Section 7AAAA: 26-27 First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blaine took control of things last winter, can they do it again? Or is Anoka ready for a return to state? Let's have a look at Section 7AAAA today!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Section Power Rankings</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Blaine - Blaine has three key players back from last year's rotation, they have a top scorer in the section in Semans and a few up and comers from JV that will make them better.  Looking to go back to back. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Anoka - Anoka underachieved last year at 15-12.  This year they should be better by taking advantage of one of the best bigs in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1819128' first='Bryce' last='Gaustad'] and a top sophomore in [player_tooltip player_id='3665699' first='Kolden' last='Johnson']. Anoka returns five of their top seven guys. They should be the favorites but they have to earn that.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Andover - Return two starters plus four others that played some varsity last season for a 19 win team.  May lack experienced scorers but have enough returning to be section contenders. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cambridge-Isanti - The Bluejackets played a rotation of all non-seniors last season going 9-18.  Now it's time for these young line-up to take a step forward and be an experienced line-up!  A step or two should be taken.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Forest Lake - Half of their rotation graduated from a ten win team including their top two scorers. Five returning guys with experience will keep them in the middle of the group. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Duluth East - The Hounds lose their top two scorers from an 11-win team but they do return half of their rotation which should make them competitors in the section. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Centennial - It was a rough season of four wins last year which may have made for some tough nights BUT there were some young players that emerged last season that should brighten the future. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Coon Rapids - they won more games than we thought they would last year meaning another good job by Mike Ogorek.  He losses his top five guys from last year so has to rebuild another group.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Preseason All Section 7AAAA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1819128' first='Bryce' last='Gaustad'] of Anoka (Sr). Averaged 20 points and 12.6 rebounds last season and this 17u spring he is showing he's a scholarship prospect earning several options.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2782403' first='Henry' last='Semans'] of Blaine (Jr).&nbsp; Henry had an excellent season averaging 14 points a game for a state tournament team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3665699' first='Kolden' last='Johnson'] of Anoka (Soph).&nbsp; One of the state's most productive freshmen, Kolden scored 14 a game as a frosh.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2835657' first='Jameson' last='Epple'] of Cambridge-Isanti (Sr).&nbsp; A 6'3 guard that scored 16 points a game last season and is looking to make the jump to a 20ppg guy.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417551' first='Gavin' last='Olson'] of Blaine (Sr).&nbsp; Returning starter of a state team, Gavin ten points a game on the wing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2128206' first='Eli' last='Ahlstrom'] of Andover (Sr).&nbsp; Scored eight points a game last season as a 6'3 wing, top returning Andover player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140693' first='Simon' last='Winkels'] of Duluth East (Sr).&nbsp; A 6'6 forward that scored 11 points a game and should be one of the better players with size in the section.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417287' first='Mike' last='Fields'] of Andover (Sr).&nbsp; A 6'1 starting guard that scored 7.4 points a game last year as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2437658' first='Alpha' last='Assibu'] of Anoka (Jr).&nbsp; Scored 6.5 points a game in a sophomore starting role and now expectations are higher.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dayne Dierson of Forest Lake (Sr). &nbsp; Dayne is the top returning Ranger after he scored nine points a game as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peyton Coplan of Cambridge-Isanti (Sr).&nbsp; Injuries slowed his February run but Peyton had a really good year in the backcourt scoring a dozen a game as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack Roberts of Cambridge-Isanti (Sr).&nbsp; Jack is a worker forward that gave his team 11 points a game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2880414' first='Lane' last='Johnson'] of Andover (Sr).&nbsp; Johnson started last year pretty hot scoring 7-8 points a game and the Huskies need him to build off that for his senior year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2848335' first='Brady' last='Anderson'] of Centennial (Jr).&nbsp; Scored ten points a game game last season as an underclassmen varsity starter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2857803' first='Aiden' last='Lavik'] of Blaine (Soph).&nbsp; Played more and more last season for a state tournament team eventually being a key member of the eight player rotation.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fourth Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3187362' first='Trey' last='Gustafson'] of Cambridge-Isanti (Soph).  Another sophomore guard in this league that had good time as a frosh, Trey scored in double figures on average last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wes Guanzini of Centennial (Soph).  Didn't play at the start of the season but had some impressive games once he played more and more varsity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2447426' first='Liam' last='Paulson'] of Anoka (Sr).&nbsp; Paulson is a 6'5 forward that scored six a game and makes Anoka one of the bigger teams in the section.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wes Kukkonen of Centennial (Sr).&nbsp; A six point per game scorer as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aden Crooks of Coon Rapids (Sr).&nbsp; the top returning player for the Cards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2833327' first='Ty' last='Schingen'] of Duluth East (jr). Scored five points a game as a sophomore.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>7AAAA Summary</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blaine has surprised a few years in a row now so we will give them the top spot until they are knocked.&nbsp; With [player_tooltip player_id='2782403' first='Henry' last='Semans'] back and few others from the rotation, they have a chance to repeat as section champs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That said, Anoka has the talent to win this and if they hadn't underachieved last year they would be our pick here. They are the biggest team in the section, they have the best player in the section in Gaustad, and they should be the best team if the chemistry comes together right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andover is always a contender with their consistency and some good numbers back and I think the young talent that you should know about is at Cambridge and Centennial.&nbsp; If they can grow either of those teams could surprise, and Cambridge has good young players with quality veterans!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->