The Central Lakes Preview
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Year to year the Central Lakes Conference always gives you something new. Last year Alexandria won the league. Here is this year’s preview. Conference Commentary Top Ten in State: Alexandria The Cards made the state title game last year…
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Continue ReadingYear to year the Central Lakes Conference always gives you something new. Last year Alexandria won the league. Here is this year’s preview.
Conference Commentary
Top Ten in State: Alexandria
The Cards made the state title game last year and return three of their top four scorers from a season ago. Not only do they return talent, Alex has some really good players coming up through the program as well. A top ten team in Class AAA for sure.
Top Ten in State Potential: Fergus Falls
The Otters lose some headlining names but a couple starters return as does the bench. The Otters will be a bit more balanced and still very good with a shot to make some noise in Class AA.
Compete with Most: Brainerd, Sartell, Sauk Rapids-Rice, St. Cloud Apollo
Brainerd may have trouble matching a 3-loss season but they won’t fall as far people think. Sauk Rapids-Rice is interesting. They leaned on Ethan Opsahl Ethan Opsahl 6'4" | PF Sauk Rapids-Rice | 2021 State MN heavily, and he’s gone. But everybody else on the team returns so they should be able to be a couple games over .500 again. Sartell lost more than Brainerd and Sauk Rapids-Rice but they have Mason Lund Mason Lund 6'6" | SF Sartell | 2022 State MN back who is likely the best player in the league. Between Lund and Evan Templin Evan Templin 6'2" | SG Sartell-St. Stephen | 2022 State MN the Sabres will have enough to keep winning. Apollo has the best big in the league (Diew) and a couple guards back, if they have the depth they can contend.
Rebuilding: St Cloud Tech, Rocori, Willmar
The Spartans were a senior dominated team last season and went 8-12. With so many new faces in the line-up this year it’s going to be a bit of a restart. Willmar has a really nice junior group that should be competitive but there could be some rough nights at times, and solid nights other games. Tech has another new coach and is going through another set of changes. They do have their two top players back though so they should be better than a 4-win team.
21-22 Conference Predictions
- Alexandria
- Brainerd
- Sartell-St. Stephen
- Fergus Falls
- Sauk Rapids-Rice
- St. Cloud Apollo
- St. Cloud Tech
- Willmar
- Rocori
Preseason All Central Lakes Conference
First Team
Kris Hoskins of Alexandria (sr)
Mason Lund Mason Lund 6'6" | SF Sartell | 2022 State MN of Sartell (sr)
Erik Hedstrom Erik Hedstrom 6'5" | SF Alexandria | 2022 State MN of Alexandria (sr)
Thomas Diew Thomas Diew 6'7" | C St. Cloud Apollo | 2022 State MN of St. Cloud Apollo (sr)
Mitchell Degen Mitchell Degen 6'5" | PF Brainerd | 2022 State MN of Brainerd (sr)
Second Team
Devin Yeager of St. Cloud Tech (sr)
Elijah Moilanen Elijah Moilanen 6'0" | PG Sauk Rapids | 2022 MN of Sauk Rapids-Rice (sr)
Myles Sansted of Alexandria (sr)
Donte Horshaw of St. Cloud Tech (jr)
Alex Schramm of Willmar (sr)
Third Team
Kaden Conklin of Fergus Falls (sr)
Blake Schoolmeester Blake Schoolmeester 6'6" | SF Willmar | 2023 State MN of Willmar (sr)
John Pecarich John Pecarich 6'2" | SG Brainerd | 2023 State MN of Brainerd (jr)
Elliott Pribbenow of Fergus Falls (jr)
Alex Harren of Sauk Rapids-Rice (sr)
Fourth Team
Evan Templin Evan Templin 6'2" | SG Sartell-St. Stephen | 2022 State MN of Sartell (sr)
Carter Steffensmeier of Alexandria (sr)
Nick Evanson Nick Evanson 6'2" | SG Brainerd | 2023 State MN of Brainerd (jr)
Andrew Harren Andrew Harren 6'5" | SF Sauk Rapids-Rice | 2023 MN of Sauk Rapids-Rice (jr)
Luke Newman of Fergus Falls (sr)
Jamari Abston of St. Cloud Apollo (sr)