The Polar League (Big) Preview
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Moose Lake-Willow River went 18-4 last season and earned a trip to state. The competition in the league is stiff though with several good teams. We preview the Polar today. Conference Commentary Top Ten Potential: Moose Lake-Willow River, Esko …
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Continue ReadingMoose Lake-Willow River went 18-4 last season and earned a trip to state. The competition in the league is stiff though with several good teams. We preview the Polar today.
Conference Commentary
Top Ten Potential: Moose Lake-Willow River, Esko
Moose Lake-Willow River beat teams 83 to 58 on average a season ago leading to an 18-4 record and a spot at state. The Rebels lost their top two players but return a few all league players and 2-3 reserves that are ready for bigger roles. They have a chance to beat top ten in state again. Esko has some ground to make up on MLWR and they will have to do it losing three starters and a couple all league guys. Esko has the talent to make a push for the league championship.
Compete with Most: South Ridge, Two Harbors, Barnum
South Ridge went 13-7 last year and picked up a few noteworthy wins. With one of the best junior bigs in the state ( Austin Josephson Austin Josephson 6'9" | C South Ridge | 2023 State MN ) and most of their rotation back they will be better. But good enough to move into contender area? Not sure that they are quite ready for that yet. Two Harbors also brings back most of their team including their star, guard Trent Gomez Trent Gomez 6'0" | PG Two Harbors | 2023 State MN . Gomez is the playmaker and the talent around him also returns so expectations are high. Two Harbors beat South Ridge by a big number last year so they get the head to head edge. Two Harbors and South Ridge were both 13-7 last year and should improve on the 13 wins. Barnum was 12-9 a season ago and return one of their top players Joseph Peterson. Peterson will lead a group of mostly seniors. They will be smaller and have some good players to replace, but Barnum will be a very good team again.
Rebuilding: Cook County
The Vikings won only one game a season ago and scored just 32 points a contest. When you look at last year’s results and then compare what they have back with the talent in the rest of the league, it could be another rough year in league play. Improvements can still be made though throughout the 26 game schedule.
21-22 Conference Predictions
- Moose Lake-Willow River
- Esko
- Two Harbors
- South Ridge
- Barnum
- Cook County
Preseason All Polar League (Big) Conference
First Team
Austin Josephson Austin Josephson 6'9" | C South Ridge | 2023 State MN of South Ridge (jr)
Cuinn Berger of Esko (jr)
Trent Gomez Trent Gomez 6'0" | PG Two Harbors | 2023 State MN of Two Harbors (jr)
Phillip Sheetz Phillip Sheetz 6'0" Moose Lake | 2022 MN of Moose Lake-Willow River (sr)
Logan Orvedahl of Moose Lake-Willow River (sr)
Second Team
Joseph Peterson of Barnum (sr)
Clark Nelson of Two Harbors (sr)
Chad Hart Chad Hart 6'6" | C Esko | 2022 MN of Esko (sr)
Kyler Pitkanen Kyler Pitkanen 6'0" | SG Two Harbors | 2023 MN of Two Harbors (jr)
Jaxson Bennett of South Ridge (sr)
Third Team
Landin Kurhajetz of Moose Lake-Willow River (sr)
Willie Richardson of Barnum (sr)
Nick Swanson of Esko (sr)
Aaron Bennett of South Ridge (sr)
Ethan Bopp of Two Harbors (jr)