2018-19 Section 8AAAA Preview

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This is the 27th preview in my 2018-2019 season preview series.  Its the final class AAAA preview, a look at section 8AAAA.  Tomorrow the series wraps up with a season overview.  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 5th
Semifinals: Saturday, March 9th at St. Cloud State
Finals: Thursday, March 14th at Neutral Site (based on teams)

Predicted Seeding
  1. Buffalo
  2. Maple Grove
  3. Elk River  
  4. Moorhead
  5. Rogers
  6. St. Cloud Tech
  7. St. Michael-Albertville
  8. Brainerd
Buffalo made a run to the section final starting 4 sophomores last year.  That includes star forward Matt Willert who can go off on any given night.  Maple Grove with Jared Rainey and a NW Suburban schedule is enough for 2nd.  Elk River has plenty coming back but they are in the weaker division of the NW Suburban.  Moorhead is dangerous with athletic wing Maleeck Harden and Drew Hagen coming back but they also lose a couple of important guards.  Rogers has to replace their star F Jordan Belka and Tech has to replace their top 5.  But Tech does have G Nate Trewick to build around.  STMA has much improved Austin Jentzen in the middle but lots to replace around him.  Brainerd returns Joey Sauer but has to replace 2 other double figure scorers.

Sleeper: Moorhead.  They've been young but were a bucket away from the section final a year ago.  Harden is a monster athlete on the wing that will be tough to deal with and could lead the way thru the section.

Section Winner: Buffalo.  Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bison!  Sorry Chris Berman.  They made an early step with their section final appearance last year.  This year they get over the top.  Matt Willert gets his proper introduction on the big stage.
Posted by Twin Cities Hoops Czar on 11/15/2018 08:47:00 AM

3 comments:

  1. Unknown11/15/18, 4:43 PM

    Maple Grove returns 2 starters and 1 part time starter. Nate Adams is a top 3 pt shooter, making 75 last year. Until proven otherwise they deserve to be the section 8 favorite. Buffalo plays in the weaker Mississippi 8 conference, and will find the competition in section a bit different when they face NW conference teams.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi11/18/18, 8:13 PM

    Buffalo was in the section finals last year with mainly sophomores. Sorry they are the favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown3/16/19, 8:47 PM

    The best team won.

    ReplyDelete

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