Ranking the Sections: Class AAA
Who are the favorites right now in each Class AAA section? What section is the toughest? Which section will be the easiest to get through? Toughest – Section 2AAA. With Mankato East, Marshall, and Waseca all in the same group…
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Continue ReadingWho are the favorites right now in each Class AAA section? What section is the toughest? Which section will be the easiest to get through?
Toughest – Section 2AAA. With Mankato East, Marshall, and Waseca all in the same group the goal for the teams was to avoid the 2/3 game. The Jays have likely done that. They will likely face the winner of a fun Faribault/Worthington game leading to what should be a great section semi-finals.
Surprise Surprise – Section 8AAA. Bemidji knocked off Moorhead last night and every day looks more and more like a legit title game contender. This group is this high because there is only one bad team, four average teams, a team on the verge of future runs, and then two top ten squads. Bemidji and Sartell are the ranked teams with Alexandria at 16-7 getting better every day. Apollo, Fergus Falls, and Detroit Lakes all have the means to be dangerous.
Underachieving but Still Tough – Section 6AAA. Welcome to the group of underachievers, but still one of the more talented sections in Class AAA. DeLaSalle is the state title favorite so of course we expect them to win the section. Cooper, Henry, Roosevelt, Orono, and BSM, each and every one of these teams has not met expectations. Some are far from it actually. Waconia has been the section’s second best team despite so many new faces and Mound-Westonka by far is the group’s surprise team. Anybody could join the Islanders in the section final. Anybody.
It’s Okay – Section 4AAA. I have a hard time putting my finger on this group. Mahtomedi looks like the leader with J’Vonne Hadley scoring 30 a night. Totino-Grace is also in the section and it’s tough to put a label on the Eagles considering that their schedule is far and away tougher than anybody else in the group. You can’t just look at their record. Johnson and St. Anthony are solid plus Columbia Heights is always dangerous.
Also Okay – Section 7AAA. Princeton leads the way and when they get James Flicek back the few losses they’ve had will likely cease. Hermantown and Hibbing also in the section means 7AAA has moved above sections. Most teams in the section can give the leaders a competitive game.
Getting Better – Section 3AAA. A group that had consistently been seven teams with losing records is now four teams with losing records plus the underbelly isn’t as soft as in the past. St. Thomas actually has a real challenger this year in Holy Angels plus St. Croix Lutheran is getting better and Harding has some veteran players.
Soft on the Bottom – Section 1AAA. There is ranked teams from Austin and Northfield, teams from Winona and Simley that will provide a challenge, and then three teams that have a combined seven wins. Austin has swept both Northfield and Winona this year. New faces but it pretty much looks like the same heavy favorite.
Defending Champs, Little Else – Section 5AAA. Willmar and Big Lake haven’t quite reached the records we expected, Delano has adjusted to life without Cal Wishart well as they are the big favorite in the group, and the Magic of Monticello are dangerous but still 10-13 overall. The top is okay but the bottom of the group is pretty soft.