Section 8AAAA: 26-27 First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section 8AAAA is surely one of the most interesting. Lots of storylines to look at for the upcoming winter. </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>Alexandria - The Cards graduated an excellent senior class but they have some upcoming junior guards that should move them into the next phase of success.  Will it take a year for Alex to get back to state or will they return again? There were ten juniors on the roster last season and now they have their chance.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Monticello - The Magic lose one guy from the rotation after winning 22 games.  They have a team full of multi-sport standouts that should win another 22 games, but can they take the step to beat Alex? They got past the Spuds a year ago in the playoffs. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Moorhead - Moorhead would be a pick to win this but there are a lot of future college football players on this team at a high level, how many of them will be focused on winter weight training and will some of them leave for college early? Romeo will keep them a contender, and if [player_tooltip player_id='2451500' first='David' last='Mack'] and others are around, they will think state. Lost their bog - Austin Drybaugh - to a football transfer (Alabama). </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brainerd - Brainerd won just eight games last season but they had just one senior.  Everything is building to the future as a ton of juniors and sophomores played.  Not sure if the big step will be this year or next, but Brainerd should take a step. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rogers - Rogers won four games last season.  There is no reason in the next few years that they should struggle that much again.  They played no seniors a year ago, they have three prospects with size that are going to be recruited, and they now have experience. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Elk River - the Elks graduated seven of their top eight players including their top four scorers.  This is a team that was playing great basketball at the end of last season and nearly knocked Alexandria out.  The Elks are always well coached and scrappy, and they have some guys coming up, but there are a lot of holes to fill. Tough to predict them high knowing how many rotation spots have to be filled. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bemidji - The Lumberjacks were quite senior dominant with most of their nightly rotations being one junior, maybe two. When you have a team that won 19 games and most of the production is seniors, you are likely to take a step back with so many new faces. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Michael-Albertville - Only had one senior last season when they were winless.  They will have a new coach and basically a restart but a restart in the Lake which is a tough place for it. <br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Preseason All Section 8AAAA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417305' first='Romeo' last='Kromah'] of Moorhead (Jr).&nbsp; Kromah scored 16 points a game as a sophomore and is one of the best 16u players in Minnesota.&nbsp; All State level talent.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2451500' first='David' last='Mack'] of Moorhead (Sr).&nbsp; A superstar football recruit for the Gophers is also a 20ppg scorer on the basketball court.&nbsp; If he stays hooping the Spuds can dream big.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140576' first='Carson' last='Deibele'] of Monticello (Sr).&nbsp; Scored 21 points a game last year for a Magic team that surprised and Carson will have big expectations this year.&nbsp; An even better baseball player that is a top baseball prospect.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140623' first='Hunter' last='Miller'] of Monticello (Sr).&nbsp; A tough guy that battled at forward for his 14 points a contest with 8.3 rebounds a game.&nbsp; Has been very good for the [program_tooltip program_id='2075310' first='Northstar' last='Titans'] this 17u season as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2920933' first='Berant' last='Amborn'] of Alexandria (Jr).&nbsp; Amborn has been very good this 16u season and he helped a bit off the bench last season in addition to his JV role as a sophomore.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560485' first='Jackson' last='Vargas'] of Rogers (Jr).&nbsp; Vargas was the Rogers leading scorer last year at 12 a game.&nbsp; He's grown to 6'6, has been really good in 16u showing his potential, and we think he could take a big step.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2441399' first='Aiden' last='Gilbert'] of Brainerd (Sr).&nbsp; Gilbert put up nearly 15 points a game last season with four rebounds a game as the top Warrior player.&nbsp; He is a 6'3 forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jett Feeney of Moorhead (Sr).&nbsp; A future Gopher quarterback, Feeney is also a 15 point per game scoring basketball player in high school.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2833323' first='Luke' last='Merseth'] of Brainerd (Jr).&nbsp; Merseth is a six foot wing that scored 14 points a game last year while leading the team in rebounding.&nbsp; Should be a go to level all around producer this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2454248' first='Elijah' last='Christenson'] of Rogers (Soph).&nbsp; Eli is one of the most talented sophomores to be in Minnesota.&nbsp; He's had a great 15u year, was good at the MBCA Camp and has a ton of potential.&nbsp; Played JV last year but I have to believe he will have a varsity role last year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Black Scholl of Alexandria (Sr).  School is the top returning player for Alexandria next season after scoring five a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2447459' first='David' last='Balisidya'] of Elk River (Sr). Scored nine points a game last year and is the Elks top returning guy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2835380' first='Johnny' last='Moore'] of Monticello (Jr).&nbsp; Another multi-sport prospect for the Magic, averaged ten points a game last season. Very good football prospect as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wyatt Tverstool of Bemidji (Sr).&nbsp; Wyatt was the one Bemidji regular from last year returning, he is a 6'6 big that scored about seven points a game last season. Could take a big step this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2835426' first='Ty' last='Miller'] of Alexandria (Jr).&nbsp; Miller and Ambron make for a quick, skilled and smart guard pair that should keep the Cards in the 20+ win area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fourth Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen Albrecht of Rogers (Sr).&nbsp; Owen is a 6'9 center that dealt with some injuries last year.&nbsp; He did score nine a game last year and has been solid in 17u.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3599761' first='Preston' last='Bernander'] of Brainerd (Sr). A 39 percent three point shooter as a guard that scored over a dozen points a game as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2839191' first='Alec' last='Deah'] of Monticello (Jr).&nbsp; Deah is also playing for the Titans and having a really good 16u season.&nbsp; He's a tough defender, a tough attacking player, scored about eight a game for the Magic last winter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2492911' first='Dewayne' last='Sims'] of Brainerd (Jr). &nbsp; The 5'9 speedy backcourt player that averaged 7.5 points, a couple assists and a couple boards a contest.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tucker Sawdey of Rogers (Sr).&nbsp; Scored nearly ten points a game last year as a six foot starting guard.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braylon Bohm of STMA (Sr).&nbsp; The second leading scorer for the Knights last year, Bohm is now a senior guard.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>8AAAA Summary</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you are going to knock off Alexandria now is the time.&nbsp; They won't be running out of talent any time soon but they will be a bit younger this year because of graduation and a guy or two focusing on other sports.&nbsp; Alex needs to be knocked off before they aren't picked to win and their junior guards have looked really good this 16u season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moorhead and Monticello seem to be the most likely to knock Alex off but they got one thing that could slow them from full potential….other sports (I love other sports by the way but sometimes putting the ball away for six months hurts).&nbsp; The Spuds lost one player to football already and who knows how many more will think about heading off to football for winter semester.&nbsp; The Magic return all but one guy from a 22 win team but they are full of three sport standouts who are really good at different things.&nbsp; They may have won 22 games last year but they also lost to some teams they shouldn't have.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the up and comers.&nbsp; Brainerd, Rogers and STMA all went young last year, will that experience pay off this year?&nbsp; It should for Rogers who has several good prospects and Braiered who is well coached.&nbsp; STMA seems to be in a serious restart.&nbsp; As for Bemidji and Elk River, they can be in thick of things but tough to predict them right now with so many rotation guys lost to graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->