Section 4AAAA Preview

White Bear Lake had been to 2 state tournaments prior to 2009. Since then, they have been to 7 of 9 under coach Jeremy Post. This is not a school or a community blessed by demographics or by geography. They were not and are not destined to succeed. But they succeed anyway. Once upon a time Woodbury went to 9 of 10 state tournaments (1995-2004), with a title in 2003. Cretin went to 4 of 6 with a title in 1999. If anybody fits the profile, if anybody in the east metro seems destined to win, it is Woodbury and Cretin. But, instead, it is White Bear. Over the past 8 months, I have been thinking that Cretin will win the 4AAAA title in 2017. Upon reflection, I think it will be White Bear. It has gotten to the point where they’re the only program that really knows what it takes. 1. White Bear Lake 20-11 last year, lost to state champion Elk River 52-44 in state tournament White Bear has again lost a lot of talent from a state tournament team. Ho-hum. It happens every year. OK, 7 times in the last 9 years. And, they always bounce back. They do it in part by playing one of the state’s longest rotations and not putting too much pressure on their top players, no matter who or how good they might be. The point is that after losing Alexa Molin, Sophie Janicki and Adri Perron, they’ve got 10 contributors back. They’ll play all 10, and more, but just for the record the top 5 appear to be…. 6-2 senior post Jordan Ferrand, headed for South Dakota State after scoring 10 ppg last year. 5-11 junior forward Claire Odmark, fresh off her 1st team all-metro soccer selection. She scored 8 ppg last year. Anna Sanders, 5-8 junior wing, who scored 7. Point guard Courtney Crouch, now a junior and someone who has played significant minutes for 2 years behind Molin, 4 ppg. And Sophie Janicki, just a sophomore, an energy girl, 5 ppg a year ago. The wild card is junior forward Sydney Steere, who has played sparingly, but who could end up being their top a scorer. Wild cards in their own way, however, are Ferrand, who dropped a bunch of weight and looks to be ready to play the 3, not the 5. We’ll have to see how that works. Also, Odmark will be taking time away from hoops to play soccer throughout the basketball season. That can’t help. Still, White Bear mostly looks like White Bear, the team that has been to 7 state tournaments the last 9 years. Cretin and maybe Forest Lake may have been from line, top 5 talent. But when White Bear coach Jeremy Post sends his 10th and probably his 11th and his 12th girl out there with instructions to be a pain in the ass to their opponents, well, dynamics have a way of changing in the Bears favor. 2. Cretin-Derham Hall 17-10 last year, lost to 56-53 in section 4AAAA SF OK, Cretin just about derailed White Bear, it’s true. But, more than that, they seem to have derailed themselves after a 9-2 start. So one again inquiring minds will want to know, “How’s the chemistry?” The talent is terrific beginning with Frannie Hottinger, and continuing with Haley Moore, Chantel Anderson-Manning, Autum Mendez, Justyna Butler and Elizabeth Edinger, though Butler and Edinger have been fighting through injuries and illness the past year. Still, the talent is good. “How’s the chemistry?” 3. St. Paul Central 15-12, lost to White Bear 74-55 in section 4AAAA 1st round Central has possibly Minnesota’s best post already as a sophomore in 6-2 Aliza Karlen, who scored a ridiculous 26 ppg as a freshman last year. Surrounding her are some experienced players with room for improvement. Point guard Arlandus Montgomery is the key. She’s active, dynamic, a leader, but there are too many turnovers. Ellie Gubbrud, Afiya Ward and Terri Sutton have a lot of upside at the forward spot. But it probably comes to everybody protecting the ball a little better. 4. Stillwater 11-16, lost to Woodbury 57-35 in section 4AAAA QF Stillwater adds freshman Alexis Pratt to a backcourt that already features on of Minnesota’s best, Sara Scalia. Unfortunately, the Ponies lose 6-3 post Maddie Whiddington to volleyball. Rachel Houle and Elizabeth Ogren are good options on the wing. But, they’re not deep and time will tell about the chemistry. 5. Tartan 13-13, lost to Cretin 51-46 in section 4AAAA QF Tartan returns three blue chippers in power forwards Zariea Chevre (a sophomore) and Kendra Ekereke (a junior) and combo guard Takara Mason (also a sophomore). Chevre and Ekereke are strong, physical defenders, Chevre more advanced offensively. Mason was used as a 3-point shooter last year but over the summer has shown that she is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in her hands. And, there are four proven contributors back in addition, all sophomores and juniors. Tartan will be a tough out in 2018. The sky’s the limit in 2019. 6. Woodbury 15-13, lost to East Ridge 59-51 in section 4AAAA SF Like Stillwater, Woodbury boasts one of Minnesota’s best guards in senior Rachel Hakes, granddaughter of legendary Mankato coach Gordy Hakes. And 6-0 junior post Solape Amusan seems ready to become a force inside. Big things were once expected of Maren Blodgett and big things are still possible of Maren Blodgett. Beyond that, it’s not obvious where the minutes are going to come from. 7. East Ridge 18-7, lost to White Bear 52-49 in OT in section 4AAAA final All 5 East Ridge starters are gone, and most of the returning “veterans” got precious few minutes behind the class of 2017. Meaghan Rapp, 6-0 senior, is Ms. Inside, and Linnea Yacovello, 5-9, junior, is Ms. Outside, until somebody proves otherwise. They scored 8 ppg between them. 8. North St. Paul 6-21, lost to East Rige 68-37 in section 4AAAA QF The Polars best player, Alexis Pratt, skedaddled to Stillwater, legally, she is now in 9th grade. But, boy does that make it harder and harder to envision a successful rebuild at North High (after Jolisa Ross also transferred out a couple years ago). Lily Pfefferle, Kelli McCane, Nicole Anderson and Madalynn Sloan will regroup. All-Section 4AAAA Center—Aliza Karlen, St. Paul Central, 6-2, sophomore, 26 ppg Power Forward—Zariea Chevre, Tartan, 5-11, sophomore, 12 ppg Small Forward—Frannie Hottinger, Cretin, 5-11, junior, 15 ppg Point Guard—Sara Scalia, Stillwater, 5-8, junior, 18 ppg-5 reb-2 asts-2 stls Shooting Guard—Rachel Hakes, Woodbury, 5-10, senior, 15 ppg 2nd Team Center—Jordan Ferrand, White Bear, 6-2, senior, 10 ppg Forward—Haley Moore, Cretin, 6-0, senior, 8 ppg Point Guard—Chanel Anderson-Manning, Cretin, 5-8, senior, 9 ppg Combo Guard—Takara Mason, Tartan, 5-8, sophomore, 9 ppg Shooting Guard—Elizabeth Edinger, Cretin, 5-9, senior, 12 ppg 3rd Team Center—Solape Amusan, Woodbury, 6-0, junior, 5 ppg Power Forward—Kendra Ekereke, Tartan, 5-11, junior, 6 ppg Small Forward—Autam Mendez, Cretin, 5-9, senior, 11 ppg Point Guard—Courtney Crouch, White Bear, 5-7, junior, 4 ppg Shooting Guard—Justyna Butler, Cretin, 5-9, senior Stock Raisers Center—Kate Burns, East Ridge, 6-0, sophomore, 2 ppg Power Forward—Claire Odmark, White Bear, 5-11, junior, 8 ppg Small Forward—Maddy Rice, Forest Lake, 5-9, junior, 5 ppg Point Guard—Alexis Pratt, Stillwater, 5-9 freshman Shooting Guard—Ella Janicki, White Bear, 5-5, sophomore, 5 ppg More Stock Raisers Center—Lily Pfefferle, North, junior Power Forward—Meaghen Rapp, East Ridge, 6-0, senior, 5 ppg Small Forward—Sydney Steere, White Bear, junior, 9 ppg Point Guard—Nevaeh Moeschter, Tartan, 5-6, sophomore, 5 ppg Shooting Guard—Ka’Tia Cummings, Tartan, sophomore, 4 ppg