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by Ryan James
The BREAKDOWN
(updated 3/9/2008)
Right now Jordan Taylor and Armond Battle are expected to finish their storied four-year career as state champs. They have done everything else they have set out to accomplish and the only thing left to do is return to the state title game and finish this season number one. But it's a tough road as their section is fairly deep.
New Prague earned the top seed in this section with a 21-5 record over the year and they have been ranked since the beginning. The Trojans withstood a tough Missota season to come out tied for the conference lead so they will be battle tested. If they can limit what Alex Schneider does for the Cadets the Trojans could make their way to state but the Cadets have the edge in experience. And of course Mike Sjoberg and Tom Ihnot will have the Cadets ready for another state run.
West is on fire with 14 straight wins and in that streak they beat Rocori, Marshall, Mayo, and other Big Nine competition. In fact West won the Big Nine led by their two wins over Mayo this season. Can they beat Willmar if that showdown does happen? Willmar is going to be a tough beat and the West/Willmar game may rank as one of the top section games to get out and see. But West's tough defensive style should rain supreme and only twice this year have teams scored 60 or more points on the Scarlets.
After a 2-4 start losing to some very good teams Spring Lake Park won 14 of the final 20 games. They have tournament experience going to state the last two seasons and the tracks are laid down for them to make another run as the top seed in the section. But can they get past Minneapolis Henry? The Patriots have played better after an 8-9 start winning eight straight before falling to Central yesterday. Henry is hungry for a return trip to state but Spring Lake Park gets the nod because of experience.
Johnson has won 11 straight coming into sections and they have beaten Como Park twice this year. Como is a formidable foe but they haven't beaten the Governors in several years. And Como first has to get past Mahtomedi first who give Como all they could handle back in December. Regardless it looks like Johnson is headed back to state again.
STMA is the one seed and they are 23-3 on the season. But one of those losses was a 64-42 crushing at the hands of the Princeton Tigers just ten days ago and that loss speaks volumes. Theo Rothstein and Jared Berggren are outstanding talents who would be great to see at state but only one can make it.
Some guy talked the Breakdown into picking DeLaSalle in the preseason but that looks like the biggest error in the book at this point. Fact is the Red Knights are playing outstanding team basketball and getting contributions from everybody. It will not be a breeze for Jordan Taylor and company though as their second round game will be the winner of a tough Washburn vs. Waconia match-up and then Holy Angles could be the section opponent, if Orono or DeLaSalle don't make a run on the other side. Remember that Benilde barely escaped 66-64 in an earlier match-up with Holy Angels.
The Lumberjacks are the pick in this poor section and the top competition looks to be Hibbing. Cloquet has beaten Hibbing twice this year but those wins were by a combined three points. The metro is rooting for the Lumberjacks so they can get a look at Chad Calcaterra who is the top prospect in state for the 2010 class.
Thief River Falls is the top seed but they may not get out of round one as Fergus Falls gave them a test earlier this year. And if they would get past that its likely Thief River Falls would take on Detroit Lakes who just crushed them by 19 on Friday night. The likely section champ should come from a semi-final match between Rocori and Apollo. The Eagles split wit Rocori this year but the Spartans are coming into the playoffs on a three game losing streak and losers of eight of their last 14 games. Meanwhile, Apollo has its stride on their way into the playoffs winning 11 of their last 13 including a win over Rocori.
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