Section 6AAA: Which Spartan is better, Orono or Richfield

Can Richfield get back to state? What is the new era of BSM? Is Orono ready to get back to state? Let's have a look!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Section Power Rankings</h2>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Richfield. The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] were in a great spot after a 29-3 season to make a push for the state title. They were about to return four starters and key reserves, and then Waleed transferred in a surprising move. The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] are still going to be a top team in the state but the loss of the point guard is tough, but they will still be very good with Horne, Collins, Hagler, Clifford and Ben. The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] have a couple good junior guards that will add depth ([player_tooltip player_id='2955364' first='Ian' last='Nelson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2433619' first='Oscar' last='Peterson']) and help with the Waleed loss. </li>   <li>Orono. The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] are a team that I think can slide into the top five in the state this season. They are likely a player away from being a state title contender but they could battle Richfield for the right to play at state with several key players returning including Hansen, Finn, and Doherty. </li>   <li>Benilde- St. Margaret's. The Red Knights fell to a couple games below .500 in what was really somewhat of a rebuilding year as the top two scorers are back and some good young players were on the court as well. BSM changed coaches and expectations will be immediate, or at least they should be. </li>   <li>Bloomington Kennedy. The Eagles are the team I think that will make the biggest jump and if the social media reports of Mus transferring back to the Sioux Falls/Omaha/NW Iowa area of the country are wrong, they are a top ten area team. But even without Mus, Kennedy has five of their top six guys back in points per game. </li>   <li>Academy of Holy Angels. AHA has their top two scorers back but they did lose a host of seniors that helped them over .500 and be a solid team. We think they will be right in the middle once again. </li>   <li>Westonka. The Hawks won just three games last season but it was a one-senior team building to the future. You saw a glimpse of what they could be when they beat Cooper in the playoffs and we think they will take a big jump. </li>   <li>Delano. The Tigers won 12 games last year and lost their top two scorers BUT they do return a pair of double figure guys (Vinny was hurt in January and lost for the year) and have three players back total from their rotation. </li>   <li>Minneapolis Southwest. The Lakers won 11 games last season and they do return three of four top four scorers back from last year. Can they take the next step? They seem to be in the same area as AHA and Delano at the moment. </li>   <li>Robbinsdale Cooper. The Hawks looked to be in a good spot to take a nice step next season with their top six scores back but then their best player left for a prep school unfortunately. Cooper will still be competitive though.</li> </ol>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Preseason All Section 6AAA</h2>   First Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] of Richfield (Sr).  An all state player and the Richfield leading scorer last year, Collins is next up on many D2 lists.    [player_tooltip player_id='2424180' first='Grant' last='Hansen'] of Orono (Sr).  Hansen is one of the hardest working players in the state and a 20 point per game scorer from last season. A three and D guy that is tough to boot!    [player_tooltip player_id='2140700' first='Tyrece' last='Hagler'] of Richfield (Sr).  Hagler scored over 16 points a game last season and is one of the deadlier shooters in the state.    [player_tooltip player_id='2574749' first='Gideon' last='Horne'] of Richfield (Sr).  Horne is one of the most explosive players in the state.  He scored 15 a game last winter.    [player_tooltip player_id='2397796' first='Judah' last='Mitchell'] of Bloomington Kennedy (Jr).  A scorer at six feet that scored almost 23 points a game last year and is ready for a huge junior year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2126475' first='Conner' last='Watts'] of BSM (Sr). Watts is a smart playmaker that scored almost 17 points per game last year and was the main playmaker.   Second Team   [player_tooltip player_id='3579581' first='Mika' last='James'] of Westonka (Sr).  Mika scored 19 plus points a game as a junior and should have a chance to be among the metro leading scorers this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2842299' first='Finn' last='Dyvik'] of Orono (Sr).  Finn is a 6'4 forward that scored over 11 points per game and a player that is ready for a big step next year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2126470' first='Milton' last='Nuahn'] of BSM (Sr).  Milton is one of the strongest players in his class, he scored over 12 a game last season.     [player_tooltip player_id='2843124' first='Izaak' last='DePoint'] of AHA (Sr). The Stars hard working double-double versatile big is a worker, a face up player and a battler around the basket.  He scored 12 a game last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2835654' first='Nathaniel' last='Clifford'] of Richfield (Sr). Clifford has really good potential and we've seen him grow with Richfield and Select in the past half year.   Third Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2140560' first='Ben' last='Heidgerken'] of Richfield (Sr).  The worker of the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''], he will step into a bigger role and he is ready for it.   Tavorian Thompson of Cooper (Jr). One of the strongest frontcourt players in the section, Thompson scored 23 points a game last year and is the top returning scorer.   [player_tooltip player_id='3684076' first='Jerrell' last='Washington'] Jr of Bloomington Kennedy (Fr).  Jerrel scored nearly eight points a game on varsity last year before dealing with some injury stuff towards the end of the year.    Cole Lesage of Westonka (Soph).  Cole put up 11 points a game last year as a freshman and will be a bigger piece to the team as a sophomore.    [player_tooltip player_id='2401711' first='Alexander' last='Pilakowski'] of Orono (Sr). Alex scored almost 11 points a game as the third leading scorer on the team who all return.   Fourth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2140555' first='Arjun' last='Jain'] of AHA (Sr).  Jain scored a dozen a game last year and he's a shooter you always have to locate.    Vinny Lucarelli of Delano (Sr).  Vinny is a 6'2 wing that was scoring 11 points a game before he was injury in early January.   [player_tooltip player_id='2560720' first='Meech' last='Williams'] Jr of BSM (Jr).  A talented young ball handler that scored 6-7 points a contest as an underclassmen.   Niko Case of Minneapolis Southwest (Sr).  Case is the top returning scorer for Southwest scoring ten points a game last year.    Brady Schultz of Delano (Sr). Schultz is a six foot guard that scored ten points a game and has had a solid 17u season.   Fifth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2417236' first='Gavin' last='Doherty'] of Orono (Jr).  Gavin had a solid sophomore season scoring seven points a game.   Champ Wright of BSM (Sr).  A senior that scored seven points a game last year and will be a key role player.    [player_tooltip player_id='2140674' first='Owen' last='Boarman'] of Minneapolis Southwest (Sr).  Boarman was another consistent player for Southwest scoring eight points a game all season.    Peter Koenig of AHA (Sr).  Peter is the third player returning from the AHA rotation form last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='3576198' first='Marcus' last='Lessor'] of Westonka (Soph).  The 6'4 post scored nearly ten a game as a freshman.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6AAA Summary</h2>   Richfield and Orono were both bringing back key pieces to make them top five area teams but Richfield had a bit more and was looking at a state title run.  That run was hurt by Waleed transferring to Hopkins (fourth varsity team for him so a transfer again shouldn't be too big of a surprise) but Richfield is still going to be a very good team.  But the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] of crimson and the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] of red and blue are closer in the race.  These are clearly the favorites and then….   we have everybody else.  And those other teams are kind of in a giant mix with one another but transfer seems to have dented things here too.  Cooper and Kennedy look like they will lose their leading scores which hurts as I think Kennedy could have been top three and Cooper maybe top five.  Kennedy should still be there as will be BSM who has four key players back, and AHA who has key rotational players returning.    Richfield vs Orono will be the conversation all season though.

Can Richfield get back to state? What is the new era of BSM? Is Orono ready to get back to state? Let's have a look!