The 1AAA Profile: Is Northfield being overlooked?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stewartville has the up and comers, Faribault has the size, Byron was at state last year and Austin had the summer, but Northfield might be the safest pick. But the Falcons may have the best chance? Follow? Lol, it's wide open!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1AAA Power Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Faribault</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Northfield</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Stewartville</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Austin</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Byron</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Winona</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kasson-Mantorville</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='2381757' first='Cole' last='Hebrink'] of Austin (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2115655' first='Ryan' last='Kreager'] of Faribault (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560862' first='Fisher' last='Kruckeberg'] of Byron (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1521424' first='Kayden' last='Oakland'] of Northfield (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118832' first='Breuer' last='Wolff'] of Faribault (Sr)</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='2381766' first='Xzayveun' last='Severin'] of Austin (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2072414' first='Malik' last='Abdi'] of Stewartville (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560869' first='Banyaan' last='Omot'] of Austin (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cayden Heydt of Stewartville (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2391109' first='Keaton' last='Hansen'] of Byron (Soph)</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='2417228' first='Liam' last='Oakland'] of Northfeld (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2979781' first='Tyler' last='Holz'] of Northfield (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417231' first='Vincent' last='Pocius'] of Kasson-Mantorville (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>J'Dan Stevens of Austin (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyler Hupton of Northfield (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>One Thought Per Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Austin. Five key players back from a team that hit a total pitfall last year but they played really well this summer and we think Austin will have a good year. With dangerous shooters on each wing, long athletes up front, and players all over the court that can terrorize in the zone, we think a nice year is coming. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Byron. Lots of changes going on with the Bears as they have a new head coach, they have to replace three or four starters and it's going to look new. That said, Fisher is the starting double figure holdover and there are good young players coming up. There is more here to replace than we first thought but they should still be a good team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faribault. We said it before and we will say it again, this is one of the best starting frontcourts in the state but the backcourt is going to be completely new and unknown. How that meshes together is everything. Typically when the frontcourt is stacked and the backcourt struggles, the team struggles. But the Falcon backcourt doesn't need to be amazing, they just need to be solid on defense, hit some open shots, and get the offense started. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kasson-Mantorville. The KoMets will have a young group that is a year away from making some noise but they could give some fits this year. We don't expect KM to be strong record wise but we do think they are developing some good players that will be good in the near future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northfield. Austin is up and coming from a good summer, Faribault has the frontcourt, Byron was last year and Stewartville has the best up and comers, but when it comes to skill, experience, toughness and all around good play, Northfield might be the pick here. [player_tooltip player_id='1521424' first='Kayden' last='Oakland'] could have a monster year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stewartville. Lots and lots of noise out of Stewartville lately (more than any team out there right now actually) and yes, we hear you. Now.... usually when they are barking this much there are more than two of the top eight guys returning, but we hear you. The Tigers lost their top four scorers and six of their eight guys from the rotation. Their JV was undefeated a season ago so that is where the confidence is coming from and highlighted by [player_tooltip player_id='2451548' first='Brett' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2393884' first='Dexter' last='Simmons'] there are some really good underclassmen coming up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winona. Winona lost 24 of 27 games last season but they do returning four of their starters which should help them take a step forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->