Section 2AA – Is this the year Belle Plaine Returns to State?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Section Predictions</h2>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Belle Plaine. The Tigers lost their superstar (Ethan Martin) but they have four starters back that all averaged double digits plus some reserves. They have a ton of experience back, they just don't have a star. This should still be a good team. </li>   <li>Maple River. I think this is the season that Maple River takes a big step forward. They have a lead dog back in [player_tooltip player_id='2357544' first='Cole' last='Davis'], they have three double figure scorers returning, they have reserves ready for a bigger role, I think the Eagles are contenders.</li>   <li>Blue Earth. I think Blue Earth is an under radar sleeper. They beat LCWM twice last year and I think a couple of their returning players really have a chance to take a big step forward. Look out for Blue Earth next year.</li>   <li>Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial. LCWM won 19 games last season and they return their NSIC committed big [player_tooltip player_id='2381221' first='Carter' last='Lowis'], fellow starter [player_tooltip player_id='2411259' first='Braxton' last='Dudgeon'], and reserve [player_tooltip player_id='2815539' first='Trevan' last='Mathews']. Three key guys returning. </li>   <li>Minnesota Valley Lutheran. This is a 15-win team that brings back it's top three scorers and four of their top six guys. The experience is there for this team to take a nice step forward with three double figure scorers back.</li>   <li>Le Sueur-Henderson. The Giants have a superstar in Vinkemeier and a second weapon in Adams, and then they bring back about half of the rest of last year's rotation. That said, the team wasn't deep enough last year so they were 11-15. They can get above .500 but how much?</li>   <li>Glencoe-Silver Lake. GSL had a pair of players score a combined 50+ ppg last year and both are gone (one graduated, one transferred) which leaves a lot of scoring to be done. [player_tooltip player_id='2850877' first='Trevor' last='Engelmann'] is next up! </li>   <li>Blooming Prairie. The Blossoms are an interesting one for me. First of all, they got stuck in the 12 seed out of the 15 teams despite winning 18 games because in early January, St.Clair beat them by 26 points. They then went and beat WEM by 17 a month later but that didn't help them much and they got beat badly by the five seed in the playoffs. So where do they belong with their top scorer and three starters back from an 18 win team? Tough to tell but they should have more experience back then a handful of others. </li>   <li>Waseca. This is a very interesting time for the Jays who have had a star in their line-up for more years than I can remember. Not only do they not have a star, they lost four seniors from their line-up that went to state. </li>   <li>Albert Lea. The Tigers won nine games a season ago which for the Tigers program is a solid season. Unfortunately four of their top five scorers graduated. </li>   <li>St. Clair. The Cyclones were a .500 team last year but they graduated four of their top five guys. The next Freitag of Minnesota should be a great scorer for St. Clair but a lot needs to be developed around him. </li>   <li>Central (Norwood-Young America). NYA/Central was an 11-win team last year with some older players. With really only one regular starter coming back, you have to expect this will be a building season. </li>   <li>Waterville-Elysian-Morristown. The Bucs had a rough record against section teams (1-10) but they were good against non-section teams (10-6). The team graduated their top scorer and three of their top four players but there are some good young players coming up. </li>   <li>Sibley East. A five win team from last season that lost their best two players to graduation. Tough stretch could continue this season. </li>   <li>Tri City United. It was a tough season last year as Tri City wasn't able to win a game against a section team and they lost games by an average of 34 points. And to make it tougher, the one double figure scorer graduated. </li> </ol>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Section</h2>   First Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2417301' first='Hunter' last='Vinkemeier'] of Le Sueur-Henderson (Sr).  Hunter is a top ten level senior in the state and he is headed to Augustana.  Vinkemeier averaged 30 and 20 last year and I would expect him to average at least 30/20 this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2381221' first='Carter' last='Lowis'] of LCWM (Sr).  The future MSUM Dragon big man is a legit 6'10 with skill and the top returning stat guy at 13 points and 11 boards a game.  A player that really showed his potential this year at camps and with [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'].    [player_tooltip player_id='2357544' first='Cole' last='Davis'] of Maple River (Sr). Davis was the leading scorer for Maple River last year and is coming off a fine 17u season.  He is a shooter that will be looking at potential all state honors this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='2391636' first='Sully' last='Dahlberg'] of Blue Earth (Sr). A top 100 level senior at 6'4 that plays a high energy, active game.  Sully is a player that I think can have an all state level season next winter and maybe lead his team to some trophies.    [player_tooltip player_id='2809791' first='Pierson' last='Brau'] of Minnesota Valley Lutheran (Jr).  A 6'5 junior-to-be that averaged 19 points and seven rebounds a game for an up and coming team.  A 58 percent shooter that was hitting games in the 30s at the end of the season.    Second Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2126171' first='Gabe' last='Staloch'] of Blooming Prairie (Sr).  Gabe averaged 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists a game as a junior leading his team to 18 wins.  The 6'1 guard has been a four year standout for the Blossoms.    [player_tooltip player_id='2835652' first='Logan' last='Anderson'] of Belle Plaine (Sr).  Logan looks to be in a good spot to step in and be a very dependable top option. At 6'4 and having scored 12 a game last season, Anderson is a key player.    [player_tooltip player_id='2509586' first='Landon' last='Wadsley'] of Belle Plaine (Jr).  Another 12ppg guy with size at 6'3 that I think can really take a big step forward for the Tigers when it comes to being a key scoring option.    Emery Stevens of Maple River (Jr).  Stevens scored nearly 15 points a game last year as a sophomore and is a 6'3 forward that will give the Eagles a series 1-2 punch (with Davis).    [player_tooltip player_id='2423235' first='Owen' last='Birkholz'] of Minnesota Valley Lutheran (Sr).  The six foot guard was a lights out shooter making 55 percent of the five threes he took a game last season on his way to a 17 point average.   Third Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2140689' first='Sam' last='Freitag'] of St. Clair (Sr).  Sam scored 16 points a game as a junior last season and has really scored it well this 17u season.  Expect a big year for Freitag as a senior.    [player_tooltip player_id='2792633' first='Caden' last='Koepp'] of Belle Plaine (Sr). A 5'9 guard that is the top returning score for the Tigers this season and a playmaker.   [player_tooltip player_id='2850877' first='Trevor' last='Engelmann'] of Glencoe-Silver Lake (Jr). Trevor moves into the big role as scorer and he put up 14ppg as an underclassmen last season.   Ryder Dutton of Blue Earth (Sr).  A double figure returning scorer with the best name in the state of Minnesota (if you watch Yellowstone, you get it).  Dutton made a number of theres in both games I saw last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2411259' first='Braxton' last='Dudgeon'] of LCWM (Sr).  Braxton is a returning double figure scoring wing that put up 10 plus a game last year and should be the quick wing scorer for the team this year.    Fourth Team   Landon Gartner of Maple River (Sr). A 5'10 guard that averaged in double digits last season and will make for a tough backcourt with Davis.    Owen Honstad of Waseca (Sr). Owen is a 5'10 ball handler that is the top returning scorer at seven points a game.    Blake Sexton of Minnesota Valley Lutheran (Sr).  A 6'5 frontcourt player that averaged 11 points and six rebounds a game last season.    Cole Bartz of WEM (Jr).  Cole is the top returning WEM player after scoring 14 points a game last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2853501' first='Marques' last='Jeffers'] Joseph of Albert Lea (Sr).  The top returning player for the Tigers, Marques averaged 11 a game.   [player_tooltip player_id='3653988' first='Wyatt' last='Rafdal'] of Blooming Prairie (Sr).  Wyatt scored nearly 12 points a game last winter and the 6'3 forward returns as a senior.     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2AA Section Summary</h2>   This section has to be one of the most wide open out there.  With Waseca and GSL losing so many key players it opens the door for some other teams to step in and to get to state.  And who do we look to initially? Belle Plaine!   Belle Plaine?  Didn't they just lose Ethan Martin?  Yes they did BUT they return just about everybody else and they have a lot of good players.  And when you consider that LCWM has three starting spots to replace (but they will still be good) and Blue Earth has spots to fill, and Maple River should be good but has to learn to win consistently at a high level, why can't this be the year of the Tiger?   We can't stop there. Keep an eye out for MVL who is ascending and then you have Le Sueur-Henderson with Vinkemier. The question is if others can step up to help but in a section this open, Hunter might be able to carry his crew pretty far.