I had a heck of a time settling on my #1 in Class A. Experience has shown that in Class A, success usually comes in stages. First, a team gets to the state tournament. Then, the following year, they win a state tournament game. Then, in the third year, they win it all. So our #1, our favorite to win the Class A state title would be a team that won a state tournament game last year. Well, Goodhue and Menahga won a game or two, but they’ve both moved up to Class AA. BOLD and Red Lake made it to state, but lost twice.
So that leaves Minneota, Heritage Christian, Ada-Borup and Mountain Iron-Buhl as potential #1s.
• Minneota won 3 state tournament games and the state title last year, and they’ve got 2 starters back in guards Abby and Morgan Hennen.
• Heritage took 3rd place and has 3 starters back, but lost their leader in Taylie Scott.
• Ada finished 6th and has 2 starters back.
• Mountain Iron-Buhl finished 5th but lost everybody—well, 95 percent of its scoring, anyway. Coach Jeff Buffetta said that Cromwell should be rated #1 but then said, “Do we have a chance to beat ‘em? Sure.” And then, sure enough, MIB beat ‘em in the Breakdown Summer State tournament.
The Sections
Section 1—Goodhue moves up to Class AA, leaving Blooming Prairie as the favorite, ahead of last year’s favorite and #1 seed Grand Meadow.
Section 2—BOLD is favored but Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, with sophomore guard Madison Mathiowetz, is a threat.
Section 3—Minneota is favored with Southwest Christian, as always, on their heels.
Section 4—Heritage looks like the surest thing at this level.
Section 5—With Menahga moving up, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley is favored but there’s plenty of competition.
Section 6—Here’s the one big upset. We like a young Henning team over Ada this year.
Section 7—We like Mountain Iron-Buhl over Cromwell. Cherry is also a top 10 power.
Section 8—Red Lake should repeat.
The Fab 15
1. Heritage Christian
2. Minneota
3. Mountain Iron-Buhl
4. Cromwell
5. BOLD
6. Henning
7. Red Lake
8. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
9. Ada-Borup
10. Cherry
11. Blooming Prairie
12. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s
13. Southwest Minnesota Christian
14. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
15. Sebeka
If all goes according to Hoyle, the state tournament matchups will be:
Heritage vs. Blooming Prairie
BOLD vs. Henning
Minneota vs. Red Lake
Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. Walker-Hackenack-Akeley
Top Seniors
Olivia Christianson, Lyle/Austin Pacelli
Taya Hakamaki, Cromwell
Karley Motschenbacher, Park Christian
Jazlyn Prinz, Southwest Minnesota Christian
Kirsten Robbins, Heritage Christian
Top Underclassmen
Faith Alberts, Parkers Prairie
Ellie Dague, Henning
Sage Ganyo, Mountain Iron-Buhl
Abby Hennen, Minneota
Madison Mathiowetz, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s
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