Section 8AAA - The Tech/Apollo Rivalry is Back in a Big Way

Can Sartell repeat? Fergus Falls ready? Tech vs Apollo ready to take center stage?   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Section Predictions</h2>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>St. Cloud Tech.  The Tigers have a chance to be really good next season.  They were .500 last year but return their key pieces plus they add [player_tooltip player_id='2575638' first='Izayah' last='Cook'] to the line-up.  When you can throw Cook-Jiech-Brakes at a team you have a scoring edge on all but a few teams in Class AAA.  If the team gels they can think really big. </li>   <li>St. Cloud Apollo.  The Eagles need some depth to step in but they have a very good top three guys.  They weren't deep last season but to get [player_tooltip player_id='2560493' first='Jonah' last='Laumeyer'] back from injury would be big.  With Trevor, Sells and [player_tooltip player_id='3579605' first='Goay' last='Hoth'] returning this team that fought into the top ten last year could fight there again.  </li>   <li>Sartell.  The Sabers lost their top scorer (Lewis), their big (Bergstrom), and their lead guard (Bommersbach), but they do return three key players from a state tournament team.  And that group includes a 12ppg game scorer ([player_tooltip player_id='3579594' first='Karson' last='Lewis'], no relation to Maddox Lewis), a 6'7 big ([player_tooltip player_id='2527128' first='Parker' last='Smith']) and a couple reserves moving into starting roles.  They will still be good, and remember, they dominated this group of teams last season especially in section play.  </li>   <li>Fergus Falls. The Otters return their top four players including their leading scorer and their playmaker which means they could have a really big season.  We think they are league contenders as they gained a lot of experience from a 12-win season. </li>   <li>Willmar.  Willmar is quite interesting.  They were 16-11 last year and return six of their eight players from the rotation, plus they have a nice sophomore class of talent.  All that said, they lose their go to guy in Avery Christensen and they faded last year after a good start.  The experience is now there so they should match the 16 wins, but can they get more than that?</li>   <li>Sauk Rapids.  This team will play super hard, and they will defend hard.  They might be a bit young to make the push they want but they will make you compete, and they will beat teams that aren't prepared that day. </li>   <li>Little Falls.  We think Little Falls will take a bit of a step forward.  When we saw them last year they played hard but didn't quite have the size or the depth to finish off opponents.  But with half of the rotation back and some young guys ready for a bigger role, they should improve. </li>   <li>Detroit Lakes.  A .500 team from a season ago that lost their top three scorers but does return a couple starters.  The loss of Moss might be deeper felt than some realize as Damarion Moss was a really good 20ppgg guard. </li>   <li>Rocori. The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] were 7-20 last year and will likely be something similar this season but at the same time, they have a very good young group of players that will get experience.  The sophomore Spartan class is pretty good.</li> </ol>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Section</h2>   First team   [player_tooltip player_id='2569233' first='De'Anthony' last='Sells'] of St. Cloud Apollo (Sr). Sells exploded on the scene last year as a 20 and 10 guy and then then went and had agreat 17u season.  He is an explosive and activity 6'6 four man that has the agility to be versatile.    [player_tooltip player_id='2575638' first='Izayah' last='Cook'] of St. Cloud Tech (Sr).  I thought Cook took some really nice steps forward playing with the Heat this 17u season before his injury.  He scored 16.6 points a game at Sauk Rapids two years back and should have a chance for a big senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='2569247' first='Jiech' last='Jiech'] of St. Cloud Tech (Sr).  Jiech scored nearly 23 points a game last season and has been outstanding for [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'] this 17u year.  Jiech has taken that scoring guard ability and applied it at 17u and helped making [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'] one of the best teams this season. Also grabbed seven boards last year.   [player_tooltip player_id='3579594' first='Karson' last='Lewis'] of Sartell (Sr). Lewis is a 6'1 combo guard that scored 13 points a game last year and is ready for the main role this winter.  Has played really well for the [program_tooltip program_id='2888391' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] this spring and summer as well.    [player_tooltip player_id='2869569' first='Jacob' last='Jenc'] of Fergus Falls (Sr).  A 6'4 forward that scored 19 points a game last season really helping the Otters go on two nice winning streaks in the second half of the season.  One of the better players you need to know about.    Second Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2873622' first='Nick' last='Brakes'] of St. Cloud Tech (Sr).  Nick is an all around worker for Tech that has played both guard spots and defended well for Comets Hondl this season.  Scored 13.3 points a game and has really taken a nice step forward, I think he can be a great compliment to Cook and Jiech.   [player_tooltip player_id='2382519' first='Eston' last='Bethel'] of Fergus Falls (Jr).  A really good point guard/leader that also plays quarterback for the football team.  A smart playmaker that can score it at 15pgg but also move it well for his teammates.    [player_tooltip player_id='2560535' first='Trevor' last='Terfehr'] of St. Cloud Apollo (Jr).  A taller guard that avearged 16/8/6 last season giving his team really good numbers.  A key reason that Apollo has big expectations this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2560448' first='Cooper' last='Schnichels'] of Willmar (Jr).  Cooper is the top returning scorer for his team after scoring nine points a game as a sophomore.  A strong player at 6'6 or 6'7 and 220 pounds, Cooper should take a nice step forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='3579605' first='Goay' last='Hoth'] of St. Cloud Apollo (Sr).  Goay is a player that we think could make a really bug jump next season.  He scored 11 points a game and really can be a game changer at times with teams focused on others.  Find him in the corner.   Third Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2527128' first='Parker' last='Smith'] of Sartell (Sr). Smith is a 6'7 frontcourt player that scored eight points a game last season and gives the Sabers returning size that other section and league teams don't have.    Alex Hoppe of Willmar (Sr).  Alex is a top returning player in terms of scoring as he put up nine points a game last season for the Cards plus he led the team with over seven boards a game.    [player_tooltip player_id='2813689' first='Isaiah' last='Schultz'] of Little Falls (Sr). When we looked in, Isaiah was the top scorer last year putting up double figures in the games we monitored.    Hudson Sjobeg of Willmar (Sr).  A strong 6'2 200 plus pound forward that will help the team as a forward.  Scored eight points a game last season with 6.6 boards.   [player_tooltip player_id='2869570' first='Nolan' last='Felstul'] of Fergus Falls (Sr).  A quality senior guard that scored 11 points a game last season and will return as a starter. [player_tooltip player_id='2435292' first='Judah' last='Schultz'] of Little Falls (Fr).  Judah scored in double digits last year as an 8th grader and is a name that we think could help the Flyers take a nice step next season.    Fourth Team   Okilli Galo of St. Cloud Tech (Sr).  Galo scored eight points a game and is one of three of the top six back for the Tech rotation.    Davion Bower of Detroit Lakes (Sr).  Bower is a guard that scored eight points a game last season and will be one of the top DL players this year.   Trenton Drouillard of Fergus Falls (Sr). A 6'4 double figure scorer that dealt with some injuries last season but will be a key player for the Otters.   [player_tooltip player_id='2833317' first='Ty' last='Rudolph'] of Sauk Rapids (Sr). The top returning scorer from the Storm, Parker scored nine points a game last season. Ty has also been a very good defender when we saw the Storm last winter   [player_tooltip player_id='2676981' first='Grady' last='Buchert'] of Sauk Rapids (Sr).  A really good defender that is also a good shooter, Grady had a good season with the Comets and should take a nice jump this season.    Nolan Vanloy of Rocori (Sr).  A sneaky good senior that plays tough and scored twelve a game last year, don't be surprise if Nolan is one of the top ppg guys in the section next season.    Fifth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2920198' first='Trevor' last='Schlangen'] of Sartell (Sr).  A role player moving into a bigger role as a veteran senior guard. Trevor scored six points a game on a state team.    [player_tooltip player_id='2917788' first='Nolan' last='Kron'] of Rocori (Soph).  One of the top sophomore scorers in the section last year, Nolan avearged 11 points a game and is a top player from a good Spartan 2029 class.    [player_tooltip player_id='2833026' first='Isaiah' last='Williams'] of Sauk Rapids (Sr).  Another good Storm senior guard, they are going to play hard and be better than teams expect this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2140679' first='Owen' last='Lipton'] of Detroit Lakes (Sr).  Lipton is a 6'3 agile forward that started games last season and will be a key senior this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2416124' first='Jackson' last='Carlson'] of Willmar (Sr).  Another returning Willmar frontcourt player, Carlson is 6'4 and gave the team seven points and six boards a game as a junior.    [player_tooltip player_id='2862015' first='Jacob' last='Ellingson'] of Willmar (Jr). Jacob scored seven points a game and is a key guard for Willmar this year.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8AAA Section Summary</h2>   Sartell obliterated everybody down the stretch last year with big wins at the end of the regular season and running time wins in section play. Because of that you can expect them to be among the contenders in this group as they have two starters back and a third player that started part of the year.    But when it comes to the teams with the highest potential, that is Tech and Apollo.  The Tech vs Apollo games will be must see contests this year as they battle for section and conference.  Apollo won 19 games last year, Tech won 14, both have key players returning, and the most talented guys back. If the chemistry is right, Tech and Apollo should both be 20 win teams, if that chemistry fits.    Keep an eye out for Fergus Falls.  The Otters have all but one of their top guys back and they are very well coached.  Willmar also has a lot back but lose their top guy, and Sauk Rapids will be the scrappy group.

Can Sartell repeat? Fergus Falls ready? Tech vs Apollo ready to take center stage?