The 8AAAA Profile: Spuds, Elks, Lumberjacks and Cards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who is going to try and stop Alexandria from going back to state? Seems like the Spuds, Elks and Lumberjacks are the best answer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8AAAA Power Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Alexandria</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Moorhead</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bemidji</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Elk River</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Monticello</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brainerd</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rogers</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Michael-Albertville</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='1560797' first='Jaxon' last='Boschee'] of Bemidji (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560831' first='Levi' last='Harris'] of Elk River (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2451500' first='David' last='Mack'] of Moorhead (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118449' first='Mason' last='Witt'] of Alexandria (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118495' first='Talan' last='Witt'] of Alexandria (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='2115657' first='Gavin' last='Roderick'] of Alexandria (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2175436' first='Austin' last='Riewer'] of Bemidji (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560841' first='Dominic' last='Webster'] of Elk River (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560822' first='Rhys' last='Nebben'] of Monticello (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2119601' first='Thomas' last='Hinrichs'] of Alexandria (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Third Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myles Grey of Alexandria (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126865' first='Grady' last='Starzl'] of Alexandria (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140576' first='Carson' last='Deibele'] of Monticello (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417305' first='Romeo' last='Kromah'] of Moorhead (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jett Feeney of Moorhead (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>Alexandria. When it comes to title contenders we look at Hopkins, Wayzata and Maple Grove as the top tier of contenders followed by the next tier of CDH, Tartan and Alexandria. The Cards will be the favorite of the fans because they are the only one of these six teams that get to their current depth by adding transfers. Hopkins added three key transfers, Wayzata had one, Maple Grove added two, CDH added three, and Tartan added three. The Cards? Zero. When it comes to returning players from last year Alex is similar to those five, but those five got the transfers while Alex is all Alex and the way they play, and already having won a title, Alex is in that group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bemidji. The Lumberjacks are on my key sleeper list. They have two D2 players returning plus two other key guys from their top six. They won 15 games last season and with top talent returning and reserves back as well, this could be a 20 team that surprises. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brainerd. Brained lost seven seniors from a 15 team. The Warriors are normally a team you just count on as being a well coached tough opponent but this year seems like quite a task. Two returning rotation players back from a team that was only a few games over .500. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elk River. What's wild is that a big part of the Elk River season will be based on health from football because this is a good football team that has a lot of good football players doubling as really good basketball players. The Elks were an eight win team last year but they didn't have their health and a lot of juniors were playing. Now they are a senior dominant experienced team with a scorer in Harris and size in Webster and others. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monticello. The Magic are going to work their way for an M8 title and then move into section play and hope to host a playoff game. Nebben and Deibele are now the main guys and the Magic have good role players ready to start, and then younger player looking to take a step. A good team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moorhead. The Spuds won 24 games last season as one of the biggest surprises in the state and while they lost a couple good senior guards, they have a really good group of juniors that ready to lead the way (after football, they also need a healthy football season). Throw in Romeo and this is a top 15 team entering the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rogers. A ten win team from last year that lost most of their key players. There are some good young players to watch but I think it's looking like a single digit win season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Michael-Albertville. The Knights lost pretty much everything and will be going through a rebuilding season. There is some size there to work with but it's a rebuild. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->