Section 8AA 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 Class A Section 1AA Section 2AA Section 3AA Section…
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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 8AA
Favorite: Perham
Perham’s gone into the section tournament as the favorite each of the last two seasons and come up short against Breckenridge in the final each time. The Yellowjackets have just one loss on a the year – a loss to Minnehaha early in December – and they’ve been mostly dominant throughout conference play.
The Yellowjackets have size, they have shooting, they have experience and they are well-coached. Jenson Beachy is one of the best guards in the state. Josh Jeziorski’s turned in a big senior year and his athleticism is a major plus. Carter Cresap has been a steady defender and excellent outside shooter. He’s a multi-year starter and not afraid to make plays. Finn Diggins gives the Yellowjackets another live body on the interior who can score.
The Yellowjackets have all the pieces to win the section. They’ve had the talent do so in previous years too. This is their best team and this may represent their best chance to not only get to state, but also make some noise there.
Contender: Hawley, Osakis
Hawley was a darkhorse in this section at the beginning on the year and the Nuggets have been anything but under-the-radar in the area as they’ve been terrific. Jayden Carlisle has been a stud, averaging roughly 20 points per game. Noah Glad and Jacob Vetter provide size and toughness inside, each averaging better than 10 points per game. And the Nuggets have a great group of experienced, upperclass guards that can defend and make plays when called upon. This is a team that was a second-half collapse away from playing for a state-tournament berth last year. They’ve got the ability to get there this year.
The Silverstreaks are the last undefeated team left in Class AA and they’ve done it on the back of an absolutely lockdown defense. Osakis gives up just 46 points per game and while some of that has to do with pace and some of that has to do with competition, this team gets after people on the defensive side of the ball. Daniel Savageau is one of the best guards in northern Minnesota and he’s good enough to prop up an offense that can go stagnant at times. Brandon Boogard joins him to form one of the best duos in the section.
In the Mix: East Grand Forks, Breckenridge, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Roseau
The Green Wave has been awesome this winter and while it lost a few games against the top teams in the section, East Grand Forks has the talent to make a big run. Julian Benson is ne of the bester players in the section, averaging 19 points and seven rebounds. And Sam Votava stuff the stat sheet on a regular basis, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Those guys are both going to be back next year too, so this team could be exciting to watch for a few years here.
Breckenridge hasn’t been as good as some expected this winter but the Cowboys still have a pedigree that you can’t discount. Noah Christensen is arguably the best player in the section and he can dominate a game on both ends of the floor. Jacob Marsh and Hunter Feigum are solid complementary players too. Despite a middling record, they’ve been competitive against the best teams in the section – they are dangerous.
DGF has been middling to solid for a few years now and the Rebels have seemingly turned a corner this winter, averaging nearly 70 points per game and earning several impressive wins. Tanner Tahran, Nathan Leitner, Aiden Leach and Jacob Strand are guys to watch.
Roseau’s had quite a season, closing in on 20 wins. While the Rams haven’t been tested a whole lot by quality competition, they’ve got players capable of taking over a game in Jack Hirst and Nathan O’Connor.