Section 4AAA Preview
Yesterday I said that Section 5AA may be the toughest in the state. I take it back. I now think that Section 4AAA is the toughest. But, not necessarily the most competitive, because Maranatha in 5AA has some challengers. In…
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Continue ReadingYesterday I said that Section 5AA may be the toughest in the state. I take it back. I now think that Section 4AAA is the toughest. But, not necessarily the most competitive, because Maranatha in 5AA has some challengers. In 4AAA, nobody is going to challenge DeLaSalle. But, I am thinking that 4AAA has some of the best #6 and #7 seeds in the state.
1. DeLaSalle 20-11 last year, section 4AAA champion
Just consider, who is your all-section team going to be? Maybe DeLaSalle’s Olivia Travis (5-11 senior 8 ppg) or Mary Claire Francois (6-0 junior 6 ppg) at the post. Then, sure, Emma Grothaus of Mahtomedi ahead of Nora Francois (6-0 freshman 7 ppg) or Elaina Jones (5-11 junior transfer from Como Park), yes, both of DeLaSalle, at the 4. But, geez, 4 of the top 5 6-footers are all at DeLaSalle.
And, OK, I might go with Annika Sougstad of Mahtomedi over Dacoda Speidel (5-10 senior 8 ppg) of De at the 3. And, yes, you’ve got to go with Makayla Van Nett of Como, one of the best 3-point shooters in the state, at the 2, but then it’s probably the Islanders’ Ayanna Gardner (5-8 senior 12 ppg) at the point, though there are some other pretty good 1s in the section.
But, for all intents and purposes, half of the top talent in the section is all on one team and that one team is DeLaSalle. They started slowly last year at 7-8 and giving up about 57 ppg, but once they started to really hustle on defense they reduced their points against to about 50 (and that counts 3 games against state tournament competition) and went 13-3 down the stretch, including a 41-39 upset of Mahtomedi in the section semi where they just shut down the Zephyrs high-scoring offense.
So 6-0, 6-0, 5-11, 5-11 inside. You are not going to get any rebounds against this team. And, do Catholics believe in hell? DeLaSalle does. I forget who coined the phrase, “40 minutes of hell.” Thank goodness it’s only 36 here, but that is what De is going to put you through. They are big, they are quick, they are aggressive, they play with a chip on their shoulder, they get into your face. They are set up for a monster season if coach Tanysha Scott can keep them hungry on the defensive end. And, check the age of some of their key players. It is not going to get any better anytime in this decade.
2. Mahtomedi 22-4 last year, lost to DeLaSalle in section 4AAA SF
Mahtomedi returns 6-3 stretch 4-ward Emma Grothaus and her 19 ppg, and on top of that she is a solid defender and just a smart all-around player. And, there’s help, especially from Swiss Army knife (does it all) Annika Sougstad, a skinny 5-10 forward who scored 10 ppg. Beyond that, it’s by committee. Much will depend on 5-8 sophomore Julia Salmen, who missed most of last year with injuries but who has the most upside of the rest of the Zephyrs roster. But with Grothaus and Sougstad being seniors, better get it done now.
3. St. Paul Como 20-8, lost to St. Anthony in the section 4AAA SF
Como will still be competitive but the loss of Elaina Jones is huge. Zarina Sementelli is 6-0 tall but not the enforcer Jones was. Now, their 2nd tallest player is 5-8 wing Makayla Van Nett. She is one of Minnesota’s top 3-point shooters but she’s not a big rebounder and defender. After that it’s 5-2, 5-2, 5-0, though 5-0 Autumn Tucker’s 13 ppg make her the best 5-0 player I’ve ever seen.
4. St. Anthony 20-8, lost to DeLaSalle 84-51 in the section 4AAA final
St. Anthony loses 4 starters but it’s true that 2 of them were hurt when the Huskies shocked Como in that section semi-final. Freshman point guard Sam Sibbet and sophomore wing Anica Thomas will lead the way and, like Mahtomedi, after that it will be by committee. Most of the top players are sophomores so they can play loose this year and then start to worry a little more in 2019.
5. Hill-Murray 12-15 last year, lost to DeLaSalle 59-42 in section 4AAA QF
The Pioneers are a junior team with 5-10 forward Grace Prokosch, 5-4 point guard Vanessa Wren and 5-9 shooting guard Delaney Runyon leading the way. All 3 can score, and senior guard Madisen Rogers adds a little more of the same. They’ll be improved, for sure, but this section is just so tough.
6. Fridley 11-14, lost to St. Anthony 76-51 in section 4AAA QF
Fridley is led by 6-0 sophomore post Patience Williams, who can do anything out there but just doesn’t do it all the time. And, she’s got help from Britney Smith, who matches Williams’ 12 ppg, and guards Tyliah Frazier and Eboni Davis. If we’re right and they’re a #6 seed, they’ll be the best #6 in the state.
7. Totino-Grace 9-18, lost to St. Paul Como 82-71 in section 4AAA QF
The Eagles return some nice talent in sophomore point guard Carly Meyer, junior forward Brianna Glynn and senior wing Madison Doran. Again, if we’re right, this will be the best #7 in the state.
8. Columbia Heights 12-13, lost to Concordia 51-43 in section 4AA 1st round
My goodness, Columbia Heights didn’t need this. They’ve dug out of a huge hole lately, going 12-12 in last year’s regular season, but now this. Class AAA. And, they’ve also lost their 2 best players in Pashia Scott and Emily Sheets. Junior Destiny Vaughan is their top returning scorer at 6 ppg.
All-Section 4AAA
Center—Nora Francois, DeLaSalle, 6-0, freshman, 7 ppg
Power Forward—Emma Grothaus, Mahtomedi, 6-3, senior, 19 ppg
Small Forward—Annika Sougstad, Mahtomedi, 5-10, senior, 10 ppg
Point Guard—Ayanna Gardner, DeLaSalle, 5-8, senior, 12 ppg
Shooting Guard—Makayla Van Nett, Como, 5-8, senior, 22 ppg
Second Team
Center—Patience Williams, Fridley, 6-0, sophomore, 12 ppg
Power Forward—Elaina Jones, DeLaSalle, 5-11, junior
Small Forward—Dacoda Speidel, DeLaSalle, 5-10, senior, 8 ppg
Point Guard—Sam Sibbet, St. Anthony, 5-6, freshman, 8 ppg
Shooting Guard—Delaney Runyon, Hill-Murray, 5-9, junior, 13.5 ppg
Third Team
Center—Olivia Travis, DeLaSalle, 5-11, senior, 8 ppg
Power Forward—Brianna Glynn, Totino-Grace, 5-9, junior, 8 ppg
Small Forward—Madison Doran, Totino-Grace, 5-7, senior, 9 ppg
Point Guard—Autumn Tucker, Como, 5-0, senior, 12 ppg
Shooting Guard—Eboni Davis, Fridley, senior, 9 ppg
Stock Raisers
Center—Grace Prokosch, Hill-Murray, 5-10, junior, 10 ppg
Forward—Anica Thomas, St. Anthony, 5-8, sophomore, 6.5 ppg
Point Guard—Carla Meyer, Totino-Grace, sophomore, 5 ppg
Shooting Guard—Bella Hartzell, Hill-Murray, freshman, 4 ppg
Shooting Guard—Julia Salmen, Mahtomedi, 5-8, sophomore