Class AAAA: Chaska, Waconia, Monticello on the Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Up</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chaska </strong>(13-4). The Hawks moved their way into the top ten this week because they have won ten games in a row and they were the only team in my personal top 16 in Class AAAA that didn't lose a game from spots 9 to 16 so up they moved! You have to love the balance of this team. [player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] is looking like a guy the Summit should look at for future lead guard spots. [player_tooltip player_id='2126143' first='Kalin' last='Jochum'] is scoring 14 a game, [player_tooltip player_id='2113031' first='Eli' last='Herzog'] is a 42 percent three point shooter, [player_tooltip player_id='2841981' first='Jed' last='Keenan'] is a top freshman in the state, and [player_tooltip player_id='2839785' first='Evan' last='Atkinson'] is playing his role very well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waconia </strong>(13-4). The Cats are 13-4 with an eight game winning streak and they are 13-4 along with Chaska, EP and Prior lake. That four team grouping in 2AAAA looks like its going to be a heck of a race for 2AAAA. The balance of this team combined with good coaching has Waconia in a much better spot than many expected them to be in. Will is a star scoring 26 a game and he just broke the school scoring record. [player_tooltip player_id='2493846' first='Luke' last='Hill'] has been far better than expected at 12 a game, Jaxen Homlund gives them a third double figure scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2140622' first='Henry' last='Wisniewski'] and Alex Kirsch are playing their guard role well and taking pressure off of Will, and [player_tooltip player_id='2421469' first='Colton' last='Henke'] has been a good piece. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monticello (</strong>12-4). The Magic are holding teams to 58.5 points a game and they are winners of their last seven straight games. They are putting themselves in that 8AAAA top group along with Alex, Bemidji and Moorhead. [player_tooltip player_id='2140576' first='Carson' last='Deibele'] is scoring 20 points a game to lead the way but it's been a three option trio of Carson [player_tooltip player_id='1560822' first='Rhys' last='Nebben'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140623' first='Hunter' last='Miller']. All three can lead this team in scoring plus sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2835380' first='Johnny' last='Moore'] has stepped up to have a good season as well. Deibele and Miller are a strong junior duo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Down</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eagan </strong>(10-7). The Cats have lost seven of their last nine games and are starting to slip into that third spot of 3AAAA basketball seedings wise. Eagan just lost to Eastview by a score and they have a big game against Rosemount tomorrow who has the best record in 3AAAA. With Shako and Lakeville North coming up the Cats have a huge three game swing that they could get three wins, and they have the team that could do it, but none of these games are gimmies either (Shako started this Eagan tough stretch and North just beat rival South). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mounds View </strong>(9-6). The Mustangs are hitting a tough spot having lost a few games and dropping to 9-6. They play great team basketball and allow only 56 points a game but they are a younger team that might be hitting that late January, the weather stinks spot when the season gets long. I really like this Mounds View junior core of [player_tooltip player_id='2140552' first='Andrew' last='Aitkin'], Redi Defeyter and [player_tooltip player_id='2140688' first='Rylan' last='Happel'] and I hope they can right the ship soon because they are fun to watch as a team. Things don't get easier with East Ridge tonight and New Richmond from Wisconsin who is 8-3. February gets simpler with six teams that have losing record and several winnable games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Centennial </strong>(2-13). We didn't think this was going to be a great season for the Cougars because they don't quite have the horses and we have seen a five game losing streak. We saw lots of "where is [player_tooltip player_id='1560850' first='Tristan' last='Hanson']" when it came to the Mr. Basketball stuff and we thought two things: 1) tough to be on a list on a two win team but 2) he is a good player that we still want to honor. Hanson is scoring 18 points per game and just had 24 against Champlin Park and had 28 in a win over Elk River. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->