The 7AAA Profile: Hibbing moves into favorite role

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We expect a great game at some point in March between Hibbing and Denfeld, a section title game rematch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7AAA Power Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hibbing</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Duluth Denfeld</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Grand Rapids</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hermantown</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chisago Lakes</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>North Branch</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cloquet</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rock Ridge</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='2126126' first='Ray' last='Brau'] of Hibbing (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2466472' first='Lee' last='Brooks'] of Duluth Denfeld (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2877064' first='Carter' last='Brown'] of Duluth Denfeld (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joseph Sutherland of Grand Rapids (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560843' first='Cohen' last='Underhill'] of Chisago Lakes (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Second Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joe Couwenhoven of Chisago Lakes (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2810623' first='Sawyer' last='Senst'] of Hermantown (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2979877' first='Jack' last='Bottoms'] of Hibbing (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacob Knoespel of North Branch (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1585301' first='Evan' last='Bolden'] of Hibbing (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Third Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evan Rothamel of Cloquet (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brendan Sylvester of Grand Rapids (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ben Sundland of Hermantown (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2877064' first='Carter' last='Brown'] of Duluth Defense (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adam Reckmeyer of Hibbing (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2466467' first='Lance' last='Janson'] of Hermantown (Sr) - Honorary </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>One Thought Per Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chisago Lakes. The Wildcats won only three games last year but there is some promise to the upcoming season. They have a new coach in Tom Terhaar and they have one of the top names in Minnesota recruiting this fall, [player_tooltip player_id='1560843' first='Cohen' last='Underhill']. Underhill scored 14 a game last year and he has really physically matured. Cohen is a player that we can see giving the locals big time highlights and strong nightly numbers. Couwenhoven scored 16 points a game and will be a scoring threat as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cloquet. The Jacks lost their coach and their top five scores from a season ago. There is promise coming up from the bench but it will be tough to replace five starting seniors that won 18 games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duluth Denfeld. Denfeld lost their top scorer but they have three quality starters back that should keep the Hunters ahead of the game. [player_tooltip player_id='2466472' first='Lee' last='Brooks'] will be the playmaking guard while [player_tooltip player_id='2877064' first='Carter' last='Brown'] is the high potential forward and [player_tooltip player_id='2910340' first='Antonio' last='Brown'] is the returning low post player that had a good junior year. They are certain contenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grand Rapids. The Hawks were .500 last year plus they return their best two players including [player_tooltip player_id='1560804' first='Joey' last='Sutherland'] who has a chance to have a monster scoring season. Not a favorite but a top 3-4 team that could make a run if the depth falls into place. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hermantown. Hermantown had some strong expectations for this season and they still do, but the thought was they only lost a couple rotational guys. The unfortunate news of Janson having to step away from basketball hurts and we wish Lance our best. That Hawks still have returning players that will keep them in the upper portion mix. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hibbing. The Jackets are the favorites. Why? They won 19 games last year and they were the section runner-up, and they return just about everything. Including the best player in the section this year, [player_tooltip player_id='2126126' first='Ray' last='Brau']. In addition to Brau, [player_tooltip player_id='2979877' first='Jack' last='Bottoms'] scored seventeen a game last season and there is another pair that averaged in the nine-ten points per game a season ago. Hibbing should come into the season as a top ten team and the section favorite. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Branch. The Vikings won just two games last season. They do have their top two players returning but we don't have much of an idea at this point of the level of depth they will have to help take a step forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock Ridge. The Wolverines lost their size from last year and don't have much to replace it with. There will be a ton of guards that have experience led by Cooper Aune but just about everything with returning experience is under six feet tall. Still have a chance to be in that 5-6 spot with the right chemistry </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->