As we approach the end of October, we’re getting closer to the start of another high school season. In the upcoming days, Prep Girls Hoops will be previewing conferences around the Twin Cities. In this edition, we take a closer look at the Metro West Conference. The Metro West is home to the 2017-2018 Class 3A State Champion Robbinsdale Cooper Hawks. The conference is a blend of 3A and 4A schools, which makes for some really interesting match-ups. There is so much talent in the MWC this year that it wouldn't come as a surprise if any one of a number of teams comes away with the conference championship.
<span style="font-size: 18pt"><strong>WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR COOPER TO REPEAT?</strong></span>
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>ROBBINSDALE COOPER</strong></span> had a dream season in 2017-18. The Hawks ran the table in Metro West, and finished the regular season with a record of 24-2. From there, they went on to win their first ever girls basketball state championship. This season, Cooper will be without the services of 2018’s <strong>Jada Buford</strong>, <strong>Ty’neccia Longs</strong> and <strong>Ja’Hyia Gaston</strong>. But senior guard <strong>Aja Wheeler</strong> and sophomore standouts <strong>Kierra Wheeler</strong> and <strong>Andrea Tribble</strong> will all be back for the Hawks<strong>. </strong>It will be worth keeping an eye on Cooper's transition from the elite-level speed and quickness that last year's seniors possessed. But there’s little doubt that head coach Kiara Buford will have Cooper reloaded and looking towards another state tournament run.
<p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 18pt"><strong>THE HAWKS' BIGGEST CHALLENGERS</strong></span></p>
Speaking of Hawks, <span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>CHASKA</strong></span> is coming off of roller-coaster season a year ago. The young squad started 0-8 before completely flipping the script and winning 9 of their last 11. The Hawks are looking to build off of last season's experience for their returning core. Senior post <strong>Marissa Grothe</strong> looks to be much improved from a season ago. <strong>Kaylee VanEps</strong> and <strong>Destinee Bursch</strong> are a solid sophomore combo. And freshman <strong>Mallory Heyer</strong> is a top 3 player in the class of 2022. Heyer is an uber-talented, do-it-all player that led the team in scoring last year <em>as an 8th grader</em>. Chaska will go as these four go. If they are able to take a step forward in their collective development, it will be an exciting winter for the purple and gold.
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>ST. LOUIS PARK</strong></span> had a solid 17-9 record a year ago, but finished just 1-5 vs. Cooper, Chaska, and Chanhassen in Metro West play. The Orioles had an incredibly balanced scoring attack as seniors <strong>Lindsey Olson</strong> (MSU-Mankato commit) and <strong>Sophie Olmen</strong>, juniors <strong>Jordyn Turek</strong> and <strong>Shayla Miller</strong>, as well as sophomore <strong>Raegan Alexander</strong> all scored at least 7 points per game a year ago. They'll all be back, along with sophomore <strong>Kendall Coley</strong>, who is a top 10 player in the class of 2021. SLP boasts what is arguably the deepest roster in the conference going into 2018-19.
<p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 18pt"><strong>DARK HORSE TEAMS</strong></span></p>
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>BENILDE-ST. MARGARET'S</strong></span> finished 2017-18 with the same record as SLP at 17-9. Unlike the Orioles, though, BSM finished with a conference record of just 7-7. The Red Knights bring back the dynamic backcourt trio of <strong>Aiana Whitfield, Cheyenne Carter,</strong> and <strong>Isabel Fleming</strong>. The senior scorers will be one of the most experienced groups of guards in the conference. But the biggest news for BSM comes in the form of Fridley transfer <strong>Patience Williams</strong>. Williams averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers last year as a sophomore. She was a major stock-riser during the AAU season and could be the missing piece that puts the Red Knights in contention for a Metro West title.
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>CHANHASSEN</strong></span> had a similar start to their southern neighbors last year. The Storm lost 6 of their first 7 before righting the ship and finishing the season strong. This season, Chan will need to replace their leading scorer, <strong>Sidney Brastad</strong>. But returning juniors <strong>Tori Tollefson</strong> and <strong>Julia Gronholz</strong> should provide veteran leadership to the Storm. And <strong>Callin Hake</strong> is as well-rounded of a guard as you will find in the freshman class. She's our preseason choice for breakout player of the year in the Metro West. PGH recently found out that Hake's Minnesota Fury teammate <strong>Nicole Bowlin</strong> made the decision to start her high school career at Holy Family, which will be a big blow for the Storm this winter.
While Patience Williams is a huge addition for Benilde-St. Margaret's, she is not the most heralded transfer in the Metro West. That honor <span style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400">belongs to </span><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY's</strong></span><span style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400"> newest post, </span><strong style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px">Destinee Oberg</strong><span style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400">. Oberg is a top 3 player in the 2019 class and will be playing her college basketball at the University of Arkansas. The Holy Angels transfer makes Kennedy a fascinating team to watch. Between her, aggressive guard </span><strong style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px">Zaraya March</strong><span style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400">, and sharpshooter </span><strong style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px">Samantha Husting</strong><span style="font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400">, look for the Eagles to exceed expectations this season.</span>
<strong><span style="font-size: 18pt">REBUILDING</span></strong>
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON</strong></span> had a relatively balanced scoring attack a year ago, with five players averaging between seven and thirteen points per game. <strong>Logan Mahoney</strong>, <span class="playerName "><strong>Samantha Sunnarborg, </strong>and<strong> Alyssa Felt </strong>will lead the way for the Jaguars throughout their senior campaigns. Unfortunately, Jefferson will be without their leading scorer from a year ago. 2019 point guard <strong>Caroline Anderson</strong> tore her ACL and will miss most of, if not the entire year. Freshman <strong>Abby Titus</strong> will be another name to keep an eye on for the Jags this winter.</span>
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>RICHFIELD</strong></span> lost their top two players from last year's 3-22 team. <strong>Breanna Wendland</strong> averaged 19 points per game, and is now playing at Iowa Lakes Community College. <strong>Salem Maher</strong> is an uber-talented freshman who averaged over 17 points per game for the Spartans as an 8th grader. But she made the decision to transfer before her high school career began, and will be suiting up for Hopkins this winter. Wendland and Maher accounted for 65% of Richfield's scoring a season ago.
<span style="font-size: 18pt"><strong>PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES</strong></span>
<em>Candidates are listed alphabetically</em>
Mallory Heyer - Chaska - 2022
Destinee Oberg - Bloomington Kennedy - 2019
Lindsey Olson - St. Louis Park - 2019
Aja Wheeler – Robbinsdale Cooper - 2019
Aiana Whitfield - Benilde-St Margaret's - 2019
<em>Article cover photo courtesy of the Pioneer Press</em>
<em>Photo of Mallory Heyer courtesy of The Chaska Herald</em>
<em>Photo of Aja Wheeler courtesy of MN Girls Basketball Hub</em>
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