Northwest Suburban Conference Preview--North Division

Once upon a time Centennial was the 800-pound gorilla in the Northwest Siberian Conference withe the best record in the North Division for 8 straight years from 2007 to 2014, when Elk River put together 3 dominating years with a cumulative conference record of 56-1. Now, Elk River seems to be ripe for picking, but by whom? Centennial is the obvious candidate after bouncing back from 10-9 in 2016 to 14-5 in 2017, except that Champlin Park was better at 15-4 and has almost everybody back. In a nutshell, the Northwest Suburban North hasn’t been this wide open in along, long time. Our Predictions Northern Division 1. Centennial 17-2 (14-5, 3rd last year, average 16 wins over the last 11 years) 2. Champlin Park 15-4 (15-4, 2nd last year, average 12 wins over the last 11 years) It looks like a 2-team race in the North with Champlin chasing Centennial. Centennial has a full stable of thoroughbreds including D1 recruits Claire Orth (North Dakota) and Sydney Stapleton (South Dakota State), both 2018s. Orth is one of Minnesota’s fastest point guards to go along with 5-10 size. Stapleton is a shooting/scoring wing despite a knuckleball delivery. And 2019s Taylor McAulay, a smaller but multi-talented wing, and Sara Stapleton, a 6-3 beast in the lane, are likely to be going D1 at some point in the future, as well. It seems highly unlikely that anybody could challenge such a talent pool. And, yet, Champlin could do just that. They counter with power forward Gabby Mocchi, who plays bigger than her published 6-1 on defense and on the boards, and hyperactive point guard Amanda Pollard. Mocchi is a Montana State, and Pollard a Wagner recruit, so they can match Centennial’s 2 2018 D1s. Yet, off-guard Ericka Hicks is their MVP, a big-time scorer at 19 ppg, who drains the 3 but also gets to the rim despite her 5-7 size. She’s also 2018. And, 6-2 junior post Makalya Johnson, a 2019 defensive specialist, also returns. So through the top 4, Champlin matches up pretty well. It remains to be seen how each fills out its starting lineup but Centennial has a half dozen candidates led by 6-2 junior power forward Sarah Lavell. Seniors Lexi Mathews and <s>Justine Watson</s> and sophomore Grace Johnson are also in the mix. Meanwhile, Champlin is not nearly as deep though senior forwards Megan Munneke and Grace Worma and sophomore guard Izzy Quick will get their minutes. (NOTE: Thanks to reader Kyle Hjemsted for informing us that Justine Watson has moved to Anoka.) Ultimately, Centennial’s front four will overwhelm most teams but if you want to talk about the post-season, it will need a strong 5th wheel at that point. Whether it can compete for a state title will probably depend on Lavell’s development. She was dominant in her younger years but is just beginning to find her way at the varsity level. She is big and strong and mobile enough. If she is ready to go head-to-head with Gabby Mocchi, say, well, then, Centennial will be in very good shape indeed. 3. Elk River 12-7 (19-0, 1st last year, average 11 wins over the last 11 years) Elk River has had as good a 3-year run as any NW Suburban team since Osseo in the 1990s with post Abi Scheid in the class of 2016 and then 5 hard-nosed seniors led by Gabi Haack who shocked Hopkins to win the state title a year ago. A repeat, whether at the state or conference level, is not going to happen, but the Elks will compete. Lydia Haack was the only Elk who played off the bench in last year’s state final. She is a tiny, 5-4 combo guard, but she is quick and savvy and fearless and will be the sparkplug for this team. Senior 6-1 post Matia Person was a sometimes starter last year but she could share the post with sophomore Kaylie Plautz. Kennedy Boysen, Kayla Engebretson, Mikayla Kanenwisher and Madison Leuthold also return and at least one of them is due for a breakout. 4. Anoka 11-8 (11-8, 4th last year, average 6 wins) Anoka will be competitive with high-scoring wing Noelle Josephson leading the way, but Brittany Bongartz’ graduation leaves a huge hole in the eye of the Tornado. 6-1 Lily Schoknecht returns but will be just about Anoka’s only size, so their style of play will have to change. Guards Jersi McAlpine, Emily Smith and Elizabeth Torgerson are skilled, but all are 5-6 or less. Nicole Brannen, at 5-9, provides a little bit of size on the perimeter. Anoka will need a lot of points from Josephson in order to win at this level. (NOTE: We are told that Justine Watson has moved from Centennial to Anoka. She is a 3-point specialist who might give the Anoka offense a little more oomph.) 5. Blaine 9-10 (5-14, tied for 6th last year, average 7 wins) Blaine last played .500 ball in the conference in 2011 and has endured 0-20 and 2-18 seasons since then. Things are looking up a bit, finally, but .500 will be a tough order. Still Therese Grace Mbanefo is a big, strong 6-1 forward who is headed for the Ivy League (Cornell). She is aggressive on defense and has a big vertical on the boards. Initial offense is still a work in progress. On the perimeter (and on offense) this becomes sharpshooter Tiffany Johnson’s team. Two players only gets you so far in this league, of course, so Blaine’s ultimate success rests with the supporting cast including seniors Jordan Anderson, a forward, and senior guards Kiana Erickson and Ava Zoschke, all of whom scored about 3 ppg last year. 6. Andover 8-11 (12-7, 4th last year, average 8 wins) Andover loses do-it-all guard and DePaul recruit Joli Daninger, and the Huskies will be a much more inside-oriented team without her. Senior post Lizzie Karp remains a relative newcomer to the game of basketball but her development can be measured by her commitment to D2 Augustana within a year of becoming a basketball player. She scored 6 ppg of 46 percent shooting with 4 rebounds in her 1st real year of basketball competition. But, even if Karp continues to improve as much as the folks at Andover and Augustana are expecting, Andover still faces an uncertain path. Its other likely starters all scored less than 1 ppg last year. Junior forward Mackenzie Mackey can be a dynamic offensive player but will probably need to have the ball in her hands a whole bunch in order to become that player. Is coach Robb Belschner going to be willing to put his faith and the ball in the hands of an as yet unproven talent? And, then, there are guards Emily Diemer, Alexa Garcia, Emily Schildhauer and Sydney White. Are they a case of lots of candidates, or a case of nobody really taking charge? Lots of questions, but it’s also true that the right answers might be out there. 7. Coon Rapids 4-13 (5-14, tied for 6th last year, average 5 wins) Coon Rapids won 14 conference games in 2007 but hasn’t won more than 8 ever since. They’re 11-86 over the past 5 years. 5-14 last year was their best since 2012 but now they’ve lost Kaylee Porisch, Nicole Fraser, Caitlyn Hagstrom and Marina Nyberg. 6-1 post Elle Carver returns along with guards Caitlin and Courtney Ackerman, Kennedy Kehr, Lanie Hanneman and Destini Artis. One of the guards is going to have to have a big breakout in order for the Cardinals too improve on last year’s 3-16, and it’s not clear who that would be. All-North Center—Sara Stapleton, Centennial, 6-3, junior, 15 ppg Power Forward—Therese Grace Mbanefo, Blaine, 6-1, senior, 16 ppg Small Forward—Sydney Stapleton, Centennial, 5-10, senior, 10 ppg Point Guard—Amanda Pollard, Champlin Park, 5-9, senior, 8 ppg Combo Guard—Erika Hicks, Champlin Park, 5-7, senior, 19 ppg 2nd Team Center—Lizzie Karp, Andover, 6-1, senior, 6 ppg Power Forward—Gabby Mocchi, Champlin Park, 6-1, senior, 8.5 ppg Small Forward—Noelle Josephson, Anoka, 5-9, senior, 10 ppg Point Guard—Claire Orth, Centennial, 5-10, senior, 9 ppg Shooting Guard—Taylor McAulay, Centennial, 5-8, junior, 10 ppg 3rd Team Center—Makayla Johnson, Champlin Park, 6-2, junior, 5 ppg Power Forward—Lily Schoknecht, Anoka, 6-1, senior, 6.5 ppg Small Forward—Destiny Cummings, Andover, 5-7, senior, 5 ppg Point Guard—Lydia Haack, Elk River, 5-4, sophomore, 7 ppg Shooting Guard—Tiffany Johnson, Blaine, 5-9, senior, 10 ppg Stock Raisers Center—Elle Carver, Coon Rapids, 6-1, senior, 8 ppg Power Forward—Sara Lavell, Centennial, 6-2, junior, 3.5 pp Small Forward—Mackenzie Mackey, Andover, 5-9, junior, 1 ppg Point Guard—Jersi McAlpine, Anoka, 5-4, sophomore, 5 ppg Shooting Guard—Caitlin Ackerman, Coon Rapids, senior, 9 ppg