We are about a week and a half away from games being played. Today we check in on the Minnesota River Conference and the favorites there.
Conference Commentary
Top Contenders – Mayer Lutheran, Southwest Christian
Mayer Lutheran has the top player in the league in Teigan MartinTeiganMartin6'8" | PFMayer Lutheran | 2022StateMN and a junior class as a whole that is full of talented, experienced players. The Crusaders are one of the favorites and if they put things together in way that is even better than expected, a state tournament contender. My top team though is Southwest Christian, a squad with seven of their top eight guys back plus an impact transfer who should be a top player in the league. They do have a new coach and won only half their games last year but the Stars are the favorite plus a top five team in Section 5AA.
Compete with Most – Belle Plaine, Le Sueur-Henderson, Sibley East
Losing four starters from a 15-12 team will lead to some set backs for Belle Plaine but they do have Cade Morrison returning plus all of their bench players. There is experience just not much big minute experience. Le Sueur-Henderson will be an
We are about a week and a half away from games being played. Today we check in on the Minnesota River Conference and the favorites there.
Conference Commentary
Top Contenders – Mayer Lutheran, Southwest Christian
Mayer Lutheran has the top player in the league in
Teigan MartinTeiganMartin6'8" | PFMayer Lutheran | 2022StateMN and a junior class as a whole that is full of talented, experienced players. The Crusaders are one of the favorites and if they put things together in way that is even better than expected, a state tournament contender. My top team though is Southwest Christian, a squad with seven of their top eight guys back plus an impact transfer who should be a top player in the league. They do have a new coach and won only half their games last year but the Stars are the favorite plus a top five team in Section 5AA.
Compete with Most – Belle Plaine, Le Sueur-Henderson, Sibley East
Losing four starters from a 15-12 team will lead to some set backs for Belle Plaine but they do have Cade Morrison returning plus all of their bench players. There is experience just not much big minute experience. Le Sueur-Henderson will be an improved team with a large group of players returning plus one of the league starts in
Dominic DrentDominicDrent6'3" | PGLe Sueur-Henderson | 2021StateMN. With four guys back that played big minutes the Giants should take a large step forward. Sibley East has two starters back and they should from an excellent inside-out combo. Dose and Flieth are seniors that should make Sibley East a contender as well, if they can add the needed depth around them.
Rebuilding – Tri City United, Norwood Young-America
Tri-City will improve this year. They have their top talent back from a season ago so they will win more than a game, but it’s still a rebuilding group. NYA won only six games and they lost their of their best four guys from that six-win team. Could be a step back.
20-21 Minnesota River Conference Predictions
Southwest Christian
Mayer Lutheran
Sibley East
Le Sueur-Henderson
Belle Plaine
Norwood-Young America
Tri City United
Preseason All Minnesota River Conference
First Team
Nick Burke of Southwest Christian (Jr)
Dominic DrentDominicDrent6'3" | PGLe Sueur-Henderson | 2021StateMN of Le Suer-Henderson (Sr)
Teigan MartinTeiganMartin6'8" | PFMayer Lutheran | 2022StateMN of Mayer Lutheran (Jr)
Cade Morrison of Belle Plaine (Sr)
Tyson SandnessTysonSandness6'1" | SFSouthwest Christian | 2021StateMN of Southwest Christian (Sr)
Second Team
Lucas Anderson of Southwest Christian (Sr)
Caleb Dose of Sibley East (Sr)
Aaron FliethAaronFlieth6'6" | CSibley East | 2021StateMN of Sibley East (Sr)
Tyler Neitzel
TylerNeitzel6'3" | SGMayer Lutheran | 2022StateMN of Mayer Lutheran (Jr)
Brayden ZimmermanBraydenZimmerman6'3" | SFSouthwest Christian | 2022StateMN of Southwest Christian (Jr)
Third Team
Zach Berndt of Le Sueur-Henderson (Sr)
Lukas Graff of Le Sueur-Henderson (Sr)
Isaac Harrison of Southwest Christian (Sr)
Johnathan Hurd of Tri-City United (Jr)
Nick Morland of Southwest Christian (Sr)
Fourth Team
Matt Rabenberg of Tri-City United (Sr)
Ty Hosee of Mayer Lutheran (Jr)
Jack KrugerJackKruger6'3" | SFBelle Plaine | 2022StateMN of Southwest Minnesota Christian (Jr)
Connor Olson of Mayer Lutheran (Jr)
Brady Will of NYA (Sr)