08-09 Independents Preview

This is the 11th installment in the 08-09 Season Preview series. If you missed any of the 1st 10 previews, you can use the Section and Conference Previews page to go back and read them. In this installment of the conference previews, we look at the independents.

Minnesota Transitions Wolves (2007 Season 28-5, class A state runner-up)
The Wolves validated their record of past seasons by finally getting over the hump and making the state tournament. They have a chance to make it all the way back to the state title game as future all-time state scoring leader junior Kevin Noreen and sophomore sharpshooter Kyle Noreen return. The loss of Virgil Baker is huge and they'll need someone like a Kevin Thompson or Antonio Wigfall to step up and be that 3rd scorer that Baker was last year. Ellsworth really exposed Kyle Noreen last season as a stand-still shooter. He'll need to develop a game off the dribble especially if there's no 3rd scoring option. Cheap promotional moment, you can track Kevin Noreen's progress toward the state's all-time scoring record throughout the next 2 seasons as I'll be updating the tracker in the left hand column after each MTS game.

CHOF Lions (2007 Season 22-6)
The Lions lose SF Nick Butler who played an all-everything role for them last season. Point guard Cole Piepkorn and center Nate Fiscus return. Fiscus is one of the best bigs in the section and Piepkorn has been a starter forever. The biggest loss may be athletic Jake Okerstrom who was their best matchup for guarding Kevin Noreen.

PACT Panthers (2007 Season 18-9)
The Panthers had a very nice season last year. With Austin Rink coming back amongst others, they'll be very respectable this season.

Spectrum Sting (2007 Season 6-19)
They endured the hardship of starting a new program as they had no seniors last season. So this year they have plenty of experience. Beau Emerson returns at the point and is a real thief. A very servicable point guard. Grant Spark is the goto guy on the outside. Brad Ducommun returns to man the front court. They could make a run at double-digit wins this season.

Games to Watch
  • Minnehaha at MTS - December 12th (opens the new MTS gym)
  • Park Christian at CHOF - January 17th
  • Cotton at MTS - January 24th
  • MTS at SW Christian - February 6th
  • CHOF at MTS - February 13th
  • St. Bernard's at CHOF - February 19th
  • MTS at Park Christian - March 7th

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