First Look: 3AAAA
Teams Apple Valley. Received a nice gift for section play after two titles in three years. Burnsville. Blaze return Tucker Shepley and Jason Gumm, add Aloung Kang. Nice team. Eagan. Last year’s biggest disappointment has to regroup around Sam Schuberg.…
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Continue Reading<2>Teams
Apple Valley. Received a nice gift for section play after two titles in three years.
Burnsville. Blaze return Tucker Shepley and Jason Gumm, add Aloung Kang. Nice team.
Eagan. Last year’s biggest disappointment has to regroup around Sam Schuberg.
Eastview. Like the Mitchell, Carpenter, Ryan, and Bryan backcourt, very good.
Hastings. You couldn’t help but be happy for the seniors last year, but what’s next?
Henry Sibley. Coach James is in year six of his Warrior reign. Won 2 games last year.
Park. The Wolfpack had five wins last year and honestly, that’s progress.
Rosemount. A sleeper team. Loehr twins should break out, good guards too.
Ten Thoughts
1. Apple Valley couldn’t have asked for a better section.They should be able to smash and then chill the first two games and then face a scrappy squad to play for state.
2. In terms of the state tournament, you have to like this.You will either get Apple Valley to state without knocking off another draw, or you will get an upset of the century candidate in the section final.Either way, works out.
3. The Eagles, they bring back all of their starters and Aaron Ertz is nice for their bench.After that though, they need a couple guys to step forward.Maybe a young guy, maybe a role player worker, whatever.They need a couple other guys to get them through a long season.
4. Coach Goetz at Eastview does a hell of a job and with smart and tough guards in Jameson Bryan, Sean Ryan, Martin Mitchell, and Mason Carpenter plus there are some others that are pretty good too.They need a couple fighters up front but I think basketball purists will love the way these guards play together.
5. Rosemount. They did not win as many games as they wanted last year with some good seniors.That said, it’s possible they could be better.Junior size in twins Alec and Luke Loehr along with Trevor Otterdahl is a big advantage and Jared Hanson and Kelly Muir had workman like off-seasons in summer ball.
6. I’ll never forget coaching the Tonka JV when we played Burnsville about two years ago.They were the hardest working, best coached team we faced.Those sophomores are seniors now plus they added Sioux Falls transfer Aloung Kang who has some ability.
7. I was really happy for Hastings last year.They went through so much struggle and then their seniors won the Metro East so they will have those t-shirts, trophies, plaques, etc to hand on to for a long time.What happens next there I do not know but nice to see them have a nice season.
8. Ed Cassidy.He’s back.One year into the Park of Cottage Grove project.I don’t think Sam Jacobson is walking through those doors any more but Cassidy’s track record at DeLaSalle, Simley, and St. Bernards can not be ignored.
9. I really believe that this section can work out for some other non Eagle teams.Why?Cause the other section spot is wide open.Completely open for somebody to make a run and then get their dream shot of an upset.
10. Best five players in the section right now?All from Apple Valley.Not even sure anybody can make an argument against it coming into the year.
Section Team
PG. Tre Jones, AV
SG. Jordan Bolton, AV
SF. Gary Trent Jr, AV
PF. Cameron Kirksey, AV
C. Brock Bertram, AV
6th Man: Sean Ryan, Eastview
7th Man: Sam Schuberg, Eagan
Bench Tough Guy: Martin Mitchell, Eastview
Bench Scorer: Alec and Luke Loehr, Rosemount
Crowd Favorite: Jameson Bryan, Eastview