Section 3AA – What teams can compete with Montevideo and MACA?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Section Predictions</h2>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Montevideo. The Hawks were one of the elite teams in Class AA hoops last year but they ran into Voss and JCC at the wrong time. That doesn't mean they won't be thinking of a second trip to state in three seasons. Four of the top eight players are gone but Montevideo has their superstar back and a budding star coming up </li>   <li>Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta. With three key players back and reserves ready to step up this should be another good year for the Tigers.</li>   <li>Luverne. Luverne lost their top scorer but they only had three seniors in the rotation last season so they should be able to go from 19 wins two years ago to 21 wins last year to at least 16-17 wins next year. </li>   <li>Jackson County Central. JCC went to state last year behind a legendary class of football players that were also good basketball players. Only two rotation players return but JCC should still be solid. </li>   <li>St.James. St. James won 17 games last year, they competed well against some of the better teams, and they return four starters. It's a team with size as well so 20 wins should be something to shoot for. </li>   <li>New London-Spicer. The Wildcats improved from one win to 13 wins and now with five of their top seven guys back including three double figure scorers, NLS can think big. </li>   <li>Fairmont. The Cards lost of their top eight players but they do have two starters returning including a good big that should be the focal point. </li>   <li>Minnewaska Area. The top three scorers of the Lakers graduated from an 18-win team. A couple starters return. </li>   <li>Litchfield. The Dragons were senior dominated last season with five or six seniors having big roles in the rotation. Lots of spots to fill. </li>   <li>Paynesville Area. The Bulldogs won 15 games last season but they have four starters that need to be replaced plus this was a small team last year with nobody bigger than 6'2. </li>   <li>Eden Valley-Watkins. A nine win team last year that struggled with section teams but they return six of their top eight including the top two players. The Eagles should improve. </li>   <li>Windom. Windom was a 12-win team last year that brings back half of their rotation. The returning players are seniors with experience. </li>   <li>Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg. KMS had a good senior run winning 30 games combined the last two years which has been a nice step forward. Four of the top six players are gone though including the top three scorers. </li>   <li>Pipestone Area. A couple young guards with talent return but this team won eight games last season and lost their experience. </li>   <li>Redwood Valley. The Cards won just four games last season as they were young and had a lot of spots to fill. They will be more experienced this season but will they take a step?</li>   <li>ACGC. The Falcons were a five win team last season and their top best players have graduated. </li> </ol>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Section</h2>   First Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2524646' first='Griffin' last='Epema'] of Montevideo (Sr). Epema scored 22.4 points a game as a junior and led his team to 26 wins in 29 games. He's taken his team to state and is motivated to get them back.   [player_tooltip player_id='2377913' first='Alex' last='Asmus'] of MACA (Sr).  The 6'3 leading scorer returns after scoring 18 points per game last season.  Has a real chance to be an all state player.   [player_tooltip player_id='2844671' first='Caleb' last='Koenen'] of Montevideo (Soph).  The 6'5 forward scored 10.5 points a game last season as a skilled frosh and now he has the potential to be a top 1-2 punch in Class AA with Epema.    Coy Thone of Luverne (Sr). The 6'4 double figure scoring all league player averaged 19 points and seven boards a contest last year and this 200 pound multi-sport talent should have a big senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='3580310' first='Sawyer' last='Olson'] of St. James (Sr).  Olson scored 18 points a game last year and the 6'4 senior should have his team ready for a 20 win season.    Second Team   [player_tooltip player_id='3046506' first='Blaise' last='Rowe'] of Jackson County Central (Jr). An outstanding shooter that scored nine points a game for a state tournament team.  Blaise now has a chance to be the main option.   [player_tooltip player_id='2420590' first='Reed' last='Johnson'] of Fairmont (Sr).  Johnson scored 13 points a game and is a good rebounder that should grab double figure boards this winter.    Jack Kohoe of MACA (Sr).  I like the potential for Jack to move from a ten point per game guy to the team's section option.  Jack is a 6'5 forward.    Darius Dolo of Luverne (Sr).  Dolo scored 14-15 points a game last year and the six foot guard will be a key player next year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2828000' first='Quinton' last='Kern'] of St. James (Jr).  Kern scored 13 points a game last year.  He's a 6'2 junior guard.    Third Team   Zachary Lageson of New London-Spicer (Sr).  The six foot combo guard is the top returning scorer for NLS at over 13 points a game.    [player_tooltip player_id='2842674' first='Elliot' last='Serreyn'] of Windom Area (Sr).  A two time all league selection that was a top scorer for Windom last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='3046512' first='Matthew' last='Hemingson'] of Paynesville (Jr).  Hemingson scored nearly 15 points a game last year as a 5'10 guard with a serious scoring punch.    [player_tooltip player_id='2822811' first='Griffin' last='Jones'] of St. James (Jr).  The 6'4 forward averaged 11.5 points a game a season ago and should help St. James be a contender.    [player_tooltip player_id='3580293' first='Caleb' last='DeRose'] of Eden Valley-Watkins (Sr).   DeRose scored nearly 18 points a game as he is a very good shooter that should be one of the top scorers in the section.    Fourth Team   Ethan Nelson of New London-Spicer (Jr).  Ethan emerged as a sophomore scoring 12 points a game and should take another big step.    [player_tooltip player_id='3592776' first='Ben' last='Tiernan'] of MACA (Sr). Ben scored eight points a game last season as a 6'2 guard.    [player_tooltip player_id='2439108' first='Grant' last='Henjum'] of New London-Spicer (Sr).  Athletic forward that also emerged last year playing better than expected scoring 11 points a contest.    [player_tooltip player_id='3034863' first='Blake' last='Bosma'] of Pipestone Area (Soph).  Blake averaged double digits last season as a six foot freshman and now the team looks to be his.     [player_tooltip player_id='2423181' first='Brayden' last='Williamson'] of Fairmont (Sr).  The returning lead guard scored ten a game as a 5'6 playmaker.     Fifth Team   Brooks Dengerud of Litchfield (Jr).  One of the few returning Dragon players from last year's 15 win team.  Brooks is a 6'2 guard that scored four or five times again.   [player_tooltip player_id='2140579' first='Carter' last='Buhl'] of Jackson Country Central (Sr).  Buhl is a great athlete that came off the bench last year but should move into a big role this winter.    [player_tooltip player_id='2843342' first='Jackson' last='Armstrong'] of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg (Jr).  Armstrong is a 5'10 guard that scored just under ten points a game.    [player_tooltip player_id='2842274' first='Cavin' last='Thorfinnson'] of Minnewaska Area (Jr). Averaged seven points a game last year and is the team's top returning player.    Zack Lundeen of Redwood Valley (Sr).  Zack scored 15 points a game last season and would be a key figure in Redwood Valley moving back to competitive.    [player_tooltip player_id='2423308' first='Alek' last='Anderson'] of St. James (Sr).  the six foot guard scored ten points a game as a junior.    Bryce Neiman of Eden Valley-Watkins (Jr).  Neiman scored 11 points a game as a sophomore and is one of the strongest players in the section.    Rylan Pickle of ACGC (Jr).  Pickle is the top returning scorer for his team after scoring ten points a game.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3AA Section Summary</h2>   Montevideo should be in prime position to have another great year.  And based on the talent returning, they should have the point guard (Epema) and the frontcourt scorer (Koenen) to have another top ten, maybe top five season once again.  And once afghan the top contender to Montevideo should be Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta who has half their rotation back from what was a top five team in Class AA.  And this year, Jackson County Central shouldn't be in the way with a team full of athletic seniors.    JCC will still be there, but Luverne should be a contender.  New London-Spicer should take a step forward, St. James should be really good, Fairmont should be solid and there will be a host of teams that make this a really competitive section.  But can somebody step in and slow MACA and Montevideo have?  It doesn't seem like it but we will see.