10-11 Section 5AAAA Preview

This is the 21st preview in my 2010-2011 season preview series.  In this preview, I move to the north metro for a look at Section 5AAAA.  For a list of all the season previews, click here.

Defending Champion: Champlin Park

Predicted Seeding

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

Osseo is the clear favorite but after that, this section is a real tossup.  Bryan Sprang makes me take Irondale for the 2 spot.  But they may have to win at Mounds View on Dec 10th to get it.  Cooper will have plenty of athletes and is dangerous at 4.  Champlin Park with TJ Okafor can scare at #5.  Spring Lake Park can really help themselves with home games against Mounds View and Centennial in early December and Champlin Park in February in addition to the 4 league games with Irondale and Cooper.  Not sure they beat Mounds View or Champlin Park but I think they beat Centennial to swipe the 6 spot.  Park Center falls to 8 via my NW Suburban picks but a rivalry game with Osseo makes the 1 vs 8 slightly more interesting.  The Bethel holiday tourney features 4 of these teams (Mounds View, Champlin Park, Cooper and Centennial) so a strong showing in that tournament could go a long way in section seeding.

Section Winner: Osseo.  Too talented for the rest of a very average section.  Orioles shouldn't have any trouble moving through.  Individual performances from players like Bryan Sprang, Jordan Van Eps, TJ Okafor and Terrance Averyheart will go a long way in determining who the Orioles will face in the section final.