2016-17 Section 3AAA Preview

This is the 17th preview in my 2016-2017 season preview series.  In this preview, I start my look at the local AAA sections with section 3AAA.  Then its an off day before resuming with section 4AAA next week.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 3AAA (8 teams)
Defending Champion: Simley

Predicted Seeding

1. Highland Park
2. St. Thomas Academy
3. Simley
4. Holy Angels
5. Richfield
6. Kennedy
7. Harding
8. South St. Paul

Once again section 3AAA is the weakest section that I'll preview.  Simley won the section last year and that win got them to 14-14.  This year I again see the top of the section struggling to be break even.  Highland Park's lack of size could be problematic but their guards have the ability to harass other guards in the section.  The next 3 are all very close to the top as well.  Richfield should be a level better than the bottom 3.

Sleeper: Holy Angels.  Sam Boehne and Ryan Mazurek make a nice inside-out duo that in a weak section is enough to make a run.

Section Winner: Holy Angels. Its the most wide open section that I follow.  I think any of the top 4 could win it.  Last year the 5 seed won twice and the 2 seed went out in the semis.  That means we go off the conventional path and pick somebody else.  There's enough talent there to do it and all the games are a coin flip.