With a section full of teams that can light up the scoreboard, Section 2A looks to be up for the taking.
The top seed in the north subsection went to Cedar Mountain/Comfrey, who were followed by Cleveland at No. 2, Mayer Lutheran at No. 3, Minnesota Valley Lutheran at No. 4, and BOLD at No. 5.
All of the top five seeded teams in the section average over 70 points per a game as the offenses will definitely be on display throughout this tournament.
Along with top-five seeds, the lower half of the north also has some tough teams as well. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity is a program that’s on the rise under new coach Nat Boyer. With many of the same players this season that upset Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s to kick off last the Section 2A tournament last season, the Bulldogs are a team to be taken serious as they have taken another step forward this year.
The Greyhounds of New Ulm Cathedral are another sleeper team to keep an eye on this season. Last year the Greyhounds made a run to the subsection championship with wins over Cedar Mountain/Comfrey and Minnesota Valley Lutheran. The Greyhounds aren’t the same team as a year ago as they lost some key players to graduation, but are still a well-balanced team led by a good coach in Alan Woitas.
No. 1 Cedar Mountain/Comfrey
The Cougars earned the No. 1 seed in the Section 2A North Subsection with a record of 23-2 this season. The Cougars have not loss back-to-back games all season, and have won 12 straight games heading into section play. Against section opponents, the Cougars are 16-2.
The Cougars can shoot the lights out. Averaging over 76 points per a game, teams will need to lockdown on defense if they hope to upend the top seed.
Senior guard Derek Pendelton is what makes the Cougars offense roll. Pendelton is a great shooter who can also get to the rim. The pressure he puts on his defenders, gives the Cougars the edge in the North.
Other key players for the Cougars include Dylan Hillesheim and Lewis Pendelton.
The top-seeded Cougars will host the winner of No. 8 Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s and No. 9 Sleepy Eye Public Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m. The Cougars are a perfect 4-0 against the Knights and Indians this season.
No. 2 Cleveland
Despite losing one of the best players in the state in Class A in Carter Kopet, the Clippers are still a dangerous team to watch out for. The Clippers are 23-2 on the season, and are a perfect 14-0 against section opponents.
Including Kopet, the Clippers have three 1,000 point scorers on their roster. Jaiden Zishka, who reached that milestone this season, is one of the main guys for the Clippers. Although it’s known he can score as his 1,000 career points elude to, Zishka’s best aspect of his game might be his defense. His quickness along with height and just pure athleticism makes it tough for opponents to score in the paint.
Austin Plonosky is another key player to watch for the Clippers. Plonosky is a pure shooter and change a game quickly with his touch from the outside.
The Clippers claimed the No. 2 seed after winning a tie breaker with Mayer Lutheran. They will host the winner of No. 10 Buffalo Lake-Hector Stewart and No. 7 New Ulm Cathedral.
No. 3 Mayer Lutheran
The Crusaders might be one the of the most complete teams in the North subsection. Despite a record of just 15-10 this season, the Crusaders have a ton of talent on their roster.
Junior Kobey Woolhouse could be considered one of the best players in the section. Woolhouse has been phenomenal this season for the Crusaders. He’s leading the team in scoring, averaging over 18 points per a game, which is almost 10 points more than he averaged last season. Monster performances from Woolhouse aren’t out of the ordinary as he has five games this season with 28 or more points. When Woolhouse has it working, he’s capable of leading the Crusaders to a deep run.
Mayer Lutheran’s Kobey Woolhouse is capable of taking over a game at any point and leading the Crusaders to a deep playoff run.
What makes the Crusaders so dangerous come tournament time is there depth. Woolhouse isn’t the only Crusader who can light up the scoreboard. Junior Cole Hagen, who’s averaging 11.5 points per a game, is one of the best 3-point shooters in the state. Hagen is third in in the state in 3-pointers made with 74.
Sophomore Baden Noennig is another player that will be key for the Crusaders. Noennig, who is still pretty raw being a sophomore, is a great talent for the Crusaders. He’s able to play inside and out, which makes him a difficult guard with size and quickness.
Garrett Tjernagel and McHayl Diedrick will be the key inside for the Bulldogs. Tjernagel has great footwork inside, while Diedrick can dominated the glass on the both sides.
There’s no doubt the Crusaders can score, but it will be there defense that will determine how far they can go. The Crusaders are also strangers to close games. In their 26 games this season, the Crusaders have had just three games determined by four or less points. How the Crusaders come to play defensively, and how they handle late-game situations will determine if they can make a deep push.
The Crusaders are the No. 3 seed in the section and will host No. 6 Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m. The Crusaders defeated the Bulldogs 63-49 earlier this season.
No. 4 Minnesota Valley Lutheran
Like the Cougars, Clippers, and Crusaders, the Chargers can flat out score as well. Senior forward Nick Fischer can take over a game inside with his skill set and size. Guards AJ Buboltz, Joel Koelpin, and Jake Kettner are also a key part to the success for the Chargers.
The Chargers enter the tournament with a record of 18-7. Along with an impressive regular season record, the Chargers are very familiar with their section opponents. The Chargers are 11-5 against section opponents this season.
If the Chargers hope to make a playoff push, Fischer will need to keep up his stellar play, and continue to dominate inside.
The Chargers, who claimed the No. 4 seed, will host No. 5 BOLD Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m.
No. 5 BOLD
The BOLD Warriors are one of those teams that always seems to put a solid squad together no matter what year it is. The Warriors enter the tournament with a record of 12-13, and a 2-2 record against section opponents.
The Warriors have struggled a bit as of late, losing six of their last 10 games, but they’re playing teams tough. They lost to Mayer Lutheran in overtime in early February, and gave Springfield. the top-seeded team in the South Subsection, all they could handle.
Mason Mages is the player to watch for the Warriors. He’s the team’s leading scorer and can really fill up the box score.
No. 6 Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity
The Bulldogs are a team on the rise. Under new coach Nat Boyer, the Bulldogs have a new philosophy and it starts with team play. The Bulldogs come into the tournament with 12-14 record overall, but don’t sleep on the Bulldogs one bit.
The Bulldogs may have one of the best post players in the section in Rees Schuette. Schuette, a 6-foot 8-inch senior, towers above his defenders. As a senior, Schuette’s footwork has improved. When he catches the ball deep in the paint, it’s game over for the opposition as his size and strength is just too much. Schuette is a double-double machine and will be the key player if the Bulldogs plan to upset the Crusaders in the first round.
At 6-foot-8, LP/HT’s Rees Schuette is capable of dominating a game inside on both ends of the floor.
Schuette isn’t the only Bulldog player that needs to be watched. Sophomore Michael Ziermann is the best shooter on the team. Ziermann can knock down the three, as well as get to the basket. His ball handling and passing will also be a key for the Bulldogs as he runs the offense.
Other key players for the Bulldogs include Tyler Scheevel, Adam Heigl, Leighton Buhr, Blair Jilek, Todd Johnson, and Trey Feicke. If the Bulldogs want to avoid the one and done, they will need each of those players to step up.
No. 7 New Ulm Cathedral
Like the Bulldogs, the Greyhounds are no team to sleep on. They showed it last season as they made it all the way to Subsection Championship.
Woitas has the Greyhounds well coached despite losing several key players from last season’s team. The Greyhound come into the tournament with an overall record of 9-16, and a 5-14 record against section opponents.
Nathan Hauser is one the best players on the team for the Greyhounds. Not only can he score, but he has a knack for making big plays in the clutch. In their section opener a season ago, Hauser drilled a clutch 3-pointer in the final seconds to seal the win and upset CM/C in the first round.
Other key players to watch for the Greyhounds are Alex Hillesheim and Jon Zinniel.
No. 8 Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s
The Knights of Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s are another one of those improved teams this year. Entering the tournament with a record of 8-15, the Knights are a different team than a year ago.
The reemergence of Nathan Schroepfer has been a nice addition for the Knights. Schroepfer sat out last season after having shoulder surgery. H’s a tough-nosed player who can get to the hoop, as well as play some good defense.
Freshman Nick Labat is another key player for the Knights. Labat made his varsity debut last season as an eight-grader, and is taking steps froward. He’s a great shooter who’s working on the other parts of his game as he adjusts to the varsity level.
Cole Owens, Alex Woitas, and Carter Currans are also key players for the Knights. All three are capable of reaching double digit points each game, and Woitas is a double-double machine inside.
No. 9 Sleepy Eye Indians
The Indians are also a team dealing with a new coach this season. Shane Heiderscheidt has taken over the reigns of the program. In his first year, he brings the Indians into the tournament with a record of 8-16, and 6-11 record against section opponents.
The Indians are led by senior Caleb Christensen. Christensen can get red-hot from deep, as well as get to the basket too. If Christensen is hitting from deep, the Indians could be a tough team to guard.
Along with Christensen in the backcourt are Ben Laffen and Zach Haala. Both Laffen and Haala will need to pick up their game these playoffs if the Indians hope to make it past the first round.
No. 10 Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
The Mustangs come into the section tournament with just one win on the season. Despite the lack of impressive record, the Mustangs still have some talent and can’t be over looked.
Trent Weispfenning is the best player on the team. He’s a great all-around player, and will be relied on heavily if the Mustangs hope to advance to the second round.
Other key players to watch for the Mustangs are Payton Diepold and Dane Daak.
Section 2A South Teams to watch
There’s no doubt that the Springfield Tigers are the favorite in the South Subsection. The Tigers are the No. 6 team in Class A, and enter with a record of 22-2. Isaac Fink and Tanner Vogel are on the two best combos in the section. Both Fink and Vogel can take over a game at any time. Other key players for the Tigers include Kale Meendering and Decker Scheffler.
Mountain Lake, the No. 2 seed will be a team to keep an eye as well to give the Tigers a run. They enter with a record of 16-8. Levi Stoesz is the player to watch for the Wolverines.
St. Clair, the No. 6 seed in the south, is a team to watch as well. The Cyclones won the section a season ago, but will most likely be without star forward Mitchell Weber who broke his wrist in a snowmobiling accident.
Other teams to keep an eye on include Mankato Loyola, JWP, and Truman/ML/GHEC.
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