Conference preview: The South Suburban

There was a lot of disappointment last spring when the Farmington Tigers' opportunity to play in the state championship game was lost due to the early days of the global pandemic. That's totally understandable. What gets forgotten, however, is the fact that Farmington still won a title as the Tigers edged out the Rosemount Irish for their second consecutive South Suburban Conference championship. Can they do it again in 2021? Farmington (17-1) possesses all of the ingredients needed to repeat. They have one of the top posts in the country in 6'4 center [player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"], a North Carolina State commit who many believe is the #1 player in in Minnesota's senior class. They have an outstanding backcourt in 11th-ranked [player_tooltip player_id="2109" first="Paige" last="Kindseth"] (Presbyterian) and 44th-rated [player_tooltip player_id="109756" first="Peyton" last="Blandin"] (Southwest Minnesota State). Add to the mix one of this year's breakout players in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="147445" first="Rose" last="Wille"]. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="231696" first="Maleah" last="Scott"] is the fifth starter and she's coming off a breakout summer of her own. Although the loss to graduation of the great [player_tooltip player_id="13357" first="Molly" last="Mogensen"] (Creighton) hurts, the Tigers already proved they could win without her when she was injured in the stretch run. Add it all up and Farmington has to be considered the favorite once again. Let's not forget, however, that Rosemount finished just one game back with a record of 16-2, a seven-win improvement over the year before. Despite the loss to graduation of 18th-ranked [player_tooltip player_id="1961" first="Taylor" last="Janssen"] (Montana State) and sharpshooter <strong>Larisa O'Neil</strong> (Hamline), the Irish return with a talented, experienced lineup that includes Division 1 commits #33 [player_tooltip player_id="29547" first="Ivory" last="Finley"] (UMass-Lowell) and #28 [player_tooltip player_id="109744" first="Helen" last="Staley"] (Oakland) along with strong D1 prospects in juniors [player_tooltip player_id="109132" first="Tayah" last="Leenderts"] (#29) and [player_tooltip player_id="109123" first="Alexa" last="Ratzlaff"] (#27). Add junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="109194" first="Anna" last="Tauer"], sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id="186142" first="Nicole" last="O'Neil"] and freshmen <strong>Avery Sheedy</strong> and <strong>Ava Thompson</strong> and the Irish lineup looks great. <strong>Beyond the top two</strong> As for the rest of the conference, there are some strong teams that could make a push for the top if things go well. And in a COVID-19 world, the uncertainties of who will be available and when is a potential fly in the ointment for every team. Perennial contenders Lakeville North lost standout guards [player_tooltip player_id="1919" first="Lauren" last="Jensen"] (Iowa), [player_tooltip player_id="56235" first="Sarah" last="Kuma"] (Concordia-St. Paul) and [player_tooltip player_id="110904" first="Morgan" last="Robison"]. Returning are senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="109755" first="Lizzie" last="Berkvam"] (MSU-Moorhead) and [player_tooltip player_id="109813" first="Ashleigh" last="Fossey"], along with a pair of excellent sophomores in #32 [player_tooltip player_id="108326" first="Emy" last="Wolkow"] and #46 [player_tooltip player_id="108334" first="Haley" last="Bryant"] plus top-20 freshman [player_tooltip player_id="215957" first="Gabby" last="Betton"]. Prior Lake boasts a veteran lineup and a new coach in Demondi Johnson. The senior class includes #36 [player_tooltip player_id="57094" first="Emily" last="Kulstad"] (Southern Utah), #55 [player_tooltip player_id="109754" first="Kate" last="Trachsel"], #74 [player_tooltip player_id="109769" first="Tatum" last="Brostrom"] (Gustavus), along with <strong>Chanel Kallevig</strong>, <strong>Ellie Albrecht</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id="109787" first="Abby" last="Kuboushek"]. The future looks very bright, as well, with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="186118" first="Lauren" last="Pawlyshyn"] likely to make her presence felt and top-50 freshmen [player_tooltip player_id="215974" first="Anna" last="Van Helden"], [player_tooltip player_id="215979" first="Cece" last="McNair"] and [player_tooltip player_id="215989" first="Julia" last="Thoms"] waiting in the wings. And for future reference please remember 2025 wing <strong>Bree Bowman</strong>, who is an up-and-coming star. Shakopee, coming off an 8-10 season, also has a veteran roster featuring seniors [player_tooltip player_id="6410" first="Natalie" last="Holte"] (Black Hills State), [player_tooltip player_id="57118" first="Kelley" last="Brennan"] (Gustavus) and [player_tooltip player_id="29556" first="Sophie" last="Moran"], along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id="223918" first="Jasmyn" last="Hale"], [player_tooltip player_id="109183" first="Maya" last="Mitchell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="109179" first="Kate" last="Cordes"]. Burnsville, led by [player_tooltip player_id="57110" first="Morgan" last="Krumwiede"] (MSU-Moorhead), <strong>Hannah Lake</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id="108317" first="Shantell" last="Harden"], will have to overcome the graduation of stalwarts [player_tooltip player_id="110528" first="Zhane" last="Thompson"] (Seward CC), [player_tooltip player_id="110899" first="Megan" last="Diggan"] (UW-Eau Claire) and [player_tooltip player_id="110932" first="Paige" last="Servais"] (UW-Superior). Apple Valley (9-9) graduated [player_tooltip player_id="110907" first="Anna" last="Mutch"] (UW-Stout), [player_tooltip player_id="110542" first="Kalena" last="Myers"] (Augsburg) and <strong>Kiree Murray</strong> (Augsburg) but returns [player_tooltip player_id="57095" first="Chyna" last="Young"] and a rising star in 8th grader [player_tooltip player_id="212488" first="Myah" last="Maull"]. Led by top-10 senior [player_tooltip player_id="57079" first="Cassidy" last="Carson"] (South Dakota), Eastview (4-14) will still be young this year but they will no doubt be better. Carson's supporting cast includes senior <strong>Alexis Plitzkow</strong>, juniors <strong>Sierra Herber</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id="147446" first="Faith" last="Morris"], a group of quality sophomores led by point guard [player_tooltip player_id="393556" first="Kaitlyn" last="Schaefer"], and intriguing freshmen for the future in #16 [player_tooltip player_id="215955" first="Lauren" last="Machacek"],  #32 [player_tooltip player_id="209064" first="Savannah" last="Gardner"] and #36 [player_tooltip player_id="178275" first="Britta" last="Hagen"] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="209061" first="Vanessa" last="Wright"]</strong>. Injury-ridden Lakeville South had a disappointing 3-15 campaign and graduated [player_tooltip player_id="56234" first="Annie" last="Guentzel"] (Wayne State), [player_tooltip player_id="56261" first="Haylee" last="Wheeler"] (UM-Crookston) and [player_tooltip player_id="110931" first="Amanda" last="Drake"] (Gustavus). The Cougars are led by the #21 junior [player_tooltip player_id="57917" first="Ally" last="Schultz"] and her classmates [player_tooltip player_id="57949" first="Jenna" last="Cuddigan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="109161" first="Maria" last="Harvey"] along with top-100 senior [player_tooltip player_id="109809" first="Adi" last="Brown"] and one of the most exciting freshman prospects in #5 [player_tooltip player_id="178270" first="Finley" last="Ohnstad"]. Eagan (2-16) played so much better than its record would indicate and the Wildcats boast some terrific talent in #18 junior [player_tooltip player_id="30174" first="Lily" last="Fandre"], top-50 freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="215983" first="Drew" last="Buslee"], top-150 senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="57158" first="Delaney" last="Hoke"], and standout junior post [player_tooltip player_id="57929" first="Jocelyn" last="Plonski"] who is currently out with a torn ACL. <strong>Last year's standings</strong> <ul> <li>17-1 – Farmington</li> <li>16-2 – Rosemount</li> <li>12-6 – Lakeville North</li> <li>11-7 – Burnsville</li> <li>9-9 – Apple Valley</li> <li>8-10 – Prior Lake</li> <li>8-10 – Shakopee</li> <li>4-14 – Eastview</li> <li>3-15 – Lakeville South</li> <li>2-16 – Eagan</li> </ul> <strong>Who to watch in 2021</strong> In total there are 57 players in the conference who are ranked by Prep Girls Hoops – 19 seniors, 17 juniors, 10 sophomores and 11 of the 50 freshmen rated so far. These are the best of the bunch. <strong>BEST OF THE BIGS</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"] – #2 senior, Farmington (North Carolina State)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57094" first="Emily" last="Kulstad"] – #36 senior, Prior Lake (Southern Utah)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109132" first="Tayah" last="Leenderts"] – #29 junior, Rosemount</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57929" first="Jocelyn" last="Plonski"] – #49 junior, Eagan</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57158" first="Delaney" last="Hoke"] – #129 senior, Eagan</li> </ul> <strong>TOP 5 POINT GUARDS</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="6410" first="Natalie" last="Holte"] – #53 senior, Shakopee (Black Hills State)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109755" first="Lizzie" last="Berkvam"] – #56 senior, Lakeville North (MSU-Moorhead)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57095" first="Chyna" last="Young"] –#65 senior, Apple Valley</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109769" first="Tatum" last="Brostrom"] – #74 senior, Prior Lake (Gustavus)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="223918" first="Jasmyn" last="Hale"] – #80 junior, Shakopee</li> </ul> <strong>PREMIER COMBO GUARDS</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57079" first="Cassidy" last="Carson"] – #8 senior, Eastview (South Dakota)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2109" first="Paige" last="Kindseth"] – #11 senior, Farmington (Presbyterian)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57917" first="Ally" last="Schultz"] – #21 junior, Lakeville South</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29547" first="Ivory" last="Finley"] – #33 senior, Rosemount (UMass-Lowell)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109756" first="Peyton" last="Blandin"] – #44 senior, Farmington (SMSU)</li> </ul> <strong>TOP SMALL FORWARDS</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="30174" first="Lily" last="Fandre"] – #18 junior, Eagan</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109744" first="Helen" last="Staley"] – #28 senior, Rosemount (Oakland)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57110" first="Morgan" last="Krumwiede"] – #48 senior, Burnsville (MSU-Mankato)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57949" first="Jenna" last="Cuddigan"] – #97 junior, Lakeville South</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="147446" first="Faith" last="Morris"] –#99 junior, Eastview</li> </ul> <strong>BEST UTILITY PLAYERS</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109123" first="Alexa" last="Ratzlaff"] – #27 junior, Rosemount</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109754" first="Kate" last="Trachsel"] – #55 senior, Prior Lake</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="147445" first="Rose" last="Wille"] – #67 junior, Farmington</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57118" first="Kelley" last="Brennan"] – #82 senior, Shakopee (Gustavus)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109160" first="Paige" last="Broze"] – #92 junior, Shakopee</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109161" first="Maria" last="Harvey"] – #101 junior, Lakeville South</li> </ul> <strong>POISED FOR A BREAKOUT SEASON</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="186142" first="Nicole" last="O'Neil"] – #50 sophomore, guard, Rosemount</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="223918" first="Jasmyn" last="Hale"] –#80 junior, guard, Shakopee</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="108317" first="Shantell" last="Harden"] – #26 sophomore, wing, Burnsville</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="231696" first="Maleah" last="Scott"] –#133 senior, guard, Farmington</li> </ul> <strong>TOP-RANKED FRESHMEN</strong> They won't all play varsity this winter but these are the 9th graders we'll be watching most closely. <ul> <li>#5 [player_tooltip player_id="178270" first="Finley" last="Ohnstad"] – guard/wing, Lakeville South</li> <li>#16 [player_tooltip player_id="215955" first="Lauren" last="Machacek"] – forward, Eastview</li> <li>#19 [player_tooltip player_id="215957" first="Gabby" last="Betton"] – guard, Lakeville North</li> <li>#26 [player_tooltip player_id="215969" first="Nicole" last="Maenke"] – guard, Shakopee</li> <li>#32 [player_tooltip player_id="209064" first="Savannah" last="Gardner"] – forward/wing, Eastview</li> <li>#34 [player_tooltip player_id="215974" first="Anna" last="Van Helden"] – forward, Prior Lake</li> <li>#36 [player_tooltip player_id="178275" first="Britta" last="Hagen"] – guard, Eastview</li> <li>#37 [player_tooltip player_id="215979" first="Cece" last="McNair"] – forward, Prior Lake</li> <li>#42 [player_tooltip player_id="215983" first="Drew" last="Buslee"] – guard, Eagan</li> <li>#44 [player_tooltip player_id="215985" first="Olivia" last="Pawlicki"] – forward, Shakopee</li> <li>#48 [player_tooltip player_id="215989" first="Julia" last="Thoms"] – guard, Prior Lake</li> </ul> <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>Top photo: Senior [player_tooltip player_id="57118" first="Kelley" last="Brennan"] of Shakopee is one of the most versatile players in the South Suburban Conference.</em></span>