A Look Ahead to 2018, Part 3

1. Minnehaha 25-6 last year, #9, favored in Section 4AA The Red Hawks have been incredibly young of late, but still good enough to get to the state tournament. Next year, they’ll no longer be young, but they will still be an incredibly talented team. So, look out. Point guard Mia Curtis will be just a sophomore but with 2 years experience in the rotation, while sisters Terra and Taytum Rhoads have also grown into reliable veteran performers. Then there’s twin towers Nevaeh Galloway and Avery New. This team can be as dominant as the Red Hawk boys. 2. Rush City 25-1, #5, favorite in Section 6AA The Tigers started 4 sophomores last year, and all 4 will give Rush City an advantage in most head-to-head matchups. 6-footers Jamie Guptill and Shawna Mell are the real deal, and guards Elena Herberg and Kaylyn Bowen are very skilled and very aggressive. Coach Joe Nelson is our coach of the year in AA in 2017. 3. Sauk Centre 31-2, #2 Sauk defeated Rush City 52-50 in the section final this year, and the 2 will be equally evenly matched next year. It is foolish to bet against Maesyn Thiesen, one of the state’s top point guards, especially when she has Tori and Kelsey Peschel back as well. 4. Norwood-Young America 28-2, #7, favored in Section 2AA In need of redemption after laying an egg in the post-season last year. 6-3 center Bren Fox leads the way. Wing Kali Grimm is also a blue-chipper. Point guard Abby Mackenthun and power forward Sam Miller are icing on the cake. If Grimm steps it up in big games, the Raiders could even be #2. 5. Roseau 32-0, #1, favored in Section 8AA The Rams return guards Kacie and Katie Borowicz and 6-2 post Victoria Johnson. But, you’ve got to think losing Kiley Borowicz would have to result in some slippage. 6. Annandale 16-12, unranked, favorite in Section 5AA 8. Holy Family 17-11, unranked 9. Maranatha 24-9, #6 in Class A The next 3 are all from Section 5AA. Annandale was #6 last year at this time but fade. I don’t claim to understand exactly what happened as the Cards started 7-1 with a win over Hutch, then finished 8-10 with losses to Dassel-Cokato and Litchfield. They also lost to Holy Family 60-55 and Maranatha 73-70. 6-footers Kamryn D’Heilly, Hannah Purcell and Allie Spaulding are awesome, and statistically at least the guards weren’t that bad. So, we’re taking a flyer on the Cards again. The Fire’s losses last year included Watertown-Mayer twice, Orono twice, New Prague twice, NYA, Hutchinson twice…you get the picture. They return one of the class’s and maybe one of the state’s top classes of 2019, led by wings Grace Conroy and Leigh Steiner. They beat Maranatha 88-64 last year and Annandale 60-55. Maranatha is probably the highest profile team, well, along with Kennedy, to change classes, moving up to AA after 9 straight state tournament appearances and 2 state titles in Class A. But, the tournament streak has every opportunity to continue though the post-season competition now includes Annandale, Holy Family and Providence. But the Mustangs bring back 6-1 forward Jaclyn Jarnot and 5-7 point guard Kylie Post, among others. This is Class AA type talent, and now they’ve got the chance to prove it. 7. Rochester Lourdes 22-11, #11, favorite to repeat in Section 1AA Now that everybody has seen Alyssa Ustby play, everyone, together now. WOW! Wynter Bergner also returns. 10. Eden Valley-Watkins 24-4, #15, favored in Section 3AA 11. New London-Spicer 27-5, #4 16. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 26-4, #14 EVW faded last year, and now they move from Section 5AA to Section 3AA, where New London-Spicer remains the king until somebody proves otherwise. But EVW will also be a year older and a year wiser, and has the potential to do that with Halle Jansen, Olivia Kuechle, Olivia Schleper and more returning. As long as Shea Oman is around—and, coach Mike Dreier—there’s hope for NLS. Almost broke through to the state tournament this year, and Kaylee Kirk, Sophie Lanoue and Evelyn Dolan all return. 12. Byron 13-11, unranked in Class AAA It is a testament to Yokie Lee that Byron managed a winning record as Byron’s guard play was pretty weak. #12 may be too high for next year, too, but Lee’s numbers—34 ppg and 18 boards—give ‘em a chance. 13. St. Peter 23-5, #12 If NYA stumbles again, St. Peter is poised to take advantage, assuming do-everything guard Olivia McCabe recovers 100 percent from her season-ending knee injury. Additional talent will join her, though it’s all guards, and smaller guards at that. But, it worked last year when the Saints were 20-1 when McCabe went down. 14. Barnesville 23-6, unranked 17. Thief River Falls 12-11, unranked in Class AAA 23. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 19-10, #20 Barnesville returns point guard Nicole Herbranson and at least four more contributors. They’ll challenge Roseau in 8AA. Thief brings its top 2 players back—point guard Kylea Praska and post Tiahna Nicholson. Grace and Natalie Steichen of DGF may not be enough to beat Roseau or Barnesville or Thief, but they are going to make people work. 15. International Falls 18-9, unrated, favorite in Section 7AA 20. Duluth Marshall 22-6, unrated 21. Pequot Lakes 20-8, unrated IF returns a nucleus of Emma and Grace Gilbert, Janet Humbert and Jena Sullivan. Marshall returns top scorers Grace Kirk and Gianna Kneepkens. Pequot returns power forward extraordinarie Olivia Lane and guards Karli and Kristin Skog. 18. Pine City 23-5, unrated Pine City brings back guards Lily Wilson and Ellie Hasz and, well, just about everybody. 19. Providence 16-9, unrated 22. Watertown-Mayer 28-4, #3 Providence brings forwards Anna Counts and Maggie Murphy back, but the loss of point guard Sophie Koeppl is not insignificant. Nor is Watertown-Mayer’s loss of superstars Claire Killian and Kirstin Klitzke. 6-2 post Monika Czinano will cover up a multitude of weaknesses. Maybe Emma Ragner, who can also shoot the 3. 24. Esko 24-8, #13 Esko has to replace point guard Ava Gonsorowski, no easy task. But nobody ever got rich betting against the Eskomoes. Center Bridget Yellin is now the big gun. 25. Pine Island 18-10, unrated Guards Autumn Pin and Brooke Sinning are a good start in Pine Island. Possible State Tournament Matchups #1 Minnehaha vs. Eden Valley-Watkins #4 Roseau vs. #5 Annandale #2 Rush City vs. International Falls #3 Norwood Young America vs. Rochester Lourdes