With 3-time defending state AA champion Minnehaha voluntarily moving up to Class AAA, in a show of guts we haven't seen in almost 20 years (Mpls. North 1995-2003), Class AA looks a lot different this year. Mpls. North, now in Class AA itself, hopes to have something to say about it, of course, but, still, Class AA looks a lot more like the small town tournament that it used to be. Here's a look by section.
Section 1--Caledonia and Lake City have won the last 6 Section 1AA titles, and they will almost surely be #1 and #2 again this year. The Tigers are the defending champs and will go 6-5, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 this year with 6-4 senior point guard Nathan Heise (22 ppg-7 reb-4 ast-2 stl-1 block) at the controls. Caledonia will go 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 with Noah and Eli King scoring well over 30 ppg between them. Lake City is a little deeper.
Section 2--Waseca drops down from Class AAA, where they finished 2nd to DeLaSalle last year. They return 3 starters and go 6-9, 6-5 up front. It will be a surprise if they're not playing for the state title again next March.
Section 3--Redwood Valley was the surprise winner last year and it should be pretty wide open again. On the other hand, Jackson County Central has 14 players back from last year's 18-11 group. 6-3 guard Rudy Voss is the #2 career scorer and #1 in career 3s. Morris/Chokio-Alberta, with 6-8 post Jackson Loge, could challenge.
Section 4--With Minnehaha leaving, Cristo Rey Jesuit seems poised to advance. Juniors Derek and Erick Burgess lead the way.
Section 5--Minneapolis North should advance though Blake and Rockford also look good. Blake returns 3 speedy juniors, and Rockford has 7-footer Calvin Sisk and 6-4 Luke Pepin.
Section 6--Eden Valley Watkins, Melrose, Osakis, Pine City and Sauk Centre will all compete for the title. The long and short of it are Daniel Savageau, Osakis 5-11 guard, and Jacob Jennissen, Sauk's 7-foot post. We'll take the little guy.
Section 7--Esko should make it 7 section championships in 8 years.
Section 8--Perham should repeat in 8AA.
State Tournament Matchups
#1 seed Waseca vs. Esko
#4 Perham vs. #5 Cristo Rey Jesuit
#2 Mpls. North vs. Jackson CC
#3 Lake City vs. Osakis
Class AA All-State
Nathan Heise, Lake City, 6-4, sr., PG, 22 ppg
Noah King, Caledonia, 6-2, sr., PG, 19 ppg
Jackson Loge, Morris, 6-8, jr., C, 19 ppg
Andrew Morgan, Waseca, 6-9, jr., PF
Willie Wilson, Mpls. North, 6-0, soph., G, 16 ppg
Jacob Jennissen, Sauk Centre, 7-0, sr., C, 12 ppg-10 reb
Luke Pepin, Rockford, 6-4, sr., F, 17 ppg
Daniel Savageau, Osakis, 5-11, sr., PG, 21 ppg
Trevor Spindler, Esko, 6-1, sr., CG, 19 ppg
Will Tschetter, Stewartville, 6-8, jr., F, 22 ppg
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