Gopher Conference Preview
The Gopher Conference has been one of the most competitive small-school leagues in the state for a number of years now. With traditionally strong programs like Maple River, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and Bethlehem Academy and programs like United South Central and New…
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Continue ReadingThe Gopher Conference has been one of the most competitive small-school leagues in the state for a number of years now. With traditionally strong programs like Maple River, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and Bethlehem Academy and programs like United South Central and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva enjoy varying degrees of success in recent years, the Gopher’s been competitive every year and should be again in 2016-17.
Conference Commentary
State Contender: None…for now
The three best teams in the conference are all in the same section and while they might all spend time ranked in Class AA but at this point it’s hard to see any of them being considered title contenders. That could change depending on how NRHEG’s ancillary players come along in relief of Oakley Baker, how Maple River reloads around Jeff Lewis and Cole Sohre and if Zac Olson is healthy for WEM.
On the Verge: Maple River, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
NRHEG has the components to make a run if it can find consistency after Oakley Baker. Benji Lundberg could be a breakout guy for the Panthers and Tyler Raimann presents a size advantage most teams simply don’t have. The Panthers might have the most talent on paper in the conference.
Maple River’s been to state the last two years and is a bit Spurs like in its structure and style. Jeff Lewis might be the best pure point guard in the conference and Cole Sohre and Ethan Sindilir return as experienced starters. The Eagles don’t necessarily wow people, but until they get knocked off, they should be considered the favorite to win the conference and emerge from Section 2AA.
WEM might have the best individual player in Zac Olson, but will need to replace half of its rotation. Olson missed the football season with a knee injury and will be out until January most likely, so Logan Sendle and Dallas McBroom will have to keep the ship afloat until he’s at full strength. The Buccaneers are right there with NRHEG and Maple River but much of their fate rests in Olson’s health and how quickly guys like Tanner Ranslow, Luke Polzin and Thomas Hiller can get acclimated with heavy varsity minutes.
In-Between: Bethlehem Academy
The Cardinals won just nine games a year ago, so they could fall into the “rebuilding” category, but with all five starters back, BA has the talent to pick up at least five more wins.
Jack Clark and Brendan Trump are the go-to guys for BA and Clark might be one of the five or six best players in the conference as a sophomore. With Eric Hildebrandt taking over as the head coach, the Cardinals could see a lot of close losses from a year ago turn into wins. The only thing they don’t have much of is height.
Rebuilding: Medford, United South Central, Blooming Prairie
Medford won just three games a year ago but with Alex Gengler, Cole Volkmann, Bryce McCarty and Jon O’Daffer all back, the Tigers should be in line for big improvement.
United South Central is on the other end of that spectrum as the Rebels will have to rebuild on the fly. Ryan Kloos is one of the best big men in the conference, so his presence should help what figures to be a young guard rotation.
Blooming Prairie graduated Anthony Nelson, who was one of the best players in the conference last season and lost 6-foot-5 wing Marten Morem, who transferred to Caledonia. The Awesome Blossoms will need to get contributions from a lot of underclassmen this winter.
Conference Power Ranking
- Maple River
- NRHEG
- WEM
- BA
- Medford
- USC
- Blooming Prairie
Preseason All Gopher
First Team
Zac Olson, WEM, Sr.
Oakley Baker, NRHEG, Sr.
Cole Sohre, Maple River, Sr.
Jeff Lewis, Maple River, Sr.
Ryan Kloos, United South Central, Sr.
Second Team
Logan Sendle, WEM, Sr.
Benji Lundberg, NRHEG, Jr.
Jack Clark, BA, So.
Ethan Sindelir, Maple River, Jr.
Brendan Trump, BA, Sr.
Third Team
Dallas McBroom, WEM, Sr.
Chad Agrimson, NRHEG, Sr.
Cole Volkmann, Medford, Jr.
Tyler Raimann, NRHEG, Sr.
Wyatt Johnson, Maple River, Sr.