Conference preview: Handicapping the Suburban East
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Last year we predicted a three-horse race in the Suburban East Conference and, thanks to an impressive campaign by Forest Lake, it turned out to be four. Fittingly, though, the team nicknamed the Ponies sprinted to the finish for a…
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Continue ReadingLast year we predicted a three-horse race in the Suburban East Conference and, thanks to an impressive campaign by Forest Lake, it turned out to be four. Fittingly, though, the team nicknamed the Ponies sprinted to the finish for a clear victory with a conference record of 17-1. Can Stillwater do it again in 2021? Odds are they can, but Roseville, East Ridge and Forest Lake will be nipping at their heels. Here’s how we’re handicapping the best AAAA schools in the East Metro heading into the starting gate.
THE FAVORITE
Stillwater (17-1)
Not many teams that graduate three scholarship-level forwards would be expected to come back just as strong as they were before. Of course there are not many teams like the Stillwater Ponies. Yes, they did lose standouts Liza Karlen Liza Karlen 6'2" | PF Stillwater | 2020 State MN (Marquette), Grace Cote Grace Cote 6'0" | PF Stillwater | 2020 State MN (Mayville State) and Mary Fultz Mary Fultz 6'1" | PF Stillwater | 2020 State MN (Missouri Western) but we don’t expect them to miss a beat. After all, Stillwater’s lineup boasts two Division 1 commits – senior guards Alexis Pratt Alexis Pratt 5'5" | PG Stillwater | 2021 State MN (Omaha) and Gionna Carr Gionna Carr 5'9" | CG Stillwater | 2021 State MN (Tennessee State) – and three more players with D1 offers in juniors Amber Scalia Amber Scalia 5'9" | CG Stillwater | 2022 State MN and Lizzie Holder Lizzie Holder 6'1" | PF Stillwater | 2022 State MN , and freshman Amy Thompson Amy Thompson 5'10" | SG Stillwater | 2024 State MN . Throw in 6-foot sophomore Lexi Karlen Lexi Karlen 6'0" | SG Stillwater | 2023 State MN and you have a formidable lineup to be sure. Every one of those elite prospects has improved this summer and there’s no reason to believe that Willie Taylor’s team won’t make it to the winner’s circle once again.
CONTENDERS
Roseville (14-4)
The Raiders were mighty inconsistent last season, but they still managed a second-place finish in the conference and 19 wins overall. That’s a testament to the value of defense and physicality. This year is a clean slate and a whole lot has changed in Roseville. The Raiders graduated five-year forward Jayda Johnston Jayda Johnston 6'1" | PF Roseville | 2020 State MN (Valparaiso) and mainstays Josie Haug Josie Haug 6'0" | C Roseville | 2020 State MN and Tianna Iserman Tianna Iserman 5'7" | CG Roseville | 2020 State MN . Gone is long-time coach Jeff Crosby. Stepping into the top job is Tanysha Scott, who captured state AAA titles at DeLaSalle. She brings experience, passion and high expectations. She also brought her daughter – top 25 freshman Kendall Barnes Kendall Barnes 5'7" | CG Roseville | 2024 State MN – along with Kennedy Klick Kennedy Klick 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN , the #6-ranked sophomore in the state. Klick will make an immediate impact on the Suburban East. She’ll combine with top 10 senior Tamia Ugass Tamia Ugass 6'3" | C Roseville | 2021 State MN , a 6’3 post who committed to Louisiana State. Returning in the point guard spot is #31 sophomore Drew Johnston Drew Johnston 5'9" | PG Roseville | 2023 State MN . Ranked senior Rai’Janee Meadows Rai’Janee Meadows 5'9" | SF Roseville | 2021 State MN will start along with junior Hattie Mae DeVries Hattie Mae DeVries 5'10" | SF Roseville | 2022 State MN , who had a very good summer.
East Ridge (12-6)
The Raptors were the most-improved team in the Suburban East last season. Over the past three years they went from zero conference wins to four to 12 with 18 wins overall. This year they could do even more. East Ridge graduated veterans Kate Burns Kate Burns 6'2" | C East Ridge | 2020 State MN (St. Thomas), Ella Stegemen (UW-River Falls), Madalyn Slavin and Grace Bennett but the talented younger core of the team returns anchored by 6’4 post Britt Carlson Britt Carlson 6'4" | PF East Ridge | 2022 State MN . Carlson has been a revelation over the past few months, emerging as an elite-level prospect who has now risen to #14 in the 2022 rankings. She has already committed to play volleyball in college but she should dominate on the basketball court at the high school level for two more years. Britt is joined by a pair of highly-talented sophomores in #27 Emily Christenson Emily Christenson 5'11" | SF East Ridge | 2023 State MN and #48 Grace Knupp Grace Knupp 5'8" | CG East Ridge | 2023 State MN . Don’t be surprised if freshman guard Sidney Klauer becomes a key piece, as well. In a last-minute twist, East Ridge has a new coach – former University of Minnesota standout Ashley Ellis-Milan who was on the state-title winning DeLaSalle staff.
Forest Lake (12-6)
The Rangers were a surprise to us last season, finishing in a third-place tie in conference play and going 20-9 overall. After all, the Forest Lake roster had been gutted by graduations and we figured it would take some time for the understudies to get acclimated. We couldn’t have been more wrong as coach Jen Wagner’s team exceeded all expectations. Then junior, now senior Logan Anderson Logan Anderson 5'8" | SF Forest Lake | 2021 State MN was a scoring and rebounding threat all year, averaging 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Olivia Pekron Olivia Pekron 5'10" | PF Forest Lake | 2021 State MN had an excellent year, as did Greta Krieger Greta Krieger 5'9" | CG Forest Lake | 2022 State MN , who is now coming off her best summer yet. One would have to assume Forest Lake will be right back in the hunt this time around. Although they lost eight players to graduation, the core of the team returns and the Rangers will once again get things accomplished through hard-nosed defense, quality ball movement and plain old fashioned hard work. That’s just how they roll.
COMPETING HARD
White Bear Lake (10-8) usually finds a way to be competitive. Coach Jeremy Post’s teams are always physical, normally defend well and compete to the end regardless of the talent level on the roster in any given year. Having said that, the current version of the Bears is a long way from those state tournament squads of 2015-17 featuring the likes of Allison Hinck, Taite Anderson, Kate Brabenec, Jordan Ferrand Jordan Ferrand 6'1" | C White Bear Lake AAAA | 2018 State MN , Briana Karg and Courtney Crouch Courtney Crouch 5'6" | CG White Bear Lake | 2019 State MN . Today. WBL will have to rely on junior Nevaeh Hughes Nevaeh Hughes 6'1" | SF White Bear Lake | 2022 State MN , an athletic wing whose game has progressed in leaps and bounds this year. She averaged 15 ppg last winter and looked very good in fall league. Senior forward Tristan Lehner will be important, and the Bears will need more from sophomores Blessing Adebisi and Ava Post. WBL lost all-conference players Ella Janicki Ella Janicki 5'6" | CG White Bear Lake | 2020 State MN and Julia Juelich to graduation. Freshman guard Jordyn Schmittdiel is a terrific athlete with nice upside.
Cretin-Derham Hall (6-12) graduated Nevaeh Moeschter Nevaeh Moeschter 5'8" | CG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2020 State MN (Iowa Central) and Sydney Jackson Sydney Jackson 5'5" | CG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2020 State MN (Concordia-St. Paul, track & field) while sophomore Tootie Cade (Lewis) Tootie Cade (Lewis) 5'10" | PF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN transferred to Minnetonka. The Raiders also added a key piece via transfer in junior Anisah Wolf Anisah Wolf 5'10" | CG Bloomington Jefferson | 2022 State MN from Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Wolf, a 5’10 wing, averaged 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the Red Knights and promises to provide Cretin with an immediate boost of offense. The Raiders boast two of the premier small guards in the conference in seniors Takara Mason Takara Mason 5'6" | CG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2021 State MN and Audrey Martinez-Stewart Audrey Martinez-Stewart 5'6" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2021 State MN . The pair of NIACC commits are quick, athletic and skilled, with 10 years of combined varsity-level experience. We’re looking for big things from 6’3 sophomore post Abby Kline Abby Kline 6'2" | PF Cretin-Derham Hall | 2023 MN who gained valuable experience last winter. Junior Anna Caruso is also a key piece. Look for big freshman guard Lilly Hahs to make an immediate impact. Freshman Lauren Bengtson has nice long-term potential, as well.
REST OF THE PACK
Park Cottage Grove (4-14) won just six games overall but coach Stephanie Tolkien’s squad will benefit from a year in the trenches. The Wolfpack did graduate two players to the collegiate level in Ayanii Satcher (Iowa Central) and Ashanti Boykin (Bethany Lutheran) but their greatest offensive weapon is back. That would be junior forward Justine Jameson Justine Jameson 5'10" | PF Park CG | 2022 State MN , who had a terrific summer and sits at #85 in the class of 2022 rankings. She averaged about 12 points and 8 rebounds per game last winter. Among the newcomers who could contribute are sophomores Julianna Land, Reggan Schwartz and Bryleigh Dana.
Woodbury (8-10) finished mid-pack last season but after graduating seven players it could be a long winter. Gone is standout guard Carley West Carley West 5'11" | PF Woodbury | 2020 State MN , a scholarship-level prospect who carried the team a lot of the time. She is now at Iowa Central Community College. Also departed are mainstays Clarice LeBow, Lexy Paulson and Calie Mundahl. One player to watch is freshman guard Mattea Henry, whose length and athleticism offer plenty of promise.
Mounds View (6-12) went 9-18 overall but they lose point guard Katie Manecke to graduation along with one of the finest players we’ve seen in the Suburban East Conference: forward Lindsey Becher Lindsey Becher 6'1" | C Mounds View | 2020 State MN . She was the Mustangs’ backbone for five years, and the all-state performer will now ply her trade at Concordia-St. Paul. This season look for 6’3 senior Willow Haake to step up into Becher’s role while junior Maddie Hanson and sophomore ZoeRae Thompson will need to do more, as well. The most exciting young prospect in the program is freshman guard Itoru Etuko, a highly-skill athlete with speed and quickness.
Irondale (1-17) was consistently over-matched in its maiden voyage in the Suburban East and there are no signs things will change this season, unless the Knights have something special hiding beneath their armor. Irondale, which went 6-21 overall, lost Sarah Bickford (Mayville State), Araceli Engel and Missy Jarmoluk to graduation. Returning is senior forward Dora Okpara Dora Okpara 5'10" | PF Irondale | 2021 MN , who is a force inside. Juniors Kimori Morris and Elizabeth Hiatt will be crucial. We’ve always liked sophomore Saylor Gallagher.
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE SUBURBAN EAST
Top 5 Seniors
- #10 Tamia Ugass Tamia Ugass 6'3" | C Roseville | 2021 State MN – center, Roseville (Louisiana State)
- #18 Alexis Pratt Alexis Pratt 5'5" | PG Stillwater | 2021 State MN – guard, Stillwater (Omaha)
- #52 Gionna Carr Gionna Carr 5'9" | CG Stillwater | 2021 State MN – guard, Stillwater (Tennessee State)
- #62 Takara Mason Takara Mason 5'6" | CG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2021 State MN – guard, Cretin-Derham Hall (NIACC)
- #87 Audrey Martinez-Stewart Audrey Martinez-Stewart 5'6" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2021 State MN – guard, Cretin-Derham Hall (NIACC)
Top 5 juniors
- #14 Britt Carlson Britt Carlson 6'4" | PF East Ridge | 2022 State MN – center, East Ridge (Texas Tech volleyball)
- #16 Lizzie Holder Lizzie Holder 6'1" | PF Stillwater | 2022 State MN – forward, Stillwater
- #37 Amber Scalia Amber Scalia 5'9" | CG Stillwater | 2022 State MN – guard, Stillwater
- #84 Greta Krieger Greta Krieger 5'9" | CG Forest Lake | 2022 State MN – guard, Forest Lake
- #85 Justine Jameson Justine Jameson 5'10" | PF Park CG | 2022 State MN – forward, Park Cottage Grove
Best sophomores
- #6 Kennedy Klick Kennedy Klick 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN – guard, Roseville
- #27 Emily Christenson Emily Christenson 5'11" | SF East Ridge | 2023 State MN – forward, East Ridge
- #31 Drew Johnston Drew Johnston 5'9" | PG Roseville | 2023 State MN – point guard, Roseville
- #48 Grace Knupp Grace Knupp 5'8" | CG East Ridge | 2023 State MN – point guard, East Ridge
Freshmen to watch
- #11 Amy Thompson Amy Thompson 5'10" | SG Stillwater | 2024 State MN – guard, Stillwater
- #24 Kendall Barnes Kendall Barnes 5'7" | CG Roseville | 2024 State MN – guard, Roseville
- Mattea Henry – forward, Woodbury
- Itoro Etuko – guard, Mounds View
- Lilly Hahs – guard, Cretin-Derham Hall
- Sydney Klauer – guard, East Ridge