2017-18 Section 4A Preview

This is the 14th preview in my 2017-2018 season preview series.  In the 1st half of the previews, I took a look at 117 teams and 12 conferences.  Now I move on to phase 2 of the previews.  Over the next 3 weeks, I'll take a look at 14 sections including all of class AAAA.  That will include looks at some section teams that I haven't done yet plus some sprinkled comments about teams we looked at that aren't in the 14 sections being previewed.  Let's start with a look at Section 4A.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 4A (22 Teams)
Defending Champion: Minneapolis North (2016 and 2017 State Champs)

Tournament Schedule:
Play-Ins: Monday, March 5th
Round of 16: Thursday, March 8th
Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 10th
Semifinals: Tuesday, March 13th at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Finals: Friday, March 16th at Anoka-Ramsey Community College

New teams in the section

• Christian Life (1A)
• Hmong Academy (4AA)
• Mounds Park Academy (4AA)

Teams that left the section

• Cristo Rey Jesuit (4AA)
• Minneapolis North (5AA)
• Maranatha Christian (5AA)
• Nova Classical (4AA)

Predicted Seeding

1. Prairie Seeds
2. Hope Academy
3. CHOF
4. Heritage
5. Christian Life
6. Learning for Leadership

What a difference a year makes.  This group of teams is the happiest in the state as Minneapolis North and Maranatha both move up to section 5AA.  Both would be big favorites here this year.  Cristo Rey moves up to 4AA and as my projected TCAC champion you could argue them as a favorite here as well.  Plus TCAC D2 favorite Nova moves up to 4AA.  While there are 22 teams listed in the section, at least 4 of them won't be playing come tournament time.  My projection is that 16 or 17 will actually play the tournament series.

So that means a very down year in the section.  The best half of the MCAA by my projections isn't in the section and 3 of the better TCAC teams are in AA.  Jamar Robinson at PSA and Joey Erickson at Hope are all a handful in this section.  So those stick out as the top 2.  But there's not a huge gap there so I see it as very competitive.  Then there's a whole bunch of mediocre teams that could end up anywhere.  So this year is there for the taking for the TCAC teams and I see them getting it done.

Also a quick note here on MCAA member Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity.  They are in stuck in tough section 2A with teams like Cleveland and Mayer Lutheran in their subsection and Springfield on the other side.  I picked Springfield to win class A in my Breakdown book predictions (spoiler alert, buy the book now).  The Bulldogs win a 1st round home game but then go out to either Cleveland or Mayer Lutheran in the North subsection semis. 

Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf if they play the tournament series in section 1A is likely looking at going out in a pigtail game.

Sleeper:  Learning for Leadership. With 25 PPG guy Kafi Abdi back and a down section, maybe this group of Mustangs makes a run.

Section Winner: Prairie Seeds Academy.  They've made a run in the section the last 2 years so the program experience is there.  With one of the best players in the section, I can see them making another long run.