Preview: 2019 Breakdown Fall Leagues debut on Sunday

When the schedules came out earlier in the week I couldn’t believe it was time for fall leagues already. As I write this on Friday night, however, I can hear the howling winds and there is something resembling ice pellets beating against my windows. So yeah, it’s time. Ready or not, the Breakdown Fall Leagues open on Sunday with 74 schools playing in three leagues and four locations What better way to kick off the fall season than with a terrific match-up at 10:40 a.m. between Hopkins and Chaska at the Lindbergh Center. You’ll recall that the Hawks upset the Royals by a score of 74-70 at the Hall of Fame tournament a few weeks ago. It was a terrific game, and a really big deal for Chaska to get the W. Hopkins tends to rebound from such losses, however, so you can expect a strong performance from the defending Class 4A state champions on Sunday morning. Here is a preview of what you'll see across the board. NORTH SUBURBAN LEAGUE (St. Michael-Albertville) How many schools: 20 with Rogers, Elk River, Osseo and Maple Grove fielding two teams apiece Top teams to see: Park Center, STMA and Maple Grove plus up-and-coming squads from Cambridge-Isanti and Rockford Top trios to admire:

• Adalia McKenzie, T’Naye Griffin and Lauren Frost of Park Center
• Jordan Lamker, Ari Gordon and Abby Schulte of Maple Grove
• Mikayla Aumer, Amme Sheforgen and Jana Swanson of Cambridge-Isanti
• McKenzie Kramer, Kendall Cox and Tessa Johnson of STMA
• Alaina Brenning, Ellie Buzzelle and Clara Glad of Rogers
• Taylor Schuck, Kirstin Robbins and Jordan Allen of Heritage Christian

Best games in week 1:

• 10:40 a.m. – Rockford vs Big Lake
• 12:20 p.m. – Elk River vs Maple Grove
• 1:05 p.m. – Elk River vs Park Center

EAST METRO LEAGUE (Park-Cottage Grove) How many schools: 11 from Minnesota along with Hudson, Wisc. Top teams to see: Stillwater, Hill-Murray, Simley Rising stars to take note of:

• Freshman Zoey Washington of Mahtomedi
• Sophomore Amber Scalia of Stillwater
• Sophomore Ella Runyon of Hill-Murray
• Sophomore Champ Danso of Simley
• 8th grader Laura Hauge of St. Croix Lutheran

Best games in week 1:

• 11:40 a.m. – Stillwater vs Hill-Murray
• 12:25 p.m. – White Bear Lake vs Apple Valley

METRO LEAGUE (Hopkins, Bloomington Kennedy) How many schools: 43 with Prior Lake, Forest Lake and Wayzata putting more than one team on the court Top teams to see: Too many to mention! Besides the usual powers from Wayzata, Hopkins, Lakeville North, etc., there are programs on the rise such as Chaska, Como Park and Eden Prairie. Young prospects to watch:

• Freshmen Taylor Woodson and Nunu Agara of Hopkins
• Sophomore Mallory Heyer and freshman Kennedy Sanders of Chaska
• Freshmen Molly Lenz and Ashley Fritz and sophomores Nia Holloway and Myra Moorjani of Eden Prairie
• Sophomores Kiani Lockett and Savannah White of DeLaSalle plus freshman Kennedy Klick
• Sophomores Kaylynn Asberry and Ronnie Porter of Como Park

Best games in week 1 are at Hopkins:

• 10:40 a.m. – Hopkins vs Chaska
• 11:25 a.m. – DeLaSalle vs Lakeville North
• 12:20 p.m. – Holy Angels vs Centennial

Additional Breakdown Fall Leagues will start next week with Central Minnesota, Lake Superior and Rochester regional sites tipping off on Oct. 20. I’ll be at Hopkins this Sunday to check out the action there and will try to get around to some of the other sites over the next few weeks. Full schedules are available at breakdownsportsusa.com.