Section 8AA – Is Perham the overwhelming favorite for 8AA?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Section Predictions</h2>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Perham. The Jackets look like they are in a great place to try and return to state. They have their top two players returning and a number of rotational guys back. </li>   <li>Osakis. Osakis played just three seniors last year but they were the three double figure scoring players for their team. But with two starters returning and all of their reserves they should be able to match last year's 18 wins. </li>   <li>Staples-Motley. Lost their top four scorers to graduation but do have a couple role players returning to lead the team. </li>   <li>East Grand Forks. EGF had a 22 win season last winter but they did it with four senior starters including two three/four year players in the backcourt. Rafael Jones should lead them into the upper part of the section though.</li>   <li>DGF. DGF was in a good spot at 14-5 last year but they had a tough spot losing eight of their last night. There were close games but a younger team wasn't ready. They lost their top scorer but return just about everything else so they should be ready this season. </li>   <li>Warroad. Warroad should take a step this year with only two seniors leaving from the rotation and their top two scorers returning. They had some ugly games against some senior dominated teams so we are moving them up some but not a huge boost. </li>   <li>Hawley. A 7-21 team last season that does return four of their top six guys including their top scorer from last season and top worker.</li>   <li>Thief River Falls. A 15-game winner from a season ago that lost their double figure scorers, four starters, and five of their top seven guys overall. </li>   <li>Roseau. This is such a hard team to pick. Borowicz has to do so much for the team and if he has any help this year step forward in addition to Broten, they will be better. They beat Warroad last in the year last year. Won just seven games last year though.</li>   <li>Park Rapids. The Panthers lost two quality seniors scorers and all league guys from a team that went 11-17, about four rotational guys back though. </li>   <li>Barnesville. When we look at Barnesville box scores, information and scout reports from last year, all we see is seniors so there is going to be a new looking starting five. </li>   <li>Menahga. A six game winner last year but all key pieces return and last year was a five game improvement so next step is winning double figure games with a veteran team. </li>   <li>Wadena-Deer Creek. Should be better this year with all their key pieces back and most of them being seniors, but this was just a four win team a year ago. </li>   <li>Crookston. This was a five win team a season ago and they graduated their top players, it could be another rebuilding season.</li> </ol>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Section</h2>   First team   [player_tooltip player_id='2126146' first='Jordan' last='Borowicz'] of Roseau (Sr).  A 36 point per game scorer that the offense really has to run through and with one of the other two guys that scored more than two points a game graduating, Jordan might have an even bigger load this season. Shot 46 percent last year from the field and 79 percent from the foul line taking 708 shots from the field and 337 foul shots respectively.    [player_tooltip player_id='2426406' first='Cypress' last='Thiel'] of Perham (Sr).  A 6'3 and strong, confident scorer, Thiel scored 17 points a game last year to lead his team to state.  Had a good 17u season and is ready for a big senior year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2560478' first='Isaiah' last='Farrell'] of Perham (Jr). The 5'11 starting point guard and playmaker, Farrell scored 13 points a game and should be one of the better playmakers in Northern Minnesota.  Farrell had a good 16u season as well.    Rafael Jones of East Grand Forks (Sr). Jones is one of the few returning players that EGF has with experience back, he is the top returning scorer. A quick attacking player that we think will have a really big senior year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2873871' first='Tyler' last='Wolbeck'] of Osakis (Sr).  Tyler was an honorable mention all league player at 6'3 and is the top returning scorer/player for Osakis.    Second team   Tyler Cox of DGF (Sr). Cox scored 15/16 points a game as a 6'3 junior and he will be one of the top returning scorers in the section this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='3662353' first='Brady' last='Fast'] of Warroad (Sr).  Combo guard three sport athlete that had a 30 point game last year and is a high percentage shooter in all three ways.    [player_tooltip player_id='3662344' first='Doot' last='Boucha'] of Warroad (Soph).  Scored in double figures last year for a .500 team as a freshman point guard.  A name to watch closely going forward. Had a 30 point game last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2423156' first='Matthew' last='Crompton'] of Hawley (Sr). A 6'3 all around worker, top returning player for the Nuggets this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='2874066' first='Carter' last='Sarbaum'] of Staples-Motley (Sr). Sarbaum is a 6'2 wing that looks primed to step into a much bigger scoring role for his team this season.   Third team   Brady Hirt of Park Rapids (Sr).  Brady is a physical, physical football prospect that is also one of the top returning hoopers for this program.    Finn Ahonen of DGF (Sr).  A six foot senior guard that started games and will continue to be a main ball handler for his team.    Kade Raser of Perham (Jr).  A 6'5 junior post that that scored four times a game last year and was a valuable piece to getting to state.    Luke Kramer of Osakis (Jr).  The 5'11 ball handler did a decent amount of ball handling last year and should step into a major role in that area this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2867173' first='Chance' last='Berttunen'] of Menahga (Sr).  A two time all league, two time double figure scoring leader for the Braves, Chance is their playmaker.    Fourth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2423008' first='Brody' last='Hadley'] of Hawley (Sr).  Brody is a 6'1 guard that led the team in scoring last season at 13 points per game.    Noah Broten of Roseau (Soph).  Scored seven points a game last season as a 5'7 freshman and will be counted on for more help this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='2439288' first='Josiah' last='Burton'] of Staples-Motley (Sr).  The lone returning starter for Staples-Motley last year, scored just under double figures per game. Burton is a frontcourt player.    Max Klimek of Osakis (Jr). A really good 6'1 defender last year that came off the bench, should step into a starting role this season.    Lane Waldal of Thief River Falls (Jr).  Played as a sophomore off the bench last year.     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8AA Section Summary</h2>   If you are picking who is going to win this section you are almost certainly going to say Perham with their top two scorers back and their several pieces back.  It's the right pick although not a guarantee but Perham has qualified for state in four of the last eight seasons.  DGF should take a step forward while East Grand Forks, Staples-Motely and Osakis remain competitive but not with as much talent back as Perham.    The up and comers from the lower half should be Warroad and Hawley.  Warroad was about .500 last year and they have their high scoring backcourt back, and the Nuggets return a lot of players.  Roseau and their 36ppg guy (Borowicz) but little else are always going to be something people have an eye on, but how much help do they have for their top scorer?