='Brayden' last='Heiderscheidt'] (2027, Minnesota Rise). Brayden is versatile, agile, skilled and smart. He is the type of 6'4 long armed guard that can handle or play off the ball and get length on size. There is a very real chance he can lead the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals. There were many games he did just that last year while playing with a quality center. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2860724' first='Eric' last='Lozano'] (2027). Eric is a 5'10 guard that was often the third option playing with Brayden and Landon Wendinger. Eric is one of four starters returning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Springfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2399032' first='Bryan' last='Buerkle'] (2026). Bryan was often the scoring leader and was the rushing leader for Springfield last year and he will be the go to guy. Good face up player that is a strong low post finisher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423280' first='[player_tooltip player_id='2419072' first='Brecken' last='']' last='Heiling'] (2026). Springfield only had two seniors last year so there are a lot of guys back. [player_tooltip player_id='2419072' first='Brecken' last=''] has the potential to be a big scorer this year as he had some big games a year ago. He is a good defender, one of four starters back, and a guy that has hit three or four treys in a number of games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>USC</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2866087' first='Wyatt' last='Sparks'] (2026). Wyatt is a 6'6, 205 pound big man that often recorded numbers in the area of 20 and 10 and is a player that people may need to get eyes on soon. This section has a lot of talent but Sparks has the chance to make his mark as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jayden Barnick (2027). A 6'3 forward that averaged in double figures and will team with Sparks and make for one of the best frontcourts in the section. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->