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<p>The best team in the league last season was Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. They were undefeated in league play and 22-6 overall. What happens this year? Can Hancock and Underwood make up the gap?</p>
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<p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p>
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<p>Top Contenders: Underwood, Hancock, Border West </p>
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<p>Underwood has three of their top four players returning from last season and they look to be the very clear favorites entering the year. Hancock lost their top two scorers but does have three of the top six guys back plus some size. They look to be the top contender to Underwood. Even though they were 12-14 last year I think Border West is my next up. They have four starters back including their top scorer. And if Border West is a contender, Rothsay has top be a contender. They were 14-14 last season and return just about everything.</p>
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<p>Compete with Most: Brandon/Evansville, Parkers Prairie, Ashby, Battle Lake.</p>
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<p>B/E is a team that was in the .500 area that returns five rotational guys and should be in the middle again. Parkers Prairie has four starters back from a 7-win team and they should take a step forward. Ashby played only one senior last year so they should improve from 6-21 and in last place. Battle Lake was also 6-21, they also return four staters and should be better. </p>
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<p>Rebuilding: Hillcrest Lutheran Academy</p>
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<p>Hillcrest won the league last season but they are also a team that was mostly seniors last year and most of their point production needs to be replaced. They are bringing in a new group, it doesn't mean they will be bad but we just don't know much about them. Likely a team in the middle. </p>
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<p><strong>26-27 Conference Predictions</strong></p>
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<p><em>Little Eight Power Rankings</em></p>
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<p>(1) Underwood</p>
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<p>(2) Hancock</p>
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<p>(3) Border West</p>
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<p>(4) Rothsay</p>
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<p>(5) Brandon/Evansville</p>
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<p>(6) Hillcrest Lutheran Academy</p>
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<p>(7) Parkers Prairie</p>
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<p>(8) Ashby</p>
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<p>(9) Battle Lake</p>
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<p></p>
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<p><strong>Preseason All Little Eight</strong></p>
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<p><em>First Team</em></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2548240' first='Dax' last='Risbrudt'] of Underwood (sr)</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='3643184' first='Mason' last='Heidecker'] of Rothsay (jr)</p>
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<p>Sam Rinke of Border West (jr) </p>
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<p>Trenton Nelson of Ashby (sr). </p>
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<p>Sawyer Chlian of Brandon/Evansville (sr)</p>
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<p><em>Second Team</em></p>
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<p>Eli Matson of Hanckock (jr) </p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2869557' first='Max' last='Grove'] of Underwood (sr) </p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2874065' first='Gunnar' last='Sletto'] of Brandon/Evansville (jr)</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2848454' first='Finn' last='Thompson'] of Ashby (soph) </p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2857241' first='Preston' last='Feucht'] of Hancock (sr)</p>
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<p><em>Third Team</em></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='3605913' first='Daniel' last='Kerzman'] of Battle Lake (fr)</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140636' first='Jason' last='Radtke'] of Parkers Prairie (sr)</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560466' first='Grady' last='Shebeck'] of Underwood (sr)</p>
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<p>William Durbin of Battle Lake (sr)</p>
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<p>Grady Fischer of Border West (sr)</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2840542' first='Logan' last='Hennessy'] of Border Wset (jr)</p>
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The best team in the league last season was Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. They were undefeated in league play and 22-6 overall. What happens this year? Can Hancock and Underwood make up the gap?
Conference Commentary Top Contenders: Underwood, Hancock, Border West Underwood has three of their top four players returning from last season and they look to be the very clear favorites entering the year. Hancock lost their top two scorers but does have three of the top six guys back plus some size. They look to be the top contender to Underwood. Even though they were 12-14 last year I think Border West is my next up. They have four starters back including their top scorer. And if Border West is a contender, Rothsay has top be a contender. They were 14-14 last season and return just about everything. Compete with Most: Brandon/Evansville, Parkers Prairie, Ashby, Battle Lake. B/E is a team that was in the .500 area that returns five rotational…
