Is it too soon to talk about Sections?
As best as I can tell, the very first section games will be a month from now on February 22. Hard to believe that some teams will be packing away their jerseys and sneakers in a month and a day,…
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Continue ReadingAs best as I can tell, the very first section games will be a month from now on February 22. Hard to believe that some teams will be packing away their jerseys and sneakers in a month and a day, but there it is.
So, what are the state tournaments going to look like? We looked at our own top 25 rankings plus QRF rankings, the Minnesota Basketball News and kjasr.com to see who’s favored in each of the 32 sections and what the seeds might look like.
Class A
Section 1 Lyle Pacelli is rated highest among Section 1A teams in 3 rankings, Hayfield in one (QRF). But, Goodhue is also lurking and none of the 3 is rated below #4 where there is a conventional ranking (KJ only lists their predicted section champion). So this is wide open. The winner here is probably a #2 seed.
Section 2 BOLD is the choice of QRF and KJ, while Wabasso is our pick, and Sleepy Eye the pick of MBN. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s is also lurking within 3 or 4 slots of the leader in 2 different polls. So this one, too, is wide open. The winner here is probably unseeded.
Section 3 Southwest MN Christian and Lac Qui Parle Valley each get 2 picks, and SWC overall has a little more support. Not a seed.
Section 4 Heritage gets 3 picks, Mayer Lutheran one (MBN). Probably not a seed.
Section 5 Menahga is the unanimous pick, and is a likely #4 seed.
Section 6 Ada gets 3 picks, Wheaton one. Ada could be as high as #3.
Section 7 Mountain Iron-Buhl is the unanimous pick in Section 7A, and a likely #1 seed.
Section 8 Stephen-Argyle is the unanimous pick, but Red Lake is close in 2 of the rankings. SA is a possible #5 seed.
Best guess: Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. BOLD, Menahga vs. Stephen-Argyle, Lyle Pacelli vs. Heritage, and Ada vs. Southwest MN Christian.
Class AA
Section 1 Stewartville is the unanimous pick, and a possible #5 seed.
Section 2 Norwood Young America is the unanimous pick, but right now comes in #6 in the race for 5 seeds.
Section 3 Eden Valley-Watkins is the choice of Northstar and QRF, while Tracy-Milroy-Balaton is the choice of MBN and KJ. Each is a close 2nd to the other in one ranking, while New London-Spicer is also a close 2nd in one ranking. You wouldn’t want to underestimate NLS whether you’re a prognosticator or whether you’re EVW or TMB. The winner here is unlikely to get a seed.
Section 4 Minnehaha is a unanimous choice, and a likely #3 seed.
Section 5 Maranatha is picked 3 times, Holy Family once. If it wins here, Maranatha currently looks like a #4 seed.
Section 6 Sauk Centre is the unanimous pick and the obvious candidate for the #1 seed, but Rush City is close behind in 2 of the 4 rankings.
Section 7 Duluth Marshall is the pick twice, Proctor once, while MBN has nobody from Section 7AA rated. The winner here is not going to be a seed.
Section 8 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton is the unanimous choice and #2 overall. Only one ranking, MBN, has Roseau anywhere close.
Best guess: Sauk Centre vs. Duluth Marshall, Maranatha vs. Stewartville, DGF vs. Eden Valley-Watkins, and Minnehaha vs. Norwood Young America.
Class AAA
Section 1 Northfield is the unanimous pick with Red Wing fairly close in a couple of rankings. The Raiders look like a #3 seed from here.
Section 2 Hutch is picked 3 times to just once for Waseca—that would be us, Northstar. The winner here is not going to be a seed.
Section 3 Holy Angels is the prohibitive favorite, and a likely #4 seed.
Section 4 Mahtomedi is the unanimous pick, but DeLaSalle is within striking distance in all 3 polls where that’s possible. Mahtomedi is currently a #2 seed.
Section 5 Willmar is the unanimous pick and a likely #5.
Section 6 Cooper is a unanimous pick and right now the leading candidate for #1.
Section 7 Hermantown is the pick of Northstar and KJ, Chisago is the pick of MBN and QRF. Grand Rapids is a close 2nd twice. This winner is also not going to be a seed.
Section 8 Alexandria is picked by Northstar and QRF, Fergus Falls by MBN and KJ. Fergus has a very slight edge overall. The winner here is not going to be a seed.
Best guess: Cooper vs. Chisago, Holy Angels vs. Willmar, Mahtomedi vs. Fergus, and Northfield vs. Hutchinson.
Class AAAA
Section 1 Lakeville North gets 3 picks but Farmington gets one, too, from QRF. They’re just short of the 5th seed.
Section 2 Minnetonka is the pick 3 times, Edina once. The winner here is not going to be a seed.
Section 3 Eastview is the unanimous pick and 3 of 4 forecasters has them #1 in the state.
Section 4 Cretin is the obvious choice and a likely #5 seed.
Section 5 Champlin gets 3 of 4 picks, while Centennial gets the 4th. The winner here is probably the #5 seed.
Section 6 Wayzata is the unanimous pick but Hopkins is right behind, and who is going to say that this matter is settled? No one. The winner of Section 6 will be the #2 seed.
Section 7 Anoka gets one pick and Forest Lake the other. The other 2 rankings do not include anybody from Section 7, so whoever wins here is not going to get a seed.
Section 8 St. Michael-Albertville is the unanimous pick but Maple Grove is close behind in a couple of the rankings. Moorhead has fallen back with Sam Haiby hurt, but if Haiby comes back more or less healthy, then expectations here might be subject to change. But right now, St. Michael has the look of a #4.
Best guess: Eastview vs. Forest Lake, St. Michael vs. Cretin, Wayzata vs. Lakeville North, Champlin Park vs. Minnetonka.