Standings
Sections Scary: Sectional Review
This is a
look into this year’s Minnesota State Tournament sections
Where potential meets opportunity and every game is big deal
to somebody. Minnesota’s high school basketball regular season is at end and
the winning steaks are at end too. All or nothing win or go home 1 and done and
that’s the start. The sections schedule is out and the games are underway. I’m
a little more upset minded to make things fun and giving more flavor to the
selections. We won’t be looking at every section but we will take a look at
some the best and the metro teams.
4A: Minnesota’s largest schools and most
talent producing programs are in “4A”.
This League consists mainly of public schools but have a select number
of private schools. With more skilled
players in the league, this should be more quite a bit more interesting than past
year’s, but likely with some of the same results.
Section 3: This year this section has a lot of hype with #2 Eastview and #7 Apple Valley playing in a Section. With a top ten match up in a Sectional final featuring class of 2014 Tyus Jones of Apple Valley a top 5 player and class of 2012 Joey King of Eastview top 5 player. This is the 3rd time they would play this season with Eastview winning both, should be another high scoring sell out! Cretin-Derham Hall also is the 3 seed in this section featuring class of 2012 CJ Neumann and younger brother class of 2015 Sam Neumann and should play Apple Valley in the semifinals.
Section 4: This section should be very competitive with 3 teams really having a chance to make it to state out of this section. #6 Roseville comes in 22-4 and the #1 seed and they split their regular season games with #2 seed Woodbury this year. Tartan also is a 3 seed in this section and should be a great match up in the semifinals against Woodbury. This section features 3 of Minnesota’s top guards in the class of 2013. Most well know Tartan guard Darrion Strong, Roseville guard Logan Brown, and Woodbury Guard Renard Suggs.
Section 5: This section features one of Minnesota basketball powerhouses #4 Osseo. This should be Osseo’s section to lose after not making it to state last year. Class of 2014 Ian Theisen, class of 2012 D.J. Hebert and company should be competing for a State Title this year.. #13 Park Center is the 2nd seed in this section and play Cooper. This will be the best first round match in all the State sections and could be one of the best games in sections, featuring 2 of the top scorers in the state. Future D1 player Class of 2014 Rashard Vaughn can take over a game and class of 2013 Quinton Hooker who can put up big numbers.
Section 6: If you love
Lake Conference basketball
then this is the section to watch with exception to 1 game Hopkins Vs
Southwest. 1 vs. 8 match of the best team in the state vs. the worst coach in
the state.. Edina is having a break out year and should be playing Minnetonka
in the semifinals for the 3rd time winning the first 2. Minnetonka’s
front court duel class of 2013 Riley
Dearring and class of 2012 Latrell
Love have the potential make a run, but don’t count on it. #1 Hopkins is
the favorite and do not look like they will be challenged, class of 2012 Siyani Chambers and Zach Stahl are winners and plan on
winning it all for the 4th year in a row.
4A Stat Tournament
Appearance
Section 1:
Lakeville North Section 5: Osseo
Section 2:
Eden Prairie Section 6: Hopkins
Section 3:
Eastview Section 7: Duluth
East
Section 4: Tartan
Section
8: Rogers
3A: Minnesota’s
second largest school class has the top end of private schools class and the majority
of the metro programs. This class has the best programs in the twin cities area.
This class dose not a have depth in the sections as 4A, but still some of the
best teams in the state.
Section 3: This
section was won by Columbia Heights last year who played in the title game. This
section should be fun to watch with Henry and Columbia Heights having sub-par
years. While Spring Lake Park is having a breakout year led by class of 2012 Sean Scott and Bryce Williams. De La Salle the 2nd seed won out the season
on an 8 game win streak their longest of the season. Class of 2014 Reid Travis
is on a roll, freshmen phenom Jarvis Johnson with a full season of game
experience. The Islanders last lost 60-59
was to Benilde-St. Margret’s and last season win was 79-39 over a good 4A
Moorhead team. Should be a great sectional final with the experience of Spring
Lake Park against De La Salle’s athleticism and upside.
Section 4: This
Section has the majority of the St. Paul public schools. The 2nd
seed St. Thomas Academy and class of 2012 Thomas
Sjoberg slit the regular season match up with 3rd seed Hill-Murray
and should be a competitive semifinals game on a neutral floor. 1st
seed Johnson last 3 loses where 2 Washburn, Onalaska (WI) and Hopkins dropping
the last 2 by a combined total of 3 points. There are no teams close to that caliber
in this section, or the caliber of class 2012 Marcus Marshall a top 5 player in the class. Johnson won this
section last year and where the 1 seed at state and look to make state for the 4th
year in a row.
Section 6: This Section by far is the strongest
in class 3A this year, with 3 of the top 10 team in the class playing in it. Blake
the 3rd seed would be worthy of making State in 3A but don’t have
the talent to match up with the top seeds in this section. 1st seed Benilde
St. Margaret’s lost last year in the section finals in a upset to Waconia, and
have not made it to the Taget Center since they won the title in the 07-08
season. D-1 commits Class of 2012 Isaiah
Zierden and Sanjay Lumpkin look
to make it to state and win it this year. Washburn is the 2nd seed
in this section and also where beat by Woconia last year in sections. Washburn led
by class of 2012 Nick Anderson is Minneapolis’s most talented program a few
teams have the depth and athleticism of the Miller’s. This sectional final
really should be the state final as the 2 best teams in the class are in the
same section.
3A Stat
Tournament Appearance
Section 1: Austin Section 5: Delano
Section 2: Waconia Section 6: Benilde St. Margaret’s
Section 3: De
La Salle Section 7: Grand Rapids
Section 4: St.
Paul Johnson Section 8: Little Falls
2A: Section 8
has the 2 best teams in in the class #1 Pelican Rapids and #2 Preham in the and
only one can make state. In section 3 to other of the best team in 2A Montevideo
and Redwood Valley and should play in the section final. Also in section 2
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and St. Peter should play in section final but
both are worthy of a state appearance. After sections 4 of the top 10 teams in
the class won’t make state.
2A Stat Tournament Appearance
Section 1: Plainview-Elgin Millville Section 5: Watertown-Mayer
Section 2: St. Peter Section 6: Litchfield
Section 3: Redwood Valley Section 7: Braham
Section 4: St. Croix Lutheran Section 8: Perham
1A: The
smallest schools are in state are in 1A and has the fewest amount of talented
programs. This year there is more talent at these smaller programs and should
be fun to see who wins their section and make it too state.
Section 4: This section has 5 of the top 15 schools in the class this year and should be some of the better games in sectional. Maranatha Christian is the #1 seed in this section and won it last year and should be favored with the experience on their side. The 2nd seed F.A.I.R downtown lost to Maranatha in section last year but is a much improved team with only 2 loses. Prairie Seed Academy is the 3rd seed in this section and is arguably the most talented team in the class. The sectional semifinal could be the state final with Prairie Seeds Academy led by class of 2012 Trent Pollard and 2013 Devin Buckley facing F.A.I.R led by class of 2012 Darrion Scott and Deonta Blackmore. The winner of that game should give Maranatha Christian all the can handle in the section finals.
1A Stat
Tournament Appearance
Section 1: Spring
Grove Section 5: Browerville
Section 2: Mankato
Layola Section 6: Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
Section 3: Southwest
MN Christian Section 7: Lakeview Christian Academy
Section 4: Prairie
Seeds Academy Section 8: Cass Lake-Bena