This is the 12th preview in my 2021-2022 season preview series. In
this preview, I continue my look at the local big schools with a look at
the Suburban East Conference.
For a list of all the season previews and how they were generated, click here.
Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders (2020-21 season 18-6, 13-5 Conference, 3rd)
Senior PG Tre
Holloman (20.3 PPG) returns as the lynchpin for last year's state runner up. Nine seniors need to be replaced but the Raiders will reload with a couple of notable transfers. Guard Donavhan Cain was a double figure scorer in Wisconsin last season. Center Branden Melchior averaged double figures at Elk River last season. That will take some of the scoring load off of Holloman and provide more balance. Charlie Plum also returns to provide front line depth.
East Ridge Raptors (2020-21 season 12-7, 11-6 Conference, 4th)
Coach Josh Peltier needs to replace most of his front line. The strength of the team will be the guards with St. Thomas commit Kendall Blue (15 PPG) and junior Alex Mattes (12.7 PPG). Junior Pete Koland also returns at a guard spot. A talented sophomore class is behind them. From that group, Brayden Carlson figures to be a key option to take up the interior minutes.
Forest Lake Rangers (2020-21 season 11-9, 10-8 Conference, 5th)
Kyle McDonald takes over the program making for a 3rd McDonald coaching in section 7AAAA. He has to replace 6 of the top 7 scorers from last season. Soph Owen Waldoch (4 PPG) should take up some of the slack from the loss of leading scorer Jordan Boysen (12.8 PPG) inside. Nick Bartlett (11.2 PPG) returns to lead the perimeter group. Ted Carey will be 1 option in the rotation.
Irondale Knights (2020-21 season 1-18, 1-17 Conference, 10th)
Former St. Bernard's point guard and St. Catherine's assistant Trent Davis is the new head coach. He has 4 top scorers returning to work with. DJ Anthony (9.6 PPG) and Drake Gomez (9.3 PPG) are 2 of those options. Calvin Marcellus is a banger inside. Juniors Max Herlofsky, Dane Dedominces and Cooper O'Brien are other rotation options.
Mounds View Mustangs (2020-21 season 16-4, 15-3 Conference, Tie 1st)
The Mustangs lineup is led by a quality perimeter duo. Kobe Kirk (15.2 PPG) and Dylan Wheeler (12 PPG) were 2 of the top 3 scorers last season. Both can handle and shoot it. Ryan Edelman (4.5 PPG) returns to his screening and defending forward role. Ben Erickson and Duncan Loegering look to step into the rotation.
Park Wolfpack (2020-21 season 11-10, 9-9 Conference, 6th)
High expectations this season with Minnesota commit Pharrel Payne (14.8 PPG) in the middle. They are coming off a run to the section final last season. Jamari Walker (7.5 PPG) returns with Payne on the front line. Wings Evan Bearth (10.4 PPG), Brady Perryman, Jack Blumberg and Brayden Fick all return to the rotation. The big question is what do they do at point guard. Jayden Lane's experience, fearless mentality and 10 PPG at that spot will be sorely missed.
Roseville Raiders (2020-21 season 4-14, 4-13 Conference, 8th)
Roseville has to replace their 3 top scorers from last season. That includes 10.1 PPG from leading scorer Elijah Burns up front. Size will be the question mark with the entire frontcourt graduating. Leighton Alvarez is a top option there. The wings will be the strength with Keyon Broussard (6.6 PPG) and soph Ataa Adjetey-Mensah (4.8 PPG) returning. Seniors Charlie Pearson and Cohen Rice will also see perimeter rotation time.
Stillwater Ponies (2020-21 season 4-15, 4-14 Conference, 9th)
Junior Max Shikenjanski (24.2 PPG) will once again run the show. He's coming off a monster summer season as the 16U MVP. Tyler Tompkins (14.1 PPG) and center Sam Shikenjanski (7.7 PPG) need to be replaced. Nobody else who returns averaged more than 4 PPG. Nicholas Koehn (4 PPG) and Andrew Gustafson (3.9 PPG) return to the starting lineup and look to pickup some of that offense to help take the load off of Shikenjanski.
White Bear Lake Bears (2020-21 season 7-12, 7-11 Conference, 7th)
Former Osseo assistant Greg Burke takes over the program. He has to replace Kanye Raheem's 13.9 PPG on the wing. But the guard spots are still strong with juniors Jack Janicki (19.7 PPG) and Jack Misgen (9.2 PPG) coming back. Janicki is one of the state's top juniors and Misgen is a quality shooter. Seniors Alex Lockwood and Brock Taugner also return to the lineup.
Woodbury Royals (2020-21 season 17-4, 15-3 Conference, Tie 1st)
Woodbury has to replace 4 of their top 5 scorers. That includes 3 double figure wing scorers led by Brad Cimperman and his 14.5 PPG. Wing Blake Rohrer (9.7 PPG) should be the top option and easily move into double figures this season. Guard James Maier (3.7 PPG) and forward Dom Cuoco (5.9 PPG) are the remaining players from last year's rotation. Very limited experience after them.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Cretin-Derham Hall
- East Ridge
- Mounds View
- Park
- White Bear Lake
- Stillwater
- Woodbury
- Forest Lake
- Irondale
- Roseville
Its a strong year in the league with the top 6 scorers coming back. Cretin-Derham Hall reloads and looks to make another run at a state title. Behind them I see a great battle between East Ridge, Mounds View and Park. I could justify those teams in any order. White Bear Lake has the best 2 pieces out of the remaining teams and the best chance to jump into that 2nd group. Stillwater has Max Shikenjanski but can they get him help out of their Princeton Point system. Woodbury and Forest Lake will battle behind them. Both have heavy losses from last season so its hard to put them in the top half. Irondale and Roseville bring up the bottom again.
Conference MVP: Tre Holloman - Cretin-Derham Hall
Underclassmen to watch:
- Mekhi Edwards - Cretin-Derham Hall
- Brayden Carlson, Charlie Theis, Parker Wellman - East Ridge
- Owen Waldoch, Reid Olson - Forest Lake
- Joey Fretheim - Mounds View
- Ataa Adjetey-Mensah, Will Devries - Roseville
- East Ridge at Cretin-Derham Hall - Dec 14th
- Park at Cretin-Derham Hall - Dec 16th
- Stillwater at White Bear Lake - Dec 16th
- Cretin-Derham Hall at East Ridge - Jan 28th
- Cretin-Derham Hall at Park - Feb 3rd
- White Bear Lake at Stillwater - Feb 3rd
- Cretin-Derham Hall vs Totino-Grace - Dec 11th (Tipoff Classic)
- East Ridge vs Hopkins - Dec 11th (Tipoff Classic)
- Cretin-Derham Hall vs Wayzata - Dec 18th (Big 12 Classic)
- Cretin-Derham Hall vs Eastview - Dec 30th (E Ridge Holiday Tourney)
- Wayzata at East Ridge - Feb 2nd
- Cretin-Derham Hall at De La Salle - Feb 19th
- East Ridge at Minneapolis North - Feb 19th
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