Section 6AA – Can Albany make a 5th straight trip to state?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Section Predictions</h2>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Albany. Huskies made a state push last year when they had a new line-up. They have a chance to do the same this year although they need to fill spots of five rotational graduated seniors. </li>   <li>Annandale. The Cards return just two players: Purcell who tore his ACL last year and Henson who was a reserve guard. Lots of spots to replace plus Purcell is coming of a tough injury. </li>   <li>Holdingford. The Huskers were hit pretty tough by graduation as well. They have their Hofers back but five of the top seven guys graduated and there is much to replace. </li>   <li>St. Cloud Cathedral. Cathedral lost their top two scorers but three starters are back as well as key reserves </li>   <li>Spectrum. Spectrum lost Eli Miller who scored 20 points a game last season but everything else from the rotation returns. </li>   <li>PACT Charter. PACT has their top two scorers back and four of their top six guys back from a 19-8 team.</li>   <li>Foley. With most of the line-up returning (two rotation players gone) the Falcons should be an improved team. They won nine games last year but with their top player back and at least three full time starters back they should be better. </li>   <li>Sauk Centre. The Mainstreeters were a 16 win team last year with three seniors starting. They lost their top scorer but should still be a solid team. </li>   <li>Melrose. The top five scorers from last year's team are gone. Melrose won 18 games last season but they will be much younger and inexperienced this year. </li>   <li>Legacy Christian. Legacy was a 17 win team last year but they lost three guys that scored 17 or more points per game. A few young up and comers but a lot to replace. </li>   <li>Royalton. Royalton should be better this season as they return their top scorer and half of the rotation. They were an 11-win team a season ago but competitive. </li>   <li>Kimball Area. Only a 5-win team last season but a pair of six foot 12 point per game wings return so they should improve some. </li>   <li>Rush City. A team there is little information on at all (no stats, no Breakdown submission, etc). They were 13-13 last year and lost a senior post but have some good sophomores. </li>   <li>Maple Lake. The Irish were better last season taking a step and winning 11 games. With three senior starters graduating it might be tough to match last year but they shouldn't fall back to a few wins as they have a 16ppg returning. </li>   <li>Milaca. A three win team from last year but they do return their best players so they could double last year's win total at least. </li>   <li>Pine City. They won six games a season ago but when they faced section level competition they had a hard time. Top players are back though. </li> </ol>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Section</h2>   First Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2524653' first='Dawson' last='Hofer'] of Holdingford (Sr). The Husker athletic and strong forward scored 25 points a game last season and he might score 32 or 33 a game this season because the team will be much younger this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2140590' first='Cody' last='Benson'] of Spectrum (Sr). Cody scored 24 points a game last season and he is coming off an all state 17u season so expectations will be high for him to have another big year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2527108' first='Jaxson' last='Austin'] of Albany (Sr).  Austin scored 12 a game last year and is coming off a great 17u season.  Austin is a top 50 prospect in the state and headed for a big year.   [player_tooltip player_id='2126448' first='Colton' last='Purcell'] of Annandale (Sr). Purcell was hurt at the end of last year, missed 17u, will miss most or all of the football season, and should be ready to go for the start of the winter hoops year.   [player_tooltip player_id='2954092' first='Fred' last='Onyinkwa'] of PACT (Jr). Fred is a persistent attacking player that scored 17 points a game last year and should be a 20ppg player this season.   Second team   [player_tooltip player_id='2371558' first='Jack' last='Abfalter'] of Foley (Sr).  Jack has been a 17/18 point per game scorer all league player for the last two straight seasons and has a chance for a big senior year helping his team take a contending step.    [player_tooltip player_id='2406558' first='Nicholas' last='Vanheel'] of Albany (Jr).  A really solid two spot prospect that helped Albany off the bench last year and will be a key post player for them.   [player_tooltip player_id='2025921' first='Lucas' last='Hondl'] of Albany (Sr).  Hondl is a good shooter with size that scored a couple times off the bench last season and will have a key role this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2843362' first='Daniel' last='Lee'] of St. Cloud Cathedral (Jr).  Top returning scorer for the team after scoring ten points a game as a sophomore.    [player_tooltip player_id='2126463' first='Owen' last='Grove'] of St. Cloud Cathedral (Sr).  Grove was a four bucket a game shooter with size last season and his role should be much bigger this winter.    Third Team   Caleb Engelhart of PACT (Sr). A 6'3 wing scorer that put up nearly 13 points per game last year as a junior.   Max Vannurden of Royalston (Sr).  A 6'3 forward that scored 16 points a game as a junior.    [player_tooltip player_id='2814022' first='Colton' last='Henson'] of Annandale (Jr). Henson scored five points a game off the bench last season and will step into a very important role this winter.    Alexander Drevlow of Sauk Centre (Jr).  Drevlow is a shooter with length at 6'3 that scored eight points per game last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2419072' first='Brecken' last=''] Effering of Melrose (Jr).  The top returning scorer from a season ago, [player_tooltip player_id='2419072' first='Brecken' last=''] is a good athlete ready for a big year.    Fourth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='3046525' first='George' last='Riviere'] of Maple Lake (Jr).  George is a 6'1 guard that scored 16 points a game as a sophomore and will be the go to option this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2917790' first='Silas' last='Kardell'] of Legacy Christian (Soph). Top returning player for his team, Silas scored six points a game last year shooting 37 percent at the arc.   Deakin Hofer of Holdingford (Fr). Deakin moved into the rotation and gave the team four buckets a game once he was playing. Will have a bigger role this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='2873528' first='Noah' last='Ludwig'] of Foley (Sr).  A 5'10 ball handler that scored eight points a game as a junior last season.    Max Jansky of Kimball (Sr).  A six foot wing that scored 12.4 points per game last year sa a junior.      <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6AA Section Summary</h2>   I really don't know how much change there is going to be.  Last year's best teams were hit pretty big by graduation but it seems like the only teams that weren't hit hard by graduation were some of the worst teams in the league.    Among last year's top teams and the top contenders, Albany has the most talent back when it comes to last year's best teams so there is a very real chance that the Huskies are looking at a fifth straight trip to state. Spectrum, Holdingford, and Annandale will contend but they all have key bodies that need to be replaced (more so Huskers and Cards) but also really good players returning.     Tough to see Albany not getting back to state when it comes down to it.