2019-20 Section 3AAA Preview

This is the 17th preview in my 2019-2020 season preview series.  As week 4 of the 6 week preview series moves along, I start my look at the local AAA sections with section 3AAA.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 3AAA (9 teams)
Defending Champion: Holy Angels

Tournament Schedule:
Play-In Game: Monday, March 2nd??
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 3rd
Semifinals: Friday, March 6th at Bloomington Jefferson
Finals: Thursday, March 12th at Bloomington Jefferson

Predicted Seeding

1. Holy Angels  
2. St. Croix Lutheran
3. South St. Paul  
4. St. Paul Harding
5. St. Thomas Academy
6. St. Paul Highland Park
7. Henry Sibley 
8. Richfield
9. Bloomington Kennedy

The defending champs look to be the favorite again with 3 strong levels last year and the return of Matt Banovetz and star soph Emmett Johnson.  St. Croix Lutheran's junior class is strong but they are heavily reliant on 3 point shooting.  South St. Paul will make a run in this weak section.  St. Paul Harding stays in the top half just because they're the only other top half team in their league remaining.  The rest is a bunch of rebuilding teams.  St. Thomas Academy and Sibley lose a ton.  Kennedy and Richfield struggled last year.  Highland Park was very young last year and struggled.  This year its the same group with a new coach.

Staying with southeast AAA schools from the metro east, a note on Simley.  Playing with the SE Minnesota schools in section 1AAA, they could battle for a 1st round home game.  But I see them going out in that 1st round.

Sleeper: St. Paul Harding.  They have the quality duo of Simeon Sharp and forward Alex Addai returning which puts them in the top half. 

Section Winner: Holy Angels.  The deepest and most balanced group of a weak section.  Having to potentially beat St. Croix Lutheran in a 3rd meeting adds an interesting twist.