Section 5AAAA Preview: Steering toward State
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With another legitimate state championship contender aiming to get out of this section. we take a look at who has the best chance to upend the ship. Here’s the lineup:
1. Park Center (25-1)
2. Champlin Park (21-5)
3. Spring Lake Park (15-11)
4. Osseo (15-11)
5. Centennial (13-13)
6. Roseville (9-17)
7. Mounds View (8-18)
8. Irondale (9-17)
Favorite: Park Center
The Pirates could be the most complete team in the state. It’s all about execution in playoff time; they were ousted by underdog Osseo in the section final last year when they were expected to win that tournament. But Dain Dainja has been dominant from multiple spots offensively this year along with a fearsome paint presence. Detavius Frierson has been a breakout player of the year candidate rising above the rim for dunks and blocks too. Then the guard play: ferocious defense from Emmanuel Tamba and Khari Broadway have balanced the shooting of Tommy Chatman, David Ijadimbola, Josh Lewis and Josh Lewis. They’re versatile and don’t lose any punch on either end regardless of the lineups they throw on the court. Can they follow through with a win at Rogers High School?
Contenders: Champlin Park
At 21-5 with a hefty schedule, the Rebels have proven themselves as a very deep squad with no dropoff from their bench production. Bennett Otto leads the way with a shot-maker’s confidence and a great improvement in playmaking with the ball. Alex John is a 6-foot-8 specimen who protects the rim fearlessly. 3-and-D wings are in stock at Champlin Park with Jacob Johnson, Kato Seley and Jared Walter all being interchangable pieces in those spots. Sophomores Francis Nwaokorie and Terrence Kamara have filled nicely in varying roles. They can match the Park Center athleticism more than anyone else.
In The Hunt: Spring Lake Park, Osseo
The Panthers started hot and were in the top 10 for a short time. They’ve plateaued a bit but the talent is undeniable. Gabe Myren and Blake Remme score the ball very smoothly and are complemented by players who hold down their roles solidly. Daydor Phillips rebounds like a fiend for a 6-foot-2 forward and Mason Johnson is a 6-foot-8 center with strong footwork and paint presence. Jacob Say is another junior guard who has stepped up recently including a game-winner last week. They’ll need their scoring duo to come alive early and often.
Osseo has won some games they weren’t expected to and lost some they weren’t expected to. They also have pulled off some crazy comebacks this year so they are never truly out of a game. The Orioles hung with Park Center and lost by one in their last meeting; can they pull another upset in the semifinals?
Don’t Forget: Centennial
They match up talent-wise with a lot of the teams ahead of them. Ricky Eason and Matt Wyffels and Carter Anderson can score in bunches in versatile ways and they run flowing offensive styles. Can they keep up with the speed of these other teams? That might be the only holdup, but that 4/5 game with Osseo should be good.
Predictions
Round 1: Park Center over Irondale, Champlin Park over Mounds View, Spring Lake Park over Roseville, Osseo over Centennial
Semifinals: Park Center over Osseo, Champlin Park over Spring Lake Park
Finals: Park Center over Champlin Park