Section 3A Preview
Playoffs?!? The playoffs are right around the corner. With small-school section tournaments set to begin next week, it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason. See Previous Section Previews Here Section 1A Section 2A Here’s what you need to…
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Continue ReadingPlayoffs?!? The playoffs are right around the corner. With small-school section tournaments set to begin next week, it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason.
See Previous Section Previews Here
Here’s what you need to know about Section 3A:
Section 3A has one of the state’s best teams and a legitimate state title contender in Minneota but don’t think for a second that it’s a one-team playoff here. There are nine other teams with winning records – six of which won at least 15 games.
Favorite: Minneota
The Vikings might be the favorite to not only advance through Section 3A but to also win the state title. Minneota has the Hennen brothers (Luke and Thomas) which gives them perhaps the two best players on the floor in almost any given contest. Logan Sussner gives them a dominant trio.
The Vikings ran into some strife here a few weeks ago with the whole free throw shooting controversy but assuming this team is mentally engaged and all there, they’ll be tough for anybody to beat. It appears as though they’ve moved past it as they’ve won their last three games including one over RTR.
Minneota averages better than 80 points per game and only gives up 56 which is one of the best marks in the section (and also amazing considering the Vikings probably play a faster tempo than most Class A teams).
They may not be ranked on paper by all pundits, but people know the Vikings are on the shortlist of contenders for a Class A title.
Contenders: Southwest MN Christian, Murray County Central
Southwest MN Christian will likely exceed 20 wins on the season and looks like the top seed out of the south subsection of 3A and there’s a lot to like about this team. The Eagles can really score, as they average better than 78 points per game and they’ve got a number of players who can beat you. Kade Fey, Isaac Jasper and Trey Huisken are all potential gamebreakers.
Murray County Central is another contender out of the south subsection. The Rebels will eclipse 20 wins and have all the components to make a deep run in the postseason. They’ve got size, they’ve got shooting, they’ve got great experience and solid depth. Nate Everson and Spencer Wajer lead a team with four guys averaging double figures in scoring plus three more that average at least six points per game.
In the Mix: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Westbrook-Walnut-Grove, Lac Qui Parle Valley
The defending state champions, RTR hasn’t been as good as last year but that was to be somewhat expected. The Knights are still very good and expecting them to bow out this winter without making some noise would be foolish. Cooper and Carter Hansen are two of the best two-way players in the state and their ability to control a game will make RTR a tough out against anybody. Cooper’s averaging 20.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists while Carter is right behind him, averaging 17.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Both guys average better than three steals per game as well.
Westbrook-Walnut-Grove lost four starters from last year’s 24-win club yet the Chargers are still going to hit the 20-win mark again thanks in large part to senior guard Andrew Quade. He’s been terrific, as have senior center Parker Freeburg and sophomore guard Ethan Mitschke.
LQPV seems to be playing its best ball at the right time. Caden Bjornjeld and Austin Bonn give the Eagles a terrific perimeter duo as both guys are capable of getting 20 points on any given night.
Watch Out For: Dawson-Boyd, Renville County West, Central MN Christian
Central MN Christian started the year poorly but has rebounded, going 9-2 in the last 11 games. The Bluejays are led by Austin TeBrake who is one of the best scorers in the section.
Renville County West has 15 wins on the year and is powered by one of the better offenses in the section, averaging nearly 70 points per game. The Jaguars have struggled against top-level teams though, so it’ll be interesting to see if they can come up with something special should they advance deeper into the tournament.
Dawson-Boyd was a team we had a sneaky state-tournament darkhorse going into the year given what the Blackjacks had accomplished last year plus what they had coming back and coming in via transfer. That hasn’t manifested this winter as they are just 10-9 and have some odd losses. Still, the postseason is about matchups and the Blackjacks present a lot of matchup problems with the kind of talent they can put on the floor. Bentley Boike is one of the best players in southwest Minnesota and Romell Horton is an experienced difference-maker on the perimeter. Dawson-Boyd has solid depth as well with four more guys who are capable of scoring double-figures on any given night.