What a great night of section finals last night, let's take a look at how I did on my predictions.
Section 2AAAA: Kennedy pulls the major upset on Shakopee 74-62 via 25 from Alfred Jaryan. Kennedy much improved late in the season. The Czar gets the double bagel here as I had Eden Prairie in my original prediction and Shakopee in the my finals preview.
Section 3AAAA: I got Burnsville right and it was a terrific game as the Blaze won by 4, 63-59. Tarell Clark gets it done with 22.
Section 4AAAA: Luck falls upon the Czar again as Sibley wins a terrific game vs CDH holding off a late rally. Mike Bruesewitz with 19, 11 in the 2nd half to lead Sibley to the 60-57 win.
Section 5AAAA: Cooper bests Osseo 60-59. Carrington Tankson large for Osseo but Rodney Williams swats away his last effort and Cooper moves on. Quincy Bethea again big for the Hawks. Double bagel again for the Czar as I had Mounds View and Osseo. Rick Majerus in the house for this one. Interesting. Did anybody warn them to have more food?
Section 6AAAA: Wow, game of the year. As I heard on TV today, many games like this don't live up to the hype, this one did and more. CJ Erickson comes up huge with a late block and then makes the game winning jumper.
Section 7AAAA: I covered this one here, but I go double-bagel again as I had Blaine and Forest Lake.
The Czar's AAAA predictions: 3-3 original and revised. In a cruel twist of fate, I went 0-3 in 2nd chance picks of the teams I got wrong the 1st time around.
Overall results of my picks in AAAA: 27-11
Section 3AAA: Henry moves on 85-75 over Spring Lake Park as their guards are too much.
Section 4AAA: Como Park pulls the upset on Johnson winning 72-61. Double-bagel here for me.
Section 6AAA: BSM by 10 on Holy Angels, no surprise here.
The Czar's AAA predictions: 2-1
Overall results of my picks in AAA: 14-7
Section 4AA: I covered this one here. I get SB right on both, but so much for my 2nd chance prediction that it would be close.
The Czar's AA predictions (semis and final): 2-1
Overall results of my picks in AA: 12-3
Section 4A: I covered this one here. I got CHOF wrong the 1st time, but I got MTS right on the 2nd chance.
The Czar's AA predictions (semis and final): 1-2
Overall results of my picks in A: 12-4
FINAL RESULTS: 69-25 overall, 6-5 (7-4 in final previews, 8-4 if you count the STMA bonus selection) in the section finals.
Showing posts with label 07-08 Playoff Previews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 07-08 Playoff Previews. Show all posts
Section Final Previews
Labels:
07-08 Playoff Previews
In honor of Dick Vitale's VBDI (Vitale Bald Dome Index), the Czar would like to note that he used the CBI (Czar's Blindness Index) to do all of the section predictions. The Emperor has also issued a statement saying that he has no affiliation with the Emperor's Club. Speaking for myself, being client #9 may not have been a bad thing.
All of these games are Tuesday night unless noted
Section 2AAAA: #4 Kennedy vs #2 Shakopee 8 PM at St. Olaf. Kennedy doesn't have any real size to give a small Shakopee team trouble. This game is very similar for me to the Richfield/Shakopee game in the quarters in terms of the matchup. Shakopee wins with their discipline.
Czar's Original Prediction: Eden Prairie
Czar's Updated Prediction: Shakopee easily, but not necessarily a blowout.
Section 3AAAA: #1 Burnsville vs #2 Eastview 8 PM at St. Olaf. These teams played a couple of classics during the regular season with Burnsville winning by 6 in OT at Eastview Jan 17th and then at home 62-59 Feb 26th. Eastview still doesn't have an answer for Tarell Clark and Devon Knopke is playing well right now.
Czar's Original Prediction: Burnsville in another classic.
Section 4AAAA: #1 Cretin-Derham Hall vs #2 Henry Sibley 8 PM at Concordia-St. Paul. No surprise here with these 2 teams making it thru a tough bracket. These have been 2 of the better teams in the metro all season so this game is definitely worth watching.
Czar's Original Prediction: Sibley in a great game unless Michael Floyd's injury on Friday night is still an issue. Sibley with so much balance inside (Bruesewitz), outside (Leslie) and role players (Kaiser, Hernandez). Not to mention Chris Halvorsen.
Section 5AAAA: #1 Osseo vs #3 Cooper 7 PM at Rogers. This game was no contest last year as Osseo blew the Hawks out in the semis. Don't think Cooper has forgotten that. But don't think Osseo has forgotten that Armstrong blew them out in the section final last year. Carrington Tankson has returned to give Osseo a major lift and they have too many weapons, especially inside.
Czar's Original Prediction: Mounds View (on the assumption that Tankson was out)
Czar's Updated Prediction: Osseo easily with the chance that its a blowout.
Section 6AAAA: #1 Hopkins vs #2 Minnetonka 8 PM at Osseo. No surprise here either and obviously the game of the night. These teams split during the regular season as each team won on the road. Expect this game to be up even another level from the regular season games.
Czar's Original Prediction: Minnetonka due to experience.
Section 7AAAA: #1 Forest Lake vs #2 Cambridge-Isanti 7 PM Wednesday at Elk River. Much to my surprise everything went according to form here. This is the least compelling of the local AAAA finals.
Czar's Original Prediction: Blaine
Czar's Updated Prediction: Forest Lake as they've shown the ability to beat the top teams (Stillwater and CDH).
Section 3AAA: #1 Spring Lake Park vs #2 Minneapolis Patrick Henry 5:30 PM at Osseo. No surprise here as these are the best 2 teams. The HUGE matchup inside of Cory Polta (SLP) and Alonzo Melton (Henry) will be fun to watch. SLP will need huge games from Taylor Hall and Shaun Jensen to keep up with the explosive offensive of Henry guards Mandela Jackson, Jordan Hughes and Louis Cox. I don't see it happening though as I don't like this matchup for SLP. Jerome Vaughn should give Taylor Hall problems, Melton is maybe the biggest Polta will go up against all year in terms of bulk so I think that works in Henry's favor. I don't see SLP being able to slow down the Henry guards.
Czar's Original Prediction: Henry in a blowout despite the fact that they don't defend.
Section 4AAA: #1 Johnson vs #2 Como Park 7 PM at Arlington. No surprise here, but this is the one section final I don't want to see. Johnson won 2 close regular season meetings including a 46-41 debacle at Johnson Jan 23rd. Como Park didn't win the big games vs city teams during the regular season, I don't see it here either. This game will be competitive, but not pretty.
Czar's Original Prediction: Johnson wins ugly again.
Section 6AAA: #1 Benilde St. Margaret's vs #2 Holy Angels 5:30 PM at Concordia-St. Paul. These teams played a great game where BSM won only by 2 at home on Jan 10th. One of the few times all year where BSM was challenged at the 3A level (their 3 losses are all to 4A teams). Holy Angels can win this game with the guard play of Stoddard Barnhill and James Pfitzinger inside but BSM is playing well right now and has more weapons.
Czar's Original Prediction: Benilde-St. Margaret's wins, but no blowout.
Section 4AA: #1 St. Bernard's vs #2 Breck at Holy Angels 8 PM. These teams played a 57-53 game with SB winning at Breck on Dec 11th. Breck has been much improved the 2nd half of the season and despite a couple of losses while adjusting to the departure of coach John Gray, they've won 11 of 14.
Czar's Original Prediction: St. Bernard's wins, but this is closer than many might think.
Section 4A: #1 Maranatha vs #1 Minnesota Transitions at Holy Angels 6 PM. For MTS, will they be able to rebound with MCA's size? Who else scores for either team besides the stars Kevin Noreen and David Hanson? The longer MCA goes without having to put David Hanson on Kevin Noreen, the better their chances are. MCA will come in as prepared and well coached as anybody MTS has played so expect them to have a plan for Virgil Baker and Kyle Noreen. Do we potentially see something strange like 3 guys man-man with 2 playing zone?
Czar's Original Prediction: CHOF
Czar's Updated Prediction: Minnesota Transitions as they continue to get it done in a magical run. MTS gets more from the supporting cast and their unique defensive scheme disrupts 8th grade PG Darian Pittman of MCA. Expect this one to be close.
Bonus Selection
Section 5AAA: #1 St. Michael-Albertville vs #3 Monticello Wednesday at St. Cloud State 7:30 PM. Monticello got blown out at STMA, but only lost by 4 at home in the 2 regular season Mississippi 8 meetings. This game will be all about pace. If STMA can get out and run, they win. If Monticello can make it a half-court affair with their Princeton set, they can make it very interesting. But ultimately Theo Rothstein gets it done for STMA to advance.
Czar's Prediction: STMA
Section finals schedule for the Czar:
Tuesday: 4A/4AA section finals at Holy Angels.
Wednesday: 5AAA/8AAA section finals at St. Cloud State. I was hoping that Princeton and Rocori would be in these games so I could see those teams again. But not all is lost as I have seen Monticello and STMA.
YTD Stats
All of these games are Tuesday night unless noted
Section 2AAAA: #4 Kennedy vs #2 Shakopee 8 PM at St. Olaf. Kennedy doesn't have any real size to give a small Shakopee team trouble. This game is very similar for me to the Richfield/Shakopee game in the quarters in terms of the matchup. Shakopee wins with their discipline.
Czar's Original Prediction: Eden Prairie
Czar's Updated Prediction: Shakopee easily, but not necessarily a blowout.
Section 3AAAA: #1 Burnsville vs #2 Eastview 8 PM at St. Olaf. These teams played a couple of classics during the regular season with Burnsville winning by 6 in OT at Eastview Jan 17th and then at home 62-59 Feb 26th. Eastview still doesn't have an answer for Tarell Clark and Devon Knopke is playing well right now.
Czar's Original Prediction: Burnsville in another classic.
Section 4AAAA: #1 Cretin-Derham Hall vs #2 Henry Sibley 8 PM at Concordia-St. Paul. No surprise here with these 2 teams making it thru a tough bracket. These have been 2 of the better teams in the metro all season so this game is definitely worth watching.
Czar's Original Prediction: Sibley in a great game unless Michael Floyd's injury on Friday night is still an issue. Sibley with so much balance inside (Bruesewitz), outside (Leslie) and role players (Kaiser, Hernandez). Not to mention Chris Halvorsen.
Section 5AAAA: #1 Osseo vs #3 Cooper 7 PM at Rogers. This game was no contest last year as Osseo blew the Hawks out in the semis. Don't think Cooper has forgotten that. But don't think Osseo has forgotten that Armstrong blew them out in the section final last year. Carrington Tankson has returned to give Osseo a major lift and they have too many weapons, especially inside.
Czar's Original Prediction: Mounds View (on the assumption that Tankson was out)
Czar's Updated Prediction: Osseo easily with the chance that its a blowout.
Section 6AAAA: #1 Hopkins vs #2 Minnetonka 8 PM at Osseo. No surprise here either and obviously the game of the night. These teams split during the regular season as each team won on the road. Expect this game to be up even another level from the regular season games.
Czar's Original Prediction: Minnetonka due to experience.
Section 7AAAA: #1 Forest Lake vs #2 Cambridge-Isanti 7 PM Wednesday at Elk River. Much to my surprise everything went according to form here. This is the least compelling of the local AAAA finals.
Czar's Original Prediction: Blaine
Czar's Updated Prediction: Forest Lake as they've shown the ability to beat the top teams (Stillwater and CDH).
Section 3AAA: #1 Spring Lake Park vs #2 Minneapolis Patrick Henry 5:30 PM at Osseo. No surprise here as these are the best 2 teams. The HUGE matchup inside of Cory Polta (SLP) and Alonzo Melton (Henry) will be fun to watch. SLP will need huge games from Taylor Hall and Shaun Jensen to keep up with the explosive offensive of Henry guards Mandela Jackson, Jordan Hughes and Louis Cox. I don't see it happening though as I don't like this matchup for SLP. Jerome Vaughn should give Taylor Hall problems, Melton is maybe the biggest Polta will go up against all year in terms of bulk so I think that works in Henry's favor. I don't see SLP being able to slow down the Henry guards.
Czar's Original Prediction: Henry in a blowout despite the fact that they don't defend.
Section 4AAA: #1 Johnson vs #2 Como Park 7 PM at Arlington. No surprise here, but this is the one section final I don't want to see. Johnson won 2 close regular season meetings including a 46-41 debacle at Johnson Jan 23rd. Como Park didn't win the big games vs city teams during the regular season, I don't see it here either. This game will be competitive, but not pretty.
Czar's Original Prediction: Johnson wins ugly again.
Section 6AAA: #1 Benilde St. Margaret's vs #2 Holy Angels 5:30 PM at Concordia-St. Paul. These teams played a great game where BSM won only by 2 at home on Jan 10th. One of the few times all year where BSM was challenged at the 3A level (their 3 losses are all to 4A teams). Holy Angels can win this game with the guard play of Stoddard Barnhill and James Pfitzinger inside but BSM is playing well right now and has more weapons.
Czar's Original Prediction: Benilde-St. Margaret's wins, but no blowout.
Section 4AA: #1 St. Bernard's vs #2 Breck at Holy Angels 8 PM. These teams played a 57-53 game with SB winning at Breck on Dec 11th. Breck has been much improved the 2nd half of the season and despite a couple of losses while adjusting to the departure of coach John Gray, they've won 11 of 14.
Czar's Original Prediction: St. Bernard's wins, but this is closer than many might think.
Section 4A: #1 Maranatha vs #1 Minnesota Transitions at Holy Angels 6 PM. For MTS, will they be able to rebound with MCA's size? Who else scores for either team besides the stars Kevin Noreen and David Hanson? The longer MCA goes without having to put David Hanson on Kevin Noreen, the better their chances are. MCA will come in as prepared and well coached as anybody MTS has played so expect them to have a plan for Virgil Baker and Kyle Noreen. Do we potentially see something strange like 3 guys man-man with 2 playing zone?
Czar's Original Prediction: CHOF
Czar's Updated Prediction: Minnesota Transitions as they continue to get it done in a magical run. MTS gets more from the supporting cast and their unique defensive scheme disrupts 8th grade PG Darian Pittman of MCA. Expect this one to be close.
Bonus Selection
Section 5AAA: #1 St. Michael-Albertville vs #3 Monticello Wednesday at St. Cloud State 7:30 PM. Monticello got blown out at STMA, but only lost by 4 at home in the 2 regular season Mississippi 8 meetings. This game will be all about pace. If STMA can get out and run, they win. If Monticello can make it a half-court affair with their Princeton set, they can make it very interesting. But ultimately Theo Rothstein gets it done for STMA to advance.
Czar's Prediction: STMA
Section finals schedule for the Czar:
Tuesday: 4A/4AA section finals at Holy Angels.
Wednesday: 5AAA/8AAA section finals at St. Cloud State. I was hoping that Princeton and Rocori would be in these games so I could see those teams again. But not all is lost as I have seen Monticello and STMA.
YTD Stats
- 132 games (104 MN split 88 boys and 16 girls, 28 WI split 24 boys and 4 girls)
- 51 buildings
- 153 teams (121 boys and 32 girls, 110 MN teams split 87 boys and 23 girls, 37 Wisconsin split 29 boys and 8 girls, 6 outstate split 5 boys and 1 girls)
- 2 Genders
Metro section previews Part 3 (Class AAAA)
Labels:
07-08 Playoff Previews
My previews of the metro area sections, this is part 3. We'll do Sections 2AAAA thru 7AAAA here.
Section 2AAAA:
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at Eden Prairie and Shakopee, 6 and 8 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 TBD
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at St. Olaf, 8 PM
Eden Prairie, Shakopee, Prior Lake
Tough section here as 7 teams are at or above 500. EP had a tough game at Chaska but blew them out at EP. Kennedy beat Jefferson twice by a total of 10 pts so that game will be very interesting with the rivalry added in. Richfield got a very good matchup by drawing Shakopee. 2 small teams there with Richfield having plenty of guards and quickness to play with Shakopee. Shakopee will have to figure out how to deal with Renard Robinson. Edina beat Prior Lake 67-61 at Edina when these teams played Dec 14th. Good matchup of young guards in that game, Will Deberg vs Tor Anderson.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: EP, Jefferson, Shakopee in a scare from Richfield and Edina
- Semis: EP in a low scoring close affair and Edina scares Shakopee again (lost 66-60 at Shakopee Jan 10th)
- Section Champion: Eden Prairie finally gets out of section play in a close and very well played game against Shakopee. How fitting would it be if it were an Ethan Wragge buzzer beater to do it since EP has gone out the last 3 years on buzzer beaters (2 from Blake Hoffarber and then Anthony Tucker knocked them out last year)
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at Burnsville and Eastview, 6 and 8 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 at St. Olaf, 6 and 8 PM
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at St. Olaf, 6 PM
Burnsville, Eastview, Lakeville N
Rosemount gets a good draw with Lakeville N in the 1st round. Eastview has an interesting 2 vs 7 matchup with Park and Jake Lindstrom. Eastview can have trouble generating offense and if they don't shut Lindstrom down, this could be an upset.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount, Eastview
- Semis: Burnsville, Eastview
- Section Champion: Burnsville in what may be the best section final in the metro as these 2 have played 2 terrific games to this point.
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 at Concordia-SP, 6 and 7:45 PM
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Concordia-SP, 8 PM
Cretin-Derham Hall, Sibley, Stillwater, Tartan, Central
Wow, you won't find 5 better teams at the top of any bracket. Central goes 21-6, wins their league and they get to go on the road in the 1st round and that's not poor seeding, the bracket is that tough. The Central at Tartan game on Tuesday has to be the game of the night. Tartan was at the Twin Cities game today watching so they know Larry Brown and Dylan Hale will be a handful. But Marc Sonnen is a handful for Central. Woodbury played Stillwater really tough in both Suburban East matchups so don't be surprised if Woodbury wins that 3 vs 6 game. The semis are monster games. CDH vs Tartan and a Stillwater vs Sibley rematch (77-69 Sibley at home Jan 28th), wow.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: CDH, Tartan, Stillwater, Sibley
- Semis: CDH, Sibley in 2 great games.
- Section Champion: Sibley in a great game
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 at Rogers, 6 and 8 PM
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Rogers, 7 PM
Osseo, Mounds View, Robbinsdale Cooper
No surprises here in the seedings. Cooper vs Park Center is a good rivalry in round 1, but Cooper should roll. Irondale at Champlin Park in a matchup to prove which league is more mediocre, the N Suburban or the NW Suburban.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: Osseo, Champlin Park, Cooper, Mounds View
- Semis: Osseo, Mounds View
- Section Champion: Mounds View
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at Hopkins and Minnetonka, 6:30 and 8 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 at Cooper, 6:30 and 8 PM
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Osseo, 8 PM
Hopkins and Minnetonka
Armstrong vs North is an OK 4 vs 5 game, but this section is all about the rubber match between Hopkins and Tonka and settled on a neutral court which is only fitting.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: Hopkins, Armstrong, Wayzata, Minnetonka
- Semis: Hopkins, Minnetonka
- Section Champion: Minnetonka, experience over youth, this is their year
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 at Elk River, 6 and 8 PM
- Final: Wednesday 3/19 at Elk River, 7 PM
Forest Lake, Cambridge-Isanti and Blaine
No heavyweight team here so its wide open with only 2 teams above 500. Blaine went 7-3 down the stretch, beat Forest Lake early in the year and they have players (Kyle Kreklow if he plays, not in box score vs Elk River Friday, Billy Giddings and Dylan Rodriguez). Andover and Coon Rapids split 2 very close games in the regular season so their 4 vs 5 matchup should be close. Anoka beat Cambridge-Isanti Dec 18th so that 2 vs 7 game could be an upset. Forest Lake blew out Duluth East earlier in the year and I see that happening again in a battle of the resistable force (Forest Lake offense) vs the movable object (Duluth E defense)
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: FL, Andover, Anoka, Blaine
- Semis: FL, Blaine
- Section Champion: Blaine
Metro section previews Part 2 (3AAA, 4AAA, 6AAA)
Labels:
07-08 Playoff Previews
My previews of the metro area sections, this is part 2. We'll do the local AAA sections here (3AAA, 4AAA and 6AAA)
Section 3AAA:
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 at Osseo, 6 and 8 PM
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Osseo, 5:30 PM
Spring Lake Park, Henry, Fridley
Very balanced section and lots of games that can go either way as I've discussed previously. I think Henry is the clear favorite here, but only if they actually guard somebody. Otherwise a team like Spring Lake Park can win this. The St. Anthony at Columbia Heights game will be one of the better 4 vs 5 matchups of the night (CH won 66-64 at SA on Dec 10, I think I got that right this time). Fridley vs TG is another coin flip as the teams split 2 close games during the regular season with each team winning on the road. Henry should blowout Chisago Lakes, but I won't be all that surprised if Josh Figini has a big night and they pull the upset.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: SLP, CH, Fridley and Henry
- Semis: CH (split series with SLP and this section needs an upset) and Henry
- Section Champion: Henry, but I wouldn't mind seeing Alonzo Melton (Henry) vs Cory Polta (SLP) in the post as a matchup of BIG guys.
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Semis: Friday 3/14 at Arlington, 6 and 7:45 PM
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Arlington, 7 PM
Johnson, Como Park, Mahtomedi
Yuck! I don't like this section at all. 6 teams below 41 in the QRF. Johnson has managed to win with youth and no offense. Como Park couldn't win a big game all year and from Arlington on down you have all bad teams. Hill-Murray had a rough year but with Peter McKeown they have a big force down low which Johnson and Como Park don't have so I like how this bracket lays out for them.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: Johnson, HM (Arlington won the regular season matchup 78-77 at HM on Feb 9th), Mahtomedi, Como Park
- Semis: As much as I want to pick Hill-Murray here, Johnson has found a way to get it done all year and their D is too much in this game (think of their win over Sioux City Heelan as a comparison). Mahtomedi over Como Park in a rematch (CP won at home 70-67 Dec 18)
- Section Champion: Johnson
Schedule
- Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Semis: Thursday 3/13 at Concordia-SP, 6 and 7:45 PM
- Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Concordia-SP, 5:30 PM
Benilde-St. Margaret's, Holy Angels, Orono
Insanely tough bracket. The DLS at Orono rematch from last year's tourney is going to be very close. Waconia at Washburn is also an upset waiting to happen. Any of the top 6 could come out of this bracket, but BSM is on a roll right now with 13 straight wins with only 2 of those close so they're the clear favorite.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: BSM, Waconia, DLS, AHA
- Semis: BSM, DLS
- Section Champion: BSM
Metro section previews Part 1 (4A, 4AA)
Labels:
07-08 Playoff Previews
My previews of the metro area sections, we'll start with section 4A and 4AA.
Section 4A:
Schedule
West: Maranatha, SW Christian, PACT and Heritage
East: Minnesota Transitions, CHOF, St. Agnes, New Life Academy
In the east, throw away the 1st 2 days and go straight to the subsection semis. CHOF vs St. Agnes should be a very good 2 vs 3 game in a matchup of athletic teams. CHOF won at St. Agnes 95-85 on Dec 11th. MTS had to cancel their game vs NLA (NLA overscheduled, that's the 3rd instance of that this season alone I've heard of) but they're matched up with them in the semis.
In the west, it's more interesting. The West Lutheran vs Heritage game in the 4 v 5 matchup should be very interesting as Heritage won 2 close regular season matchups (5 pts at Heritage, 6 pts at MCA in the MCAA tournament). The old adage that its hard to beat a team 3 times holds true here. Heritage is dangerous with Stu Herman and John Hirte, especially if they get a fast pace but MCA is a bad matchup in round 2. PACT has solid PG play from Seth Mathis, a couple of solid wings in Joel Hedberg and David Wilkey-Johnson and 6'7 Matt Fridberg in the middle. Depth could be a problem for them though. SW Christian lurks as the 2 seed with Caleb Palkert. They lost by 16 at CHOF Dec 13 and by 7 at MTS on Jan 26 but they lost to MCA by 2 at home on Jan 17th before taking them out 45-42 to win the MCAA tournament on Feb 22nd. Watch for a possible SW Christian vs PACT matchup on Thursday. PACT took out SW Christian at PACT in OT in the season opener 67-59.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
Schedule
West: Holy Family, Breck and Edison
East: St. Bernard's, Concordia and Minnehaha
The east is really tough with the top 2 Tri-Metro East teams and the West runner up. Minnehaha played Concordia and SB tough and Concordia and SB split their regular season matchups with road wins. The St. Croix Lutheran at Roosevelt 4 v 5 game will be good. SCL can win that game, but not without Chris Breuer who wasn't in the box score in last night's loss to St. Anthony. The bottom 3 teams don't pose a threat.
The west is bad. Holy Family is a respectable 1 seed, but Breck isn't the same team they were before the coaching change, Edison lost 7 of 9 down the stretch (with 1 of those wins being against a really bad SW team), BC finished 3-12 with none of those good wins. Blake, Trinity and Providence at the bottom are amongst the worst teams in AA. Jordan is hot right now winning 4 in a row including a 2 OT upset of CHOF last night and a win at BC on March 3rd.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
Section 4A:
Schedule
- Play-in: Monday 3/10 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Subsection Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Subsection Semis: Thursday 3/13 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Subsection Finals: Saturday 3/15 at Spring Lake Park (West 1 PM, East 3 PM)
- Section Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Holy Angels, 6 PM
West: Maranatha, SW Christian, PACT and Heritage
East: Minnesota Transitions, CHOF, St. Agnes, New Life Academy
In the east, throw away the 1st 2 days and go straight to the subsection semis. CHOF vs St. Agnes should be a very good 2 vs 3 game in a matchup of athletic teams. CHOF won at St. Agnes 95-85 on Dec 11th. MTS had to cancel their game vs NLA (NLA overscheduled, that's the 3rd instance of that this season alone I've heard of) but they're matched up with them in the semis.
In the west, it's more interesting. The West Lutheran vs Heritage game in the 4 v 5 matchup should be very interesting as Heritage won 2 close regular season matchups (5 pts at Heritage, 6 pts at MCA in the MCAA tournament). The old adage that its hard to beat a team 3 times holds true here. Heritage is dangerous with Stu Herman and John Hirte, especially if they get a fast pace but MCA is a bad matchup in round 2. PACT has solid PG play from Seth Mathis, a couple of solid wings in Joel Hedberg and David Wilkey-Johnson and 6'7 Matt Fridberg in the middle. Depth could be a problem for them though. SW Christian lurks as the 2 seed with Caleb Palkert. They lost by 16 at CHOF Dec 13 and by 7 at MTS on Jan 26 but they lost to MCA by 2 at home on Jan 17th before taking them out 45-42 to win the MCAA tournament on Feb 22nd. Watch for a possible SW Christian vs PACT matchup on Thursday. PACT took out SW Christian at PACT in OT in the season opener 67-59.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Play-in games: Not posted on the state high school league site, but one that appears is available is Ascension at Spectrum and I'll take Ascension.
- Quarters: MCA, Heritage, PACT and SW Christian in the West. MTS, NLA, SA and CHOF in the East.
- Semis: MCA and PACT (MCA won at PACT 60-45 March 3rd), MTS and CHOF (MTS won 77-72 at CHOF Jan 15th)
- Finals: MCA and CHOF
- Section Champion: CHOF due to experience and MCA demonstrating they have a tough time on the road and their youth.
Schedule
- Subsection Quarters: Tuesday 3/11 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Subsection Semis: Thursday 3/13 at High Seeds, 7 PM
- Subsection Finals: Saturday 3/15 at Holy Angels (East 1 PM, West 3 PM)
- Section Final: Tuesday 3/18 at Holy Angels, 8 PM
West: Holy Family, Breck and Edison
East: St. Bernard's, Concordia and Minnehaha
The east is really tough with the top 2 Tri-Metro East teams and the West runner up. Minnehaha played Concordia and SB tough and Concordia and SB split their regular season matchups with road wins. The St. Croix Lutheran at Roosevelt 4 v 5 game will be good. SCL can win that game, but not without Chris Breuer who wasn't in the box score in last night's loss to St. Anthony. The bottom 3 teams don't pose a threat.
The west is bad. Holy Family is a respectable 1 seed, but Breck isn't the same team they were before the coaching change, Edison lost 7 of 9 down the stretch (with 1 of those wins being against a really bad SW team), BC finished 3-12 with none of those good wins. Blake, Trinity and Providence at the bottom are amongst the worst teams in AA. Jordan is hot right now winning 4 in a row including a 2 OT upset of CHOF last night and a win at BC on March 3rd.
Predictions (for entertainment purposes only):
- Quarters: HF, Jordan, Edison, and Breck. SB, Roosevelt regardless of Breuer status, Minnehaha, Concordia
- Semis: HF, Breck (despite a 58-49 loss to Edison Dec 14th), SB, Minnehaha in a classic
- Finals: SB (in another good game) and HF
- Section Champion: St. Bernard's. They've only lost on a 3 late in OT and on a buzzer beater tip over Christmas to a top 5 D3 Wisconsin team so I can't pick against them.
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