Polar Conference Preview--2018

Esko is 69-1 in the Polar Conference in this decade, and Cromwell is 40-2 the past 3 years. Now, both have suffered significant losses to graduation and the door seems open for some other school to post the conference’s best record for the first time since 2010. Who’s got the gumption to come through that door? Well, it depends on how you define it. The conference split into Big and Small divisions last year with Esko (5-0) and Cromwell (8-0) leading their respective divisions. (Cromwell defeated Esko in January but apparently it didn’t count in the conference standings.) Now, Barnum looks to be ready to challenge Esko among the bigs, while we think Cromwell can hang on against Floodwood among the smalls. The number of conference games fluctuates wildly from team to team but generally it seems that the bigs play each other once, the smalls twice. Our Predictions Bigs 1. Barnum 4-1 (4-2, 3rd last year, average 9-4 this decade) The Barnum dynasty that produced 9 state tournament entries and a state title in 2010 did not survive the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Randy Myhre. But the Bombers appear to have their best team since then, led by high-scoring 5-11 senior forward Emily Miletich, who combines size with mobility and is able to attack the rim and finish with either hand. Getting her the ball is 5-10 junior guard Mallory Agurkis, who hits the 3 and the boards. They get help, if not any additional size, from seniors Elizabeth Carlson and Alina and Kaitlin Skutervick, and juniors Izabell Carlson and Britney Mike. All of them are 5-6 or less and scored somewhere between 3 and 7 points per game last year. That’s a lot of weapons. 2. Esko 3-2 (5-0, 1st last year, average 10-0) The Eskomoes lose a remarkable 9 seniors including their motor, Ava Gonsorowski. Their regular state tournament appearances certainly look like they’re about to end, but their run of conference championships, too? Well, not without a fight. But instead of going 7 or 8 deep, there are going to be 2 or 3 scorers, really, led by 6-1 junior post Bridget Yellin. Her scoring fell from 8.5 as a freshman to 8 as a sophomore but, like I said, 7 or 8 players were scoring the Esko. Now, Yellin will need to double that and, guess what? She probably will. Junior forwards Macy Sunnarborg, 5-9, and Kaitlin Bergerson, 5-8, will be the 2nd and 3rd option. Eva Turner, 5-4 junior and somewhat untested, will get them the ball, hopefully. After that, it’s wait and see. First place is not out of reach but I don’t see how they can be favored. 3. South Ridge 3-2 (0-5, 6th last year, average 4-5) Located in Culver, MN, South Ridge encompasses what used to be AlBrook, Cotton and Toivola-Meadowlands. They went 13-9 their 1st 2 years as South Ridge but fell off to 0-5 in the conference last year. But, they’re better than that, generally, and 2018 will see improvement behind senior guard Marissa Bober and junior forward Celia Olesiak. Guards Meredith Chase and Bethany Williams, seniors, and Natalee Smith, a sophomore, provide help. But Bober and Olesiak will have to do most of the damage and pick up the slack from the loss of post RyAnna Anvid. Bober and Olesiak scored 25 points and grabbed 20 boards between them last year, so they’re one of the top 1-2 punches you’ll see in these parts, at least if you can find Culver (not to be confused with Culver’s). 4. Moose Lake-Willow River 2-3 (1-5, 5th last year, average 4-5) It’s a long, long way from Annie Adamczak and that 1982 state championship. Moose Lake has played roughly .500 ball the past decade and 2018 looks like more of the same. There’s lots of bodies and there’s 8th grader Natalie Mikrot, who scored 12 ppg as a sophomore. You can bet the defenses are going to be fixated on her for, well, the next 5 years. Juniors Ellie Schaumberg, Meghan Granquist and Tori Walczynski will help, and more so next year. So, if there’s a bump coming, watch for it in 2019, not quite yet in 2018. 5. Two Harbors 2-3 (5-1, 2nd last year, average 5-5) The Agates doubled their average conference wins from 2010-2013 to 2014-2017 but 6-foot forward Ayla Lemke and her 22 ppg are gone along with 7 other seniors, so it’s reality check time. Tori Bott, 5-10 junior forward, combines size and quickness and scores inside and out. But even if she turns out to be as good as Lemke, the supporting cast isn’t ready. 6. Cook County 1-4 (2-4, 4th last year, average 6-5) Cook County High used to be known as Grand Marais, in case you didn’t know, and they’ve been better than .500 over the years. Just not now. They lost 6-foot post Emily Jacobson and her 22 points to graduation. 5-3 junior guard Sophie Eliasen added 13 points and the Vikings will need all of that in order to compete. All-Big Center—Bridget Yellin, Esko, 6-1, junior, 8 ppg last year Power Forward—Celia Olesiak, South Ridge, junior, 11 ppg-7 reb-2 asts Small Forward—Emily Miletich, Barnum, 5-10, senior, 18 ppg Point Guard—Marissa Bober, South Ridge, senior, 13.5 ppg-14 reb-2 asts Combo Guard—Shelby Kelley, McGregor, 5-5, senior, 20 ppg 2nd Team Center—Tori Bott, Two Harbors, 5-10, senior, 12 ppg Power Forward—Macy Sunnarborg, Esko, 5-9, junior, 6 ppg Small Forward—Kaitlin Bergerson, Esko, 5-8, junior, 4.5 ppg Point Guard—Sophie Eliasen, Cook County, 5-3, junior, 13 ppg-2 asts Shooting Guard—Mallory Agurkis, Barnum, 5-10, junior, 8 ppg Smalls 1. Cromwell 9-1 (8-0, 1st last year, average 9-5) The Cardinals lose 40 ppg in forward Bailey Gronner and guard Chalsea Swatek, but return senior Teana, and sophomores Taya and Shailey Hakamaki, but not much else. They’ll run and they’ll shoot the 3, despite their lack of depth, and their talent will win out most nights. But, the lack of depth and lack of size are one problem too many. A return to the state tournament is not out of the question but Bigfork, Cherry, Floodwood and Mountain Iron-Buhl all block the way. 2. Floodwood 7-3 (8-2, 2nd last year, average 9-4) Senior guard Mikayla Koivisto scored 15 as a sophomore and 6 last year. So whatever is needed, shoot it or dish it, she’s ready to go. And, the point is, there’s people to dish it to now including younger sister Ryann and Alexis Stokke, juniors, and the sophomores Imijyn and C.J. Thompson and Kennedi Johnson. They’re all guards, so size will be an issue but of course size is an issue for almost everybody—certainly everybody in Class A—in Arrowhead country. When Cromwell and Floodwood get together, watch for something along the lines of 90-85, and don’t be shocked if Floodwood isn’t out in front. 3. Carlton 5-5 (5-5, 3rd tie last year, average 5-9) Carlton returns senior guard Millie Groth (10 ppg-3 asts) and a bit of support but, as always, size is an issue along with lack of experience. The next 3 top performances are all sophomores, Alaina Bennett, Abby Mickle and Brynne Mickle. 4. McGregor 4-6 (5-5, 3rd tie last year, average 7-5) McGregor was 12-1 in the conference as recently as 2013 and 2014 but dropped to 3-11 in 2015 and 2016. They’ll be somewhere in between, thanks to Shelby Kelley, a 5-5 senior who scored 20 ppg last year. There’s not much help, however. 5. Silver Bay 3-7 (2-7, 5th last year, average 1-11) The Mariners won 3 conference games in 7 years before jumping up to 2-7 last year. A slight improvement remains in order for 2018, thanks to 5-7 senior Jocelyn Powell, who scored 21 ppg with 7 boards a year ago. She’s got more help than Shelby Kelley at McGregor, too, but not a winning tradition so, again, the improvement will continue to be incremental. 6. Wrenshall 2-8 (0-9, 6th past year, average 1-11) Wrenshall pulled an all-time collapse, going from the state tournament in 2008 to an 8-90 conference record this decade including 0-9 last year. But, there’s hope. Senior post Gracie Bergman scored 11 ppg last year. Freshman Helen Tausell and sophomore Taylor Bruce are the guards. They scored 10 ppg between them. They’ll be better. All-Small Center—Gracie Bergman, Wrenshall, senior, 11 ppg Forward—Jocelyn Russell, Silver Bay, 5-7, junior, 21 ppg-7 reb Guard—Teana Hakamaki, Cromwell, 5-6, senior, 16 ppg Guard—Taya Hakamaki, Cromwell, 5-3, sophomore, 15 ppg Guard—Shelby Kelly, McGregor, 5-5, senior, 20 ppg 2nd Team Forward—Kennedi Johnson, Floodwood, sophomore, 11 ppg Forward—Shailey Hakamaki, Cromwell, 5-8, sophomore, 11 ppg Point Guard—Millie Groth, Carleton, 5-6, senior, 10 ppg-3 asts Combo Guard—Mikayla Koivisto, Floodwood, senior, 6 ppg Shooting Guard—Jenny Walewski, Silver Bay, 5-4, senior, 9 ppg Stock Raisers (Big and Small) Center—Abbie Crawford, Cook County, sophomore, 4.5 ppg Forward—Abby Mickle, Carlton, 5-7, sophomore, 5 ppg-4 reb Point Guard—Natalie Mikrot, Moose Lake, 8th grade, 12 ppg Combo Guard—Brynn Mickle, Carlton, sophomore, 3 ppg-2 asts Shooting Guard—Imijyn Thompson, Floodwood, sophomore, 14 ppg