Best of Opening Weekend

For those of you who were following along this weekend on Twitter you'll know the results of the games I saw.  Here's some of the top sights from the weekend.

• Pizza at both places.  Can never go wrong with that.  Though they were out for the second trip to the concession stand.
  
• I'll fly Midwest Airlines again just for the hot out of the oven chocolate chip cookie.
• I get to Wisconsin Lutheran hike up 35 steps only to find out that I have to go back down the stairs to get in as media.  I almost needed an oxygen tank.
  
• Kenosha Tremper may have gotten hammered by Nicolet (that's Nick-o-LAY for you Minnesotans, not Nick-o-let) but their high blue and white striped socks left a lasting impression.
• Milwaukee Marshall and their blue hoodie warmups.  I first saw them last year at the East Metro Showcase and they're back.  Locally, you'll get another chance to see them (hint)
• Heard Will Smith's "Switch" so much during the 2nd game on Saturday, I wanted the PA guy to switch the song.  Remember, don't download, go out and buy the record.
  
• Interesting that Bo Ryan and Greg Gard (UW asst) showed up to watch JP Tokoto (more on him later) but didn't stick around to watch Quevyn Winters.

Now to some game thoughts.
While some of the games weren't high profile, 5 of the 6 games on Saturday were decided by 5 points or less.  The last 3 came down to the final possession.  Very fun to watch

Dominican vs Catholic Memorial right down to the last minute on Friday night.  Back and forth with clutch shots on both sides then an illegal screen call with 18.7 left is huge.  Dominican's guards are studs, especially soph Jamall Taylor who came up huge with a jumper and assist in the last minute.  Their matchup with Johnson just before Christmas should be outstanding.

Highlight play of the weekend had to be 7 footer Ben Mills (Boise State signee) running out on a bad 3 by Milwaukee Washington and getting a thunderous 2 handed dunk on the break right before flyswatter Jon Macklin hung on the rim with him.  Crazy play.  But Arrowhead blew a 13 point lead in the 3rd quarter and needed a Mills FT with 3 seconds left to win the matchup of #3 vs #4.  Interesting to see Arrowhead run dribble-drive motion with a 7 footer, but they have the guards to do it.  Mills finished with 23 points, 10 boards and 3 blocks.

#5 Milwaukee King came back from 8 down with 5 minutes left vs #8 Menomonee Falls to win in OT.  #4 national soph JP Tokoto with only 7 points.  Only 2 1 bounce jumper attempts in the halfcourt.  Everything else in the open floor.  Nothing in the halfcourt run for him which was really surprising.  King star soph Arroyo Edwards did a nice job faceguarding him much of the night.  But he had a bunch of steals by getting hands on passes.  Very active and athletic.  The hype is legit.

30-Second Timeout with PACT's Mick Hedberg

A new feature this season as I introduce the 30-second timeout on Sundays.   10 quick questions on the life of the random basketball player.  The questions will be the same, but the answers should be rather different.  In honor of my small school opener on Thursday, I begin the series with PACT's 6'1" guard #34 Mick Hedberg.  He averaged 8.1 points per game last season and will be one of the leaders with Austin Rink this season.

What's the best gym to play in besides your own?
Definitely Maranatha Christian’s gym, there is always great atmosphere

Who's the best player you've played with or against?
I would probably give the nod to Jordair Jett from St. Bernards, he was an incredible athlete, with great instincts.

What's your favorite road trip memory?
A couple years back we took a road trip down to southern MN to play Spring Grove high school and Houston high school on back to back nights (and won both). We stayed at a small hotel in between games, and the whole trip was awesome.

What's the toughest road gym you've played in?
There isn’t one that stands out in my mind, but St. Bernards was tough; the lights were a little off color and it is a smaller/older gym, but the atmosphere was good.

Who has the toughest crowd to play against when you're on the road?
Personally, I find the toughest crowds to play against are the silent ones… so from last year probably Providence academy or Minneapolis Southwest.

What's your worst road trip memory?
Worst road trip memory would be from two years ago. It started snowing on our way to Bethany Academy, and we ended up sitting in traffic for almost three hours. By the time we got there, there was only time for a shortened half of the junior varsity game, before varsity.

What's the favorite song on your iPod?
That is definitely a tough one… I’ll go with the classic “Eye of a Tiger"

What's your favorite game day food?
My favorite pre-game food usually varies a little bit year to year; but some pasta and chicken is always good.

What are you doing when you're not playing basketball?
If I’m not playing basketball, I am probably studying, lifting, working, or hanging-out with friends.

Who's the person most influential in your basketball career?
The most influential person in my basketball career has probably been my brother; I’m not sure if I would have ever started playing if he hadn’t gotten me started. Honorable mentions to my coaches and teammates, who always make me better.

Previewing The Czar's opening weekend

Greetings from the Emperor's Palace. I've made a holiday stop here in the Old Kingdom. Hope you all had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. What are we thankful for (besides wonderful home-cooked food and seeing the family)? The start of basketball season of course. I start 121 days of basketball this weekend in Milwaukee, WI with a pair of tournaments. You can follow along during the weekend on my Twitter page as I'll have periodic updates on what I see. Here are the highlights of what I'll see.

Friday at the NY2LA Sports Classic
3+ games on my schedule.  Highlight of the day is Whitefish Bay Dominican and a couple of young guards taking on Waukesha Catholic Memorial.  Memorial has TJ Bray who will attend Princeton and Derek Schnell who will attend D2 Hilldale College in their back court.  An upstart Nicolet team is picked third in their league.  They host Kenosha Tremper who was expected to have top 125 national player Darrell Longstreet but he's now across town at Kenosha Bradford who plays earlier in the day.  Tremper still picked 2nd in their league though.

Saturday at the City vs Suburban Classic
Nice format with teams from the Milwaukee City Conference taking on suburban powerhouses.  2 monster games to end my weekend.  Milwaukee King is one of 3 city powers and they'll take on Menomonee Falls with #4 Soph in the nation JP Tokoto.  Milwaukee Washington is another city power and they take on a loaded Hartland Arrowhead team led by 7 footer Ben Mills.  He'll attend Boise State next year.

Plenty of ranked players to see.  Here's the complete list.
2010 Wishoops.net rankings
#9 Ben Mills - Hartland Arrowhead
#13 TJ Bray - Waukesha Catholic Memorial
#23 Silas Mills - Milwaukee King
#25 Jon Cathey-Macklin - Milwaukee Washington
#28 Myles Henry - Nicolet
#33 Derrick Cook - Milwaukee South
#45 Andy Fox - Hartland Arrowhead

2011 Wishoops.net rankings
#2 Quevyn Winters - Milwaukee Washington
#13 Ben Stelzer - Manitowoc Roncalli
#19 Nick Romanowski - Franklin
#27 Charlie Fischer - Hartland Arrowhead
#31 Christian Williams - Nicolet

2012 Wishoops.net rankings
#1 JP Tokoto - Menomonee Falls
#9 Tony Mayfield - Milwaukee Washington
#12 Nik Stokes - Milwaukee King
#15 Arroyo Edwards - Milwaukee King
#16 Larry Fitzgerald - Milwaukee Pius XI
#19 Jamall Taylor - Whitefish Bay Dominican
#25 CJ Malone - Menomonee Falls

2009 Thanksgiving Scrimmages

Here's a list of scrimmages/jamborees that I could find for this weekend.  There are 2 that I have full schedules for, Columbia Heights and Holy Family

Columbia Heights Jamboree (Saturday)

Braham vs Mpls Roosevelt 3 PM
Como Park vs Breck 3:45 PM
Holy Angels vs Orono 4:30 PM
BSM vs Southwest 5:15 PM
Minnetonka vs DeLaSalle 6:00 PM
North St. Paul vs Mpls South 6:45 PM
Columbia Heights vs Sibley 7:30 PM

Holy Family Scrimmage (Saturday)

8:30 AM Holy Angels vs Henry, Mayer Lutheran vs Mound-Westonka, Rogers vs Delano
9:00 AM St Croix Lutheran vs Chanhassen, Jordan vs Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Holy Family vs Triton
9:30 AM Mound-Westonka vs Jordan, Holy Angels vs Rogers, Henry vs Delano
10:00 AM Rockford vs Triton, Chanhassen vs Mayer Lutheran, Holy Family vs Rogers
10:30 AM Jordan vs Triton, Delano vs Holy Angels, Holy Family vs Henry
11:00 AM Mayer Lutheran vs Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Chanhassen vs Mound-Westonka, Rockford vs St. Croix Lutheran
11:30 AM Rockford vs Chanhassen, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop vs St Croix Lutheran, Holy Family vs Delano

The Rest (Saturday unless noted)

Spring Lake Park at Farmington (Friday 10 AM)
Apple Valley, Elk River at Eagan
Benilde-St. Margaret's, Champlin Park at Monticello
Blaine, Lakeville North at Armstrong
Hastings, Mounds View at Rosemount
Blake, Mahtomedi, PACT, South St. Paul, Park Center at Mounds Park Academy
Cretin-Derham Hall at Jefferson
Northfield at North St. Paul
Richfield, Woodbury, Fridley at Edina
Farmington at Hill-Murray
Tartan at Orono
Eden Prairie, Wayzata at Waconia
New Prague at Mankato East
Maranatha at Spring Lake Park, then Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted

The Czar's 2009 Top 50 Metro Players

A preface to the rankings you're about to read.  These rankings are of players who are in the 11 metro conferences and independents that I follow.  Therefore, there are many worthy names that don't appear on this list.  Deserving players like Shelby Moats, Jordan Smith and Yuriy Maleshenko don't play in leagues that I cover so you will not see them in this list. 

This ranking is an evaluation of where kids are right now, not a prospect list (which would be much much different) and not necessarily what a kid may be capable of later this season.  History is important here.  The biggest factor in these rankings as I did them was impact on the game.  They are based on what I've seen of each of these kids during the regular season and summer basketball.

So without any lengthy or boring explanations, here's the list.

1. Kevin Noreen
   
2. Jacob Thomas
3. Seantrel Henderson
4. Mike Rostampour
5. Calvin Godfrey
   
6. Cole Stefan
7. Vinard Birch
   
8. DJ Peterson
9. Estan Tyler
10. Tor Anderson
11. Jake White
12. Jordan Hughes
    
13. Brett Ervin
14. Marvin Singleton
15. Zach Riedeman
16. Joe Coleman
17. Marquel Curtis
18. John Crockett
    
19. Alex Richter
20. Alonzo Traylor
21. Aaron Anderson
22. Jalen Jaspers
23. Ryan Duxbury
24. Taylor Hanson
25. Louis Cox
26. Jordan Jackson
27. Jay Sewer
28. Devon Knopke
29. Dajon Newell
30. Evan McMillan
    
31. Jake Kreuser
32. Manani Beavers
    
33. Deron Murphy
34. Kyle Zimmerman
35. Jonah Travis
36. Clay Horne
    
37. Thomas Schalk
38. Isaiah Zierden
39. Ross Travis
40. Siyani Chambers
    
41. Peter Crawford
42. Joey King
    
43. Nick Latzke
44. Elijah Sabah
45. Kyle Noreen
46. Marcus Alipate
47. Parker Hines
48. Josh Pratt
49. Jasper Duberry
50. Danny Geiger
    

2009 Fall League Final Picks

Top picks for the final big day of fall leagues as the Breakdown league finishes up Saturday at Kennedy.

Best games are upstairs in the mid-afternoon

Chaska vs Tartan on Court A at 2:15
Champlin Park vs Lakeville South on Court B at 2:15

Followed by

Forest Lake vs Lakeville South on Court A at 3:05
Champlin Park vs Tartan on Court C at 3:05

09-10 Section 7AAAA Preview

This is the 24th preview in my season preview series. In this edition I finish my look at the 11 metro area sections with a look at Section 7AAAA. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Blaine

Predicted Seeding:

1. Duluth East
   
2. Forest Lake
   
3. Blaine
   
4. Anoka
   
5. Andover
   
6. St. Francis 
   
7. Cambridge-Isanti
   
8. Coon Rapids
   

Section Winner: Duluth East.  A Forest Lake vs Duluth East final should be fantastic as these teams went triple OT last year.  Soph Johnny Woodard I believe went for 38 in that game.  With his improvement and Dyami Starks, the Greyhounds get the nod over Zach Riedeman and the Rangers.  Too bad that game won't be on Saturday night this year.  Too bad both teams have to go to Elk River to play it.  Move that game to some place like Cloquet.  Blaine is down but with forward Zach Romashko they're a level above the rest in this section.  The bottom 5 here are bad teams.  C-I lost 5 of their top 6 scorers.  St. Francis is a bottom half team in the North Suburban.  And the 3 remaining teams are the 3 teams I picked at the very bottom of the NW Suburban.

09-10 Section 6AAAA Preview

This is the 23rd preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 6. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Hopkins

Predicted Seeding:

1. Hopkins
   
2. Minnetonka
   
3. Armstrong
   
4. Wayzata
5. Minneapolis North
   
6. St. Louis Park
   
7. Minneapolis South
   
8. Minneapolis Southwest
   

Section Winner: Hopkins.  Should be another epic section final between the big rivals Hopkins and Minnetonka.  X-Factor in that matchup is Marvin Singleton for Hopkins.  St. Louis Park is much improved and South's Alonzo Traylor is a tough matchup in the post, but these teams don't have enough to pull an upset.  Armstrong's guard play will make for an interesting matchup with Minnetonka.  Armstrong put up 91 and 84 in the 2 games last year so keep an extra scoreboard handy.

09-10 Section 5AAAA Preview

This is the 22nd preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 5. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Osseo

Predicted Seeding:

1. Champlin Park
   
2. Osseo
   
3. Centennial
   
4. Robbinsdale Cooper
   
5. Spring Lake Park
   
6. Mounds View
   
7. Park Center
   
8. Irondale
   

Section Winner: Champlin Park.  The best of the NW Suburban resides here with the top 3 teams from that league.  Cooper is inexperienced but talented.  Spring Lake Park can play with any of these teams.  Mounds View's tradition and coach Ziggy Kauls can't be overlooked either.  A very balanced top 6 will make for very close if not high profile semifinals and a 4 vs 5 game that will be good.  Champlin Park vs Cooper is an appealing matchup that could be a semifinal.  Osseo and Cooper have seen each other 3 straight years in section play including the last 2 finals. They'll be challenged to do that again.

09-10 Section 4AAAA Preview

This is the 21st preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 4. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Henry Sibley

Predicted Seeding:

1. Tartan
   
2. Stillwater
   
3. Henry Sibley 
   
4. Cretin-Derham Hall
5. Roseville
   
6. White Bear Lake
   
7. Woodbury
   
8. North
   

Section Winner: Tartan. This won't be easy for anyone. The top 4 here are as good as any section. Seantrel Henderson and CDH are as talented as anyone here. I'd definitely want to see Seantrel Henderson or Ryan Duxbury go at it with Mike Rostampour. Seeding here will definitely be interesting with 5 Suburban East teams voting against 3 Classic Suburban teams. If Stillwater or CDH wins the Suburban East outright, then I'd expect them to be voted the top seed by their peers. I think Tartan is the best team but against the other 3 contenders they have no matchup for the big guy. Not to mention they'd have to overcome that not once, but twice. Great constrast of styles. The semis and finals are at the new East Ridge gym rather than Concordia-SP or Arlington which should be a great venue.

09-10 Section 3AAAA Preview

This is the 20th preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 3. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Apple Valley

Predicted Seeding:

1. Lakeville South
   
2. Eastview
   
3. Lakeville North
   
4. Rosemount
   
5. Apple Valley
   
6. Burnsville
7. Eagan
   
8. Park
   

Section Winner: Eastview. The Lightning are always a tough out at tournament time. The matchup of Vinard Birch vs Riley West at the point is a major weakness in this one for Lakeville South. Lakeville North has talented guards which can be a major factor at tourney time, but size and chemistry are issues to watch. Seeds 4-7 all have players who can have big games which provides an element of danger for the top seeds.

09-10 Section 2AAAA Preview

This is the 19th preview in my season preview series. In this edition I start my look at the big boys in AAAA. We start with section 2. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Bloomington Jefferson

Predicted Seeding:

1. Chaska
   
2. Eden Prairie
   
3. Shakopee
   
4. Bloomington Jefferson
   
5. Edina
   
6. Bloomington Kennedy
   
7. Prior Lake
   

Section Winner: Chaska. Despite all the success that Eden Prairie has in football, they just can't seem to get to state in basketball. Last year, Jefferson pulled the upset in the section final. Eden Prairie will be right there though. Shakopee and Jefferson will be very tough outs which should make for interesting semifinals according to the seedings. Jefferson is always well prepared and against a junior laden Chaska team, I can see that upset. Shakopee vs Eden Prairie will be a defensive struggle. The winner of the section will definitely earn it via 2 tough games.

09-10 Section 6AAA Preview

This is the 18th preview in my season preview series. In this edition, a look at section 6AAA. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Minneapolis Washburn

Predicted Seeding:

1. Benilde-St. Margaret's
   
2. Holy Angels
   
3. Waconia
   
4. Minneapolis Washburn
   
5. Richfield
   
6. Holy Family
   
7. Mound-Westonka
   
8. Chanhassen
   

Section Winner: Benilde-St. Margaret's. This is a very interesting section. Holy Angels is going to be a major indicator here as they play all the section contenders on the road (@Washburn Dec 10, @BSM Dec 17, @Richfield Dec 22, @Waconia Jan 8). Plus they have Holy Family at home. The top 3 are rock solid and could win this section. BSM is deep and talented with experience to boot so they have to be the favorite. Waconia's Shelby Moats has been a monster this fall and they defend as well as anyone. But they also return junior guards Bronson Scheff and shooter Ben Kortuem with forward Danny Fischbach. Holy Angels has a ton of experience returning for coach Larry McKenzie. Washburn is young but they're athletic and well-coached. Richfield has plenty of experience and guard Jay Sewer returning. Holy Family loses a ton, but they're always sound. Mitch Mandel and Ryan Dahl make up a big inside duo. Mound-Westonka returns Dan Flesher in the middle with guard Brandon Host so they won't go out easy.

Duxbury makes his choice

Stillwater's Ryan Duxbury committed to MN-Crookston this week. I had a chance to chat with him about his recruitment and why he chose Crookston. Minnesota Preps Subscribers can read the article here.

Bigger issues on his mind though as he's also the starting Tight End for the Ponies and they play in a section final vs Mounds View tonight. Duxbury had a 35 yd TD catch in the 19-7 win in their 1st meeting.

09-10 Section 4AAA Preview

This is the 17th preview in my season preview series. In this edition, a look at section 4AAA. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: St. Paul Johnson

Predicted Seeding:

1. St. Paul Johnson
   
2. St. Thomas Academy
   
3. Hill-Murray
   
4. Mahtomedi
5. Highland Park
   
6. Harding
7. South St. Paul
   
8. East Ridge
   

Section Winner: Johnson. They still have all the athletes and Estan Tyler gives them enough punch. St. Thomas Academy is down and Hill-Murray would be too big a jump. The rest of the section is dismal, especially the bottom with Harding, SSP and East Ridge. Even my 3 seed Hill-Murray finished last year 3-14 with all 3 wins being against really bad teams. Section final with Johnson and St. Thomas should be a defensive struggle. I would have moved South St. Paul up but with coach Getzlaff now coaching at Concordia-St. Paul, expect more of the same struggles.

09-10 Section 3AAA Preview

This is the 16th preview in my season preview series. In this edition, a look at section 3AAA. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Out with the defending champ (Spring Lake Park moves to section 5AAAA) and the bottom feeders of the section (Chisago Lakes and North Branch move to section 7AAA). Replacing them are Central and Como Park who are upgrades and then De La Salle's arrival from section 6 more than replaces Spring Lake Park. Is it just me or wherever DLS goes, they get a tough section. No easy games here as 3 teams would be worthy champions.

Defending Champion: Spring Lake Park

Predicted Seeding:

1. De La Salle
   
2. Columbia Heights
   
3. Minneapolis Henry
   
4. St. Anthony
5. St. Paul Central
6. Totino-Grace
7. Fridley
8. Como Park
   

DLS is the favorite with their depth and defense. Columbia Heights gets the nod over Henry due to a tougher league. St. Anthony over Central for winning their half of the Tri-Metro. Totino-Grace over Fridley by conference pick and Como Park has to be last for not beating up on the weak St. Paul City. I really like the prospects of a Columbia Heights/Henry semifinal. Dynamite guard play and helter-skelter pace in that one. Have a spare scoreboard on hand. Then you get the contrast of DLS and their slow defensive style vs either in the final. That could mean ugliness either way. DLS plays at Henry on March 2nd in an early preview.

Section Winner: De La Salle. With their defense I think they match up very well against the other 2 elite teams (Henry and Heights). They more athletes and scoring punch than in years past so I think they get it done. That St. Anthony vs Central 4 vs 5 game could be one of the better 4 vs 5 games. Central's LeDarian Horton could be the difference maker.

09-10 Section 4AA Preview

This is the 15th preview in my season preview series. In this 2nd section preview, a look at section 4AA. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

17 teams in this year's section 4AA, but it may be more about what's gone (Jordan with favoirte name player Yuriy Maleshenko and Holy Family, all of the talent that St. Bernard's had etc). The West top seed may not break the 500 mark and the East once again has the power.

Defending Champion: St. Bernard's

West Subsection Predicted Seeding:

1. Brooklyn Center
   
2. Breck
3. Edison
4. Trinity
5. Blake
6. Roosevelt
7. Providence
8. MN Internship Center (or Intl School possibly)
   

Wow is this subsection ugly. Brooklyn Center is the only team I see breaking the 500 barrier and they'll need to be better in the 2nd half then past years. The bottom 3 teams are really bad, the remaining teams won't sniff the top half of their leagues.

East Subsection Predicted Seeding:

1. Minnehaha
   
2. St. Paul Academy
   
3. Concordia
4. St. Bernard's
   
5. St. Croix Lutheran
   
6. Arlington
7. Mounds Park Academy
   
8. International School
   
9. Great River
   

In the east, Minnehaha is the top team with division rival SPA right behind them. Then fill in the Tri-Metro East, then the class A level independents. International School should really be in the west, but I'm just going off of what the MSHSL site has.

Section Winner: Minnehaha Academy. Clearly the best team but their subsection title game with SPA or somebody from the Tri-Metro East isn't even that appealing. Only Brooklyn Center would break the top 5 in the East. These games aren't as appealing as the weak section 4A games which is pretty rare.

09-10 Section 4A Preview

Rolling on with the 09-10 Season Preview series, I move into part 2 with a look at the 11 metro area sections. This week a look at the bottom 3 classes. To start, a look at section 4A. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

A ugly year in section 4A as there's very little to be excited about. I'll put everyone in here based on the section website listing of the subsection members. 1 huge favorite and only 1 possible threat to that.

Defending Champion: Minnesota Transitions

North Subsection Predicted Seeding:

1. Maranatha
2. PACT
3. West Lutheran
4. Heritage
5. Ascension
6. Spectrum
7. Four Directions
8. AFSA
   
9. Liberty Classical
10. Calvin Christian
11. MN North Star
    

Maranatha has to be the favorite here with Darien Pittman at the point and Josh Hanson. Beware of Austin Rink and PACT. These 2 teams meet at the tiny PACT bandbox on February 5th in a game that could determine the #1 seed. Michael Lindberg could spring West Lutheran to an upset but that might be a stretch in a weak subsection that may have only 2 teams over 500. Ultimately, it won't matter as the winner is just another sacrificial lamb for the south winner.

South Subsection Predicted Seeding:

1. Minnesota Transitions
   
2. CHOF
   
3. New Life
4. St. Agnes
5. Humboldt
6. Bethany
7. Lion's Gate
8. Community of Peace
9. St. Paul Prep
10. Math & Science
    
11. Hmong Academy
12. Prairie Seeds
13. North Lakes
    

In the south, there's MTS and everybody else. Don't be shocked if MTS has a chance to put up a state record for points in their 1st round game. CHOF and New Life are down this year and the rest of the subsection is just as bad as the bottom of the north subsection. Look for MTS to sleepwalk to the section title game.

Eliminate the early rounds and just get to the final 4. I expect regular season rematches in the subsection title games (PACT/MCA, MTS/CHOF).

Section Winner: Minnesota Transitions. The Wolves are the clear favorite as they have the top player in the section in Kevin Noreen and the most talent even without him. Any game besides Maranatha in the section championship will be a blowout.