2025-26 MCAA Preview

This is the 4th preview in my 2025-26 season preview series.  We continue the conference previews with a look at the Minnesota Classic Athletic Association (MCAA).  For a list of all the season previews and how they are done, click here.

Christ's Household of Faith Lions (2024-25 season 11-17, Independent)
CHOF moves into the MCAA for basketball only after being an independent.  4 seniors need to be replaced.  They will return Sawyer Okerstrom inside.  Guard Elias Bratzel also returns to the starting lineup.  Soph guard Nolan Sarbacker is poised to have a breakout season.  8th grade guard Chase Sarbacker should also see plenty of minutes.

Eagle Ridge Academy Gryphons (2024-25 season 13-14, 4-4 Conference, Tie 2nd South)
The Gryphons program has a new leader this year in Kalvin O'Neal.  Leading scorer Nils Johansson (16.8 PPG) is the biggest lost.  The junior guard duo of King Davis and Mo Moassaquoi combined for over 25 PPG last season and will be the catalyst this season.  Seniors Andrew Brakel and Braxton Ray return to the perimeter rotation as well.  Forwards Evan Hansen and Oliver Kelash will have to be replaced inside.  Seniors Hamza Said (5.3 PPG) and Chris Asuma (5.4 PPG) are the main options there.

Heritage Christian Academy Eagles (2024-25 season 25-7, 8-0 Conference, 1st South)
Heritage's outstanding 2025 class carried them all the way to the state tournament where they lost in the quarters to state champion Dawson-Boyd.  It was only the 2nd class ever to have 4 1000 point scorers.  Now coach Tim Herman has to replace 6 seniors and rebuild the roster.  Wing Griffin Booms (5 PPG) is the only returning starter.  Junior forward Aaron Palmer averaged 11 PPG last season backing up Minnesota football recruit Abu Tarawallie inside.  He'll be the top option this season.  Senior wing Jesper Synstelien will also see a much expanded role.

Lakes International Language Academy Dragons (2024-25 season 0-26, 0-8 Conference, 5th North)
Soph PG Jackson Dowd (9.9 PPG) returns to lead a roster that took its lumps last season.  Senior guard Matthew Deimer joins him in the backcourt.  Soph Zakariya Ndiaye and Henry Selby lead the front line.

Liberty Classical Academy Lions (2024-25 season 25-4, 8-1 EMAC, 2nd)
The Lions move into the MCAA after back to back trips to the EMAC championship game.  Coach John Towle returns his entire roster and looks to make a big run in the north division.  That includes EMAC MVP Sam Rupnow (26.6 PPG) and Ethan Richter (20.5 PPG) on the wing.  Those seniors combine with junior PG Cruz Triana (11.1 PPG) to form a formidable perimeter trio.  William Gilbert and Eric Kneen are the top front line options.

Math and Science Academy Dragons (2024-25 season 11-15, 3-8 EMAC, 5th)
Rich Berkley takes over the program.  He was previously on the Eagle Ridge Academy staff.  Math and Science also moves to the MCAA from the EMAC.  They'll join CHOF in the south division.  It'll be a transition year with a new coach and 4 new starters.  The front line of Tomi Taiwo and Adam Olaoye has graduated along with guards David Musherure and Noah Gebe.  The top 2 scorers do return though.  Junior Jacob Balami (9.7 PPG) and soph Elisee Voumadi (8.8 PPG) are a guard duo that the Dragons can build around.

Mayer Lutheran Crusaders (2024-25 Season 13-14, 4-4 Conference, Tie 2nd South)
Mayer Lutheran has to replace a big chunk of their rotation.  They lose leading scorer Nate Lindesmith along with 5 other seniors.  They also lose soph star Chase Maetzold who has transferred to Chaska.  Junior guard Ben Lindesmith and soph wing Carter Neitzel are the top returnees.  Size will be a question mark. Frosh guard Dylan Sunde could move up from JV and contribute.

North Lakes Academy Huskies (2024-25 season 7-20, 2-6 Conference, 4th North)
New head coach Brian Schlief lost the last game of last season at Maple Lake to North Lakes.  If you can't beat them, join them! I kid, I kid.  (Czar's Correction: Maple Lake actually won that game)  He has to replace the top 2 scorers including 13.4 PPG from lone double figure scorer DJ Dillard.  Senior guards Levi Molitor (7.5 PPG, top returning scorer) and Micah Schlock will be top options.  Very little scoring punch or size to go with them.

PACT Charter Panthers (2024-25 season 14-13, 4-4 Conference, 3rd North)
The Panthers lose leading scorer Tim Cherenkevich (15.2 PPG) but have a nice duo to build around.  Soph guard Fred Onyinkwa (12.1 PPG) and senior forward Jayden Busch (11.5 PPG) will be their inside/out duo.  Wing Caleb Engelhart (7.6 PPG) also returns to the starting lineup.  Depth will need to step up as the entire bench rotation graduated.  That could come from soph forward Lucas Novitsky who averaged 3.9 PPG last season.

Spectrum Sting (2024-25 season 22-8, 7-1 Conference, Tie 1st North)
Assistant CJ Maternoski takes over the program after Tom Terhaar took the Chisago Lakes job.  In an innovative move (expected from a UW guy), my sources tell me that he's also added a "Get Back" coach to the staff to make sure no game winners are called off.  Spectrum graduates 2 starters from a roster where all 5 starters averaged double figures.  The Sting also lose star forward Bryce Gaustad (16 PPG) who is now at Anoka.  Guards Eli Miller (10.3 PPG) and Cody Benson (12.9 PPG) return in the starting lineup.  This is another roster where the bench was all seniors so the depth will not be experienced.  Big question on how they retool the front court.

United Christian Academy Thunder (2024-25 season 16-12, 2-6 Conference, Tie 4th South)
2013 Bethany Academy grad Roy Mould returns to his alma mater as new head coach.  Senior guards Josiah Hendley and Sam Rich will be the top offensive options.  Weston Trenz, Thomas Serafin and Andrew Rich join them in the backcourt.  They'll need to find an option to replace forward Ashton Trenz on the front line.

West Lutheran Warriors (2024-25 season 8-21, 2-6 Conference, Tie 4th South)
Leading scorer Brandon Knebel (15.7 PPG) returns to lead the Warriors.  Junior forward Bennett DeRoiser returns with him on the front line.  Three other double figure scorers need to be replaced. Seniors Micah Schroeder, Seth Pfotenhauer, Brady Klatt, Jack Nelson and Magnus Nelson all saw time last season with Schroeder being the main rotation guy of those.

Predicted Order of Finish

North Division 

1. Liberty Classical 
2. Spectrum  
3. Heritage Christian
4. PACT
5. North Lakes
6. Lakes International

South Division 

1. Mayer Lutheran
2. CHOF
3. West Lutheran 
4. Eagle Ridge 
5. United Christian
6. Math & Science 

Conference Overview
Legacy Christian departs for the Skyline.  The league adds CHOF (basketball only), Math & Science and Liberty Classical.  The league will stay with North and South Divisions.  CHOF and Math & Science join the south division while Liberty will play in the north division.  Defending champion Heritage will flip from the south to north to make up the 2 divisions of 6 teams each.  Once again there are no league crossover games until the 1 day conference showcase in late February.

As to the divisions, the north is the much stronger division with 2 heavyweights at the top in Spectrum and Liberty.  Spectrum is the defending champ which is hard to ignore. However, they have a new coach and lost their bench and top forward.  Liberty beat them in last year's season opener and has everybody back.  Give me the new kids on the block to win it.  Heritage and PACT will battle for the 3rd spot.  North Lakes and LILA are both rebuilding.

In the south, I think its really balanced with no team that sticks out at the top or bottom.  Mayer Lutheran has a couple nice pieces returning.  CHOF has the best balance but plenty to replace.  United Christian and East Ridge are strong at the guard spots.  West Lutheran's front line may be the best.  Math & Science may take a year to adjust to the league but their guard play is solid.  

Conference MVP: Sam Rupnow - Liberty Classical

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Chase Sarbacker, Nolan Sarbacker - CHOF 
• Max Voelker - Heritage Christian 
• Gunner Hegseth, Jude Brennan - Liberty Classical 
• Elisee Voumadi - Math & Science
• Carter Neitzel, Dylan Sunde - Mayer Lutheran 
• Micah Molitor - North Lakes 
• Fred Onyinkwa, Lucas Novitsky - PACT 
• Thomas Serafin, Andrew Rich - United Christian 

Conference Games to Watch

• Liberty at Spectrum - Jan 6th
• Spectrum at Liberty - Jan 27th 
• Conference Showcase Day - Feb 21st (cross-division games)
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Spectrum at Blake - Dec 2nd
• Liberty Classical vs Madelia - Dec 13th (Tipoff Classic at Edina) 
• Western Christian (IA) at Spectrum - Jan 2nd
• Hiawatha at Spectrum - Feb 5th
• Legacy Christian at Spectrum - Feb 12th