Midseason Report: Class AA Surprise Teams
***Photo Credit: Rochester Post Bulletin*** We are at about the midway point of the basketball season already. Instead of wondering where the time went and why it can’t slow down, let’s take a look at some of the teams that…
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Continue Reading***Photo Credit: Rochester Post Bulletin***
We are at about the midway point of the basketball season already. Instead of wondering where the time went and why it can’t slow down, let’s take a look at some of the teams that have been surprises, good or not so good, so far this season.
Here are the surprise teams from Class AA:
Maranatha
Where did Maranatha come from? The Mustangs are 14-1 on the season and in control the MCAA Conference. Depth and defense have been the key as Maranatha surrenders just 46 points per game and gets at least 5.6 points per game from eight guys. Their leading scorer has been Hakim Daniels who’s been good for 12 points and eight rebounds but he’s the only double-figure scorer. It’s a balanced attack.
Dover-Eyota
Dover-Eyota was viewed as a potential breakout team going into the year but the Eagles have exceeded expectations to this point, going 11-4 and firmly in the mix for a top seed in Section 1AA. Brady Williams has long been one of the best players in that area and he’s been predictably awesome. Jack Studer is averaging nearly 20 points per game though which makes the Eagles quite a headache.
Maple River
The Eagles were viewed as a contender in Section 2AA and the favorite in the Gopher Conference going into the year thanks to a lot of returning talent led by Mason Sohre and Justin Craven. Instead, Maple River has sputtered to a 5-11 start which includes losses in their last five. Perhaps the most alarming thing is that those five losses have been by an average of 31 points per game. Section 2AA is a bit of a jumbled mess after Jordan, so the Eagles can certainly right the ship and make a run, but they’ve got some things to figure out.
St. Croix Prep
The Lions aren’t coming out of nowehere by any means as they were solid last year and returned a number of good players but they’ve been better than expected, going 11-4 powered by one of the best offenses in the state. Daniel McCarrell is one of the best guards in the state. Addison Metcalf and Nolan Grubisch help form a dynamic trio.
Osakis
The last undefeated team remaining in Class AA, Osakis has been terrific on both ends of the floor this winter. With several impressive wins already on their resume, the Silverstreaks are going to be tough for anyone to beat because they’ve got very good balance. Daniel Savagaeu and Brandon Boogaard give the Silverstreaks an excellent duo.