3A & 4A Rankings Update: Trending upward is never more important than right now

<p>Trending upward is always a good thing. Trending upward heading into the first week of sections is even better, and there are a number of teams on a roll heading into 3A and 4A section play this week. Of course, there are the teams that have been winning forever – Robbinsdale Cooper with 17 in a row and Centennial with 16 straight among them – but it is the teams that have been steadily climbing up the ranks that are most noteworthy in this week&#039;s 3A and 4A rankings update.</p> <p>For example, there is Anoka. Led by Noelle Josephson, the 17-9 Tornadoes have been lurking just outside the top 25 for a couple of weeks and probably should have been promoted before now. Anoka has won 8 of its last 9 with the lone loss being to 23-3 Centennial. The Tornadoes, who started the year near the top of the list before going through a dry spell in late December, reenter the poll at #23. Given the state of the opposition in section 7AAAA, Anoka could very well find themselves in the state tournament two weeks from now.</p> <p>Here are some other 4A teams that are peaking at just the right time:</p> <ul> <li>Minnetonka has won four in a row and 10 of their last 13 despite being without senior point guard Megan Walker. The Skippers are now 16-10 and have moved all the way up to #13. They are the top seed in section 2AAAA, just ahead of #16 Eden Prairie (15-11). The Eagles have won 7 of their last 10 and have been one of this year&#039;s biggest surprises.</li> <li>Stillwater (16-10) knocked off Cretin-Derham Hall by 28 last week (yep, by 28) and beat St. Francis by 23. The Ponies are 11-4 in 2018 and ranked #17.</li> <li>St. Louis Park (17-9) is ranked 22nd, having won four straight and 9 of their last 12. That&#039;s probably not going to help the Orioles advance to the big dance given that they reside in the same section as 23-3 Hopkins and 24-2 Wayzata.</li> <li>Also re-entering the poll this week is Woodbury (14-12) at #24. The Royals defeated Cretin last week by a single point. Forest Lake (16-10) also returns at #25 having won 8 of their last 11.</li> </ul> <p>Of course there are also some teams trending in the wrong direction, too. Foremost among them would have to be Cretin-Derham Hall. The Raiders were steamrolled by Stillwater last week and lost a close one to Woodbury. At 18-6, Cretin is still ranked #9 and earned the #1 seed in section 4AAAA. Three more schools trending downward dropped out of the poll: Lakeville South (13-13) which has lost four in a row and 6 of its last 7; Edina (12-13) with 7 losses in its last 8; and St. Francis (16-10) which has dropped 5 of 7.</p> <p><strong>Who&#039;s trending upward in 3A?</strong></p> <p>As mentioned above, #2 Cooper (24-2) has won 17 straight and would appear to be in position A heading into the state tournament. The Hawks earned a first-round bye in section 6AAA. #1 Mahtomedi (23-2) has won four in a row since losing to Hill-Murray. That is the Zephyrs only loss since Christmas. The top teams in 3A are all trending in the right direction ensuring that the tourney field is wide open. Those on the rise include:</p> <ul> <li>#4 Northfield (23-3) is 15-1 in 2018.</li> <li>#5 Willmar (23-2) has won 8 in a row.</li> <li>#6 Hutchinson (20-6) has won four in a row and 13 of its last 14.</li> <li>#8 Grand Rapids (19-7) has 5 straight wins and prevailed in 8 of its last 9.</li> <li>#14 Hill-Murray (17-9) lost to Hastings by a basket last week after winning 8 in a row.</li> <li>#19 Mankato West (19-7) has 5 straight wins and has won 9 of its last 10.</li> <li>#16 St. Croix Lutheran (17-7) has also won 5 in a row and 9 of its last 10.</li> <li>St. Paul Como Park (18-8) returns to the poll at #23 after knocking off Minneapolis South in the Twin Cities championship game. The Cougars have won 8 of their last 9 with the only blemish being a nail-biter at Maranatha.</li> </ul>