Section 8AAAA Preview

Elk River is the defending state champ at 32-0 but their losses to graduation are staggering. Gabi Haack, Sidney Wentland, Kelsie Cox and more. Still, they’ll be pretty good, but the door is open to a new section champion. Who will go through that door? St. Michael-Albertville is the proverbial 800-pound gorilla but they fell short last year and Maple Grove and Moorhead feel like this is their year. All 3 will contend. • In the post, SMA has the advantage with sophomores Vanessa Alexander and Haley Coulson. Maple Grove has size but they’re more 3-type players rather than posts, and Moorhead lacks size generally. • At the 4, Maple Grove has 5-11 senior Katerina Theis and her 13 ppg, while SMA has senior Riley Carlson. Moorhead has sophomore Jalen Ennen, not as yet a proven commodity. • At the 3, SMA has a bunch of options led by sophomore Kendal Cox and freshman Lily Tennyson. Maple Grove has 5-11 senior Autumn Mlinar. Moorhead has sophomore Megan Haugo. • At the point guard, SMA has one of the best pairs of 1s in the state in Kenzie Kramer and Jadym Hanson. Maple Grove has sophomore Abby Schulte, who is ready to be a star. Moorhead has sophomore Rylie Polomny. • Finally at the 2, Moorhead has the fave for Ms. Basketball is senior Sam Haiby. Maple Grove has Lauryn Moline. SMA will go with a pairing of Kramer and Hanson. Predicted Order of Finish 1. St. Michael-Albertville 22-5, lost to Moorhead 77-69 in Section 8AAAA SF 2. Moorhead 22-7, lost to Elk River 84-73 in Section 8AAAA final 3. Maple Grove 13-15, lost to Elk River 61-48 in Section 8AAAA SF 4. Elk River 32-0, defeated Hopkins 64-60 for the state title 5 senior starters are all gone from the Elks’ state champions. They’re not going to go 32-0. But, they will surprise some people, probably including you. 5-5 sophomore Lydia Haack is a very different player than her sister, but she is quick, athletic, highly skilled and with a high basketball IQ. She will become an elite point guard this year. She’ll score her points but she can also dish to several players who know how to finish. Up front there’s senior post Matia Person, 6-2, along with senior forward Kennedy Boysen. Around the perimeter there’s senior Madison Leuthold, junior Kayla Engebretson and sophomores Mikayla Kanenweisher and Alex Engebretson. They’re not big but they’re quick and they’re feisty. 5. Brainerd 17-10, lost to St. Michael-Albertville 69-62 in Section 8AAAA QF 6. Buffalo 16-11, lost to Maple Grove 64-48 in Section 8AAAA QF 7. Rogers 12-15, lost to Moorhead 91-69 in Section 8AAAA QF 8. St. Cloud Tech 10-17, lost to Elk River 29-74 in Section 8AAAA QF These were your second division last year and, as you can see, we see them as the second division again this year. What’s it going to take for one of these to get a home game in the section? Brainerd, at #5, has the best chance. Senior wing Regan McElfresh and senior guards Lexi Roby and Ashley Huber can all play, but there is precious little size. A breakthrough might be if 5-10 junior Courtney Russell (3 ppg last year) steps up. Buffalo also has some nice talent and even a little bit of size. Megan Lowell, 5-11 senior post, and guards Jordan Zrust, 5-10 junior, and Bailee Larson, 5-9 senior, will lead the way. #7 Rogers has some upside. Their top 3 scorers are all graduated but forward Sam Orth is back from injury, and forward Emily Rubbelke, and guards Claire Swan and Alaina Brenning give the Royals a pretty good 4-some to build on. #8 St. Cloud Tech is further from success. Senior forward Kate Martig, junior guard Meya Washington and sophomore post Gemaya Murray are the only veterans returning. All-Section 8AAAA Center—Megan Lowell, Buffalo, 5-11, senior, 8 ppg Power Forward—Katerina Theis, Maple Grove, 5-11, senior, 13 ppg Small Forward—Autumn Mlinar, Maple Grove, 5-11, senior, 12 ppg Point Guard—Kenzie Kramer, St. Michael, 5-8, sophomore, 11 ppg Shooting Guard—Sam Haiby, Moorhead, 5-9, senior, 24 ppg 2nd Team Center—Matia Person, Elk River, 6-2, senior, 4 ppg Power Forward—Riley Carlson, St. Michael, 5-9, senior, 4 ppg Small Forward—Kendal Cox, St. Michael, 5-8, sophomore, 7 ppg Point Guard—Lydia Haack, Elk River, 5-5, sophomore, 7 ppg Shooting Guard—Jadyn Hanson, St. Michael, 5-6, junior, 6 ppg 3rd Team Center—Vanessa Alexander, St. Michael, 5-11, sophomore, 5 ppg Power Forward—Sam Orth, Rogers, 5-9, senior, 5 ppg Small Forward—Regan McElfresh, Brainerd, 5-8, senior, 9 ppg-3 reb Point Guard—Jordan Zrust, Buffalo, 5-10, junior, 11.5 ppg Shooting Guard—Lexi Roby, Brainerd, 5-6, senior, 10 ppg Stock Raisers Center—Gemaya Murray, St. Cloud Tech, sophomore, 4 ppg Power Forward—Jalen Ennen, Moorhead, 5-10, sophomore, 4 ppg Small Forward—Megan Haugo, Moorhead, 5-8, sophomore, 6 ppg Point Guard—Abby Schulte, Maple Grove, 5-4, freshman, 3 ppg Combo Guard—Alaina Brenning, Rogers, 5-7, sophomore, 4 ppg