2019-20 Section 4A Preview

This is the 14th preview in the 2019-2020 season preview series.  Phase 2 of the previews starts today.  Over the next 3 weeks I'll cover 14 sections, mostly metro based, including all 8 class AAAA sections.  That will include looks at some section teams that I haven't done yet plus some sprinkled comments about local teams that aren't in the 14 sections being previewed.  As is tradition, I do them from small to big so let's start with a look at Section 4A.  If you missed any of the conference previews during phase 1 where were you?  I previewed 121 metro area teams from 13 conferences and independents.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 4A (24 Teams)
Defending Champion: CHOF

Tournament Schedule:
Round 1: Monday, March 2nd (number of games will be number of teams in section - 16)
Round 2: Tuesday, March 3rd (16 teams left)
Round 3: Thursday, March 5th (12 teams left)
Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 7th
Semifinals: Wednesday, March 11th
Finals: Friday, March 13th at Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Predicted Seeding

1. Hope Academy
2. CHOF
3. Avail Academy
4. Liberty Classical Academy
5. West Lutheran 
6. Trinity
7. Legacy
8. Kaleidoscope

I'm going to assume 4A (and 4AA tomorrow) stay with their tiered system of byes.  That looks like this though the 9-12 section might see a team or 2 to play in round 1 if there are enough teams actually playing.  With the tiny charter schools, not at all 24 schools will play but you never really know exactly how many will actually be there in March.

Seeds 13-lower: Round 1
Seeds 9-12: Byes to Round 2 (play round 1 winners)
Seeds 5-8: Byes to Round 3 (play round 2 winners)
Seeds 1-4: Byes to the Quarterfinals (play round 3 winners)

This section was again a total wreck in terms of seeds versus actual results.  Granted it saved my bacon in terms of predictions as I correctly picked Hope to make a big run.  That still worked out despite incorrectly picking Mounds Park Academy.  Hope makes another big run here but it won't be a surprise with almost their full roster coming back.  CHOF's AA schedule will prep them nicely for the tournament.  I expect a big year from Isaac Collins there. The top of the class A schools from the EMAC comes next.  But those schools are moving up from the lower divisions of the TCAC and aren't yet at that top level  Then its a real toss up as to who's next.  Trinity's tougher schedule may cost them in seeding.  Troy Kokkinen gives West Lutheran a sleeper chance.  Legacy's guards and the returning duo at Kaleidoscope should allow them to get thru a round as well.

Since we mentioned MCAA teams, I'll take my league winner prediction of Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity to win a subsection home opener in section 2A.  But its a tough section so I'll take them to have a tough loss in round 2.

Sleeper: Trinity.  They'll take some lumps in the new Skyline Conference but that will be a benefit against the lesser competition come section time.  While 3 top players need replacing, they'll have a whole season to adjust before the tournament.

Section Winner: Hope Academy.  When in doubt go with the top player and that's Caleb Hoilien.  The Lions get past last year's disappointment of losing in the section final.  It also happens in a grudge match as they'll take out CHOF to do it.