2018-19 Section 3AAAA Preview

This is the 22nd preview in my 2018-2019 season preview series.  Continuing our look at the class AAAA sections, we move on to section 3.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 3AAAA (8 teams)
Defending Champion: Apple Valley

Tournament Schedule:
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 5th
Semifinals: Friday, March 8th at Farmington
Finals: Thursday, March 14th at Farmington

Predicted Seeding

1. Eastview
2. Hastings 
3. Park
4. Henry Sibley 
5. Apple Valley 
6. Burnsville
7. Eagan
8. Rosemount

If you thought last year was down in this section, now Apple Valley loses everybody.  That leaves the section wide open for the taking.  Most teams here would be happy to end up with a winning record. Eastview is the default favorite but struggled last year despite their big front line.  Hastings has plenty of size too.  Nobody else projects to be in the top half of their league.  Park gets the next nod with the talented duo of Gorres and Block returning.  The top 3 play a round-robin during the 1st 2 weeks of the season so expect the seeding to shake out very early.  Apple Valley, Sibley and Burnsville will battle for the final home game.  Rosemount and Eagan still are rebuilding.

Sleeper: Burnsville.  Its a new system for a new coach but Rob Mestas was very successful in a tough job at Roosevelt.  Would not shock me to see them use the difficult South Suburban schedule as a springboard to tournament success.

Section Winner: Eastview. Too much from Steven Crowl and Tate Machacek on the front line to pick against them.