2017-18 Section 8AAAA Preview

This is the 27th preview in my 2017-2018 season preview series.  Its the final class AAAA preview, a look at section 8AAAA.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 8AAAA (8 teams)
Defending Champion: Maple Grove

Tournament Schedule:
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 6th
Semifinals: Saturday, March 10th at St. Cloud State
Finals: Thursday, March 15th at TBD (Neutral site based on teams)

Predicted Seeding

1. St. Cloud Tech
2. Rogers
3. St. Michael-Albertville
4. Elk River
5. Maple Grove
6. Brainerd
7. Moorhead
8. Buffalo

No changes to the section for this 2 year cycle. St. Cloud Tech returns most of last year's team that won 22 games.  Gopher FB recruit Brevyn Spann-Ford and Cam Jackson are a high powered inside outside duo for the Tigers.  Then a group of 4 behind them.  I see Rogers with returning forward Jordan Belka (Northern St commit) being the best of the rest.  St. Michael-Albertville loses their top scorer but still has 2 double figure scorers returning so I slot them 3rd.  Maple Grove has no experience returning but Elk River also loses a ton outside of leading scorer Jack Burger.  Those 2 will fight for the final home game.  Their head to head meeting is 1 week before the end of the season and will loom large.  Then the bottom 3.  Brainerd has to replace their top player Michael Russell.  Buffalo loses their starting lineup.  Moorhead only won 3 games last year but they only lose 1 rotation guy so I'll pick them to flip with Buffalo.

Sleeper: Maple Grove.  No experience and no expectations after losing the entire rotation.  But they do have some talent that hasn't had the chance to show on the big stage yet.  By the end, they'll work the kinks out and be much better than early in the year.

Section Winner: St. Cloud Tech. This is the year they've built to.  They are too deep and talented to not advance.  A potential Spann-Ford vs Belka matchup in the final is very attractive.