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Mega Showcase closes season

By Breakdown Staff, 07/29/14, 10:15AM CDT

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July 31: Previewing our final Summer Showcase at STMA

by Ryan James and Tim Kolehmainen

The summer basketball season comes to its end Thursday, July 31 with the Breakdown's "Mega" Summer Showcase in St. Michael-Albertville.  High school coaches have one final day to educate their players and it’s at the top high school event of the summer put on by Breakdown Sports USA.

STMA Boys' Summer Showcase

click on this link for brackets and locations for the July 31 Summer Showcase at STMA.

STMA Girls' Summer Showcase

click on this link for brackets and locations for the July 31 Summer Showcase at STMA.

BOYS BRACKET PREVIEWS

Wizards division

Teams: Big Lake, Mora, Litchfield, Eden Valley-Watkins, Browerville, Norwood-YA

An exciting division that has some of the best stars from Greater Minnesota in sophomore Byrce Irsfeld of Browerville and Eden Valley-Watkins' outstanding pair of Bret Mattice and Jared Streit.  Both of these teams are coming off seasons of quality and have high expectations in 2014-15.  Also, Norwood-Young America and Litchfield had years to build on last winter while Mora and Big Lake will be regrouping after big graduation losses.


Bryce Irsfeld, Browerville

T-Wolves division

Teams: Roseville, Simley, Tartan, Minnetonka, Shakopee, Mahtomedi, Chanhassen, St. Cloud Apollo Blue

You have to love a Tartan/Minnetonka match-up out of the box with Tom Dasovich and Mark Klingsporn getting after it.  Talent like Jordan Horn, Emmanuel Humphrey, Seth Coatta, and Amar Miller are growing up and seniors like Justin Moes, Evan Altenburg, and Jake Lyle will make this a top first round game.  Also, Simley has a chance to rebound from a strong 2013-14 against Roseville, and then in the bottom bracket Chanhassen and Shakopee are potential top squads led by elite west metro talents Joey Witthus and Steffon Mitchell.


Amar Miller, Minnetonka

Lakers division

Teams: Monticello, Jordan, Sauk Centre, Concordia Academy, Lac qui Parle Valley, Rocori, Providence Academy, New Ulm

The Lakers division has one of the more interesting groups as teams from all over the state of Minnesota come together to face new opponents.  Southwestern Minnesota sends Lac qui Parle Valley and New Ulm, the private sector of the metro has Concordia Academy and Providence Academy in the event, Jordan will ride the rail up Highway 169 to play, and St. Cloud area programs Sauk Centre, Monticello, and Rocori work to get their 2014-15 year off to a great start.


Roger Moore, Concordia

Knicks division

Teams: Maple Grove, STMA, Wayzata Gold, Buffalo, Eden Prairie, St. Francis, Osseo, Stillwater

One of the two big school divisions should be a heavyweight fight with programs like Eden Prairie, Wayzata, Osseo, Stillwater, Maple Grove, Buffalo, STMA, and St. Francis competing.  First-round individual pairings include Jackson Greenwaldt of STMA against returning Crimson backcourt Brad Davison and Tywhon Pickford in the backcourt, Nick Guida versus new Trojan coach Brian Schnettler on the sidelines, Granthan Gillard and Blake Moreno running into one another, and the Stillwater trio of Connor Gamble, Matt  Anderson, and Kyle McKinley facing off with Osseo’s Allen Anderson, Mar Mar Hughes, and Elliot Kane backcourt.


Blake Moreno, St. Francis

Celtics division

Teams: Hastings, Duluth East, St. Cloud Cathedral, Hutchinson, New London-Spicer, Fairmont, Rockford, Fridley

Another division with teams from all over.  Top talent to see includes Sam Skoyen of Hastings, Brindley Theisen of St. Cloud Cathedral, Riley Steenhoek of Hutchinson, and Jon Conyers and Tessy Pal of Fridley.  Hastings could have one of its best seasons in years as could Hutchinson.  Cathedral will be a top Class AA school, Fridley will be strong in Class AAA, Duluth East is working hard to make a comeback, and Fairmont, Rockford, and New London-Spicer suffered heavy graduation losses but will use the Summer Showcase as a way to regroup and come out fighting with new faces.


Brindley Theisen, Cathedral

Bulls division

Teams: Deer River, Watertown-Mayer, PACT Charter, West Central, Heritage Christian, LeRoy-Ostrander, Princeton, Spectrum

Watertown-Mayer versus Deer River is extended west metro versus Iron Range with Trae Berhow a young headliner for the Royals.  PACT Charter battling West Central as well as Spectrum vs Princeton puts Twin Cities Charter school against a team in the middle of the state of Minnesota.  Heritage Christian vs. LeRoy-Ostrander means a good metro private school playing against a team just above Iowa for the first time.  Very creative games that will bring new challenges.


Brady Peterson, Princeton

Jazz division

Teams: Sartell-St. Stephen, Braham, Annandale, Spring Lake Park, Coon Rapids, Kasson-Mantorville, Wayzata Blue, Delano

Sartell is the bigger school with a quality big in Brandon Snoberger.  How do they deal with Braham’s bombing pair of Chris Olson and John Larson?  Annandale has one of the state’s best long stroking wings in Chase Knickerbocker — how will Spring Lake Park defend him? Braxton Raymond had a great summer on the traveling circuit, but can he score for Kasson-Mantorville against a growing Coon Rapids program?  Most people don’t know it but Delano and Wayzata schools are not too far from one another.  The Trojans second group faces Sean Campbell and Mark Kreklow. 


John Larson, Braham

GIRLS BRACKET PREVIEWS

Storm division

Teams: Providence Academy, Staples-Motley, Melrose, St. Peter, Braham, Kimball, Norwood-Young America, Princeton

Melrose Area has designs on reaching its first state tourney since 1979 and returns its entire lineup from last year, including PG Gabi Sawyer and forward Emily Goerdt. Interestingly, both Kimball and Princeton also return their entire starting lineup, including Tigers' guard Haley Sandin. Could that lead to mid-season-looking play from these veteran teams? Providence AcademyStaples-Motley and Braham all have traditionally strong programs that have suffered graduation losses and in the Bombers' case, coach Tim Malone, who stepped down this summer. Watch out for 6-foot-2 center Olivia Hass at St. Peter as the dominant big in this division and athletic guard Kaylie Brazil at Norwood-Young America.


Kaylie Brazil, Norwood-YA

Stars division

Teams: Bloomington Jefferson, Annandale, Grand Rapids, St. Francis, Becker, Centennial, St. Louis Park, Eden Valley-Watkins

The Central Minnesota area (Annandale, Becker, Eden Valley-Watkins) mixes with the Twin Cities (Bloomington Jefferson, Centennial, St. Louis Park) with an arm reaching northward (St. Francis and Grand Rapids) in this interesting division. Hannah Spaulding is one of the top posts in the state for Annandale, but could get an interesting test from Taylor Kane and Grand Rapids should they meet in the second round. Centennial was a state tourney team last year, but graduated a host of top players. It's time for the next generation of Cougars (Nan Glinsek, Jaycie Gerding, Sarah Grow and Sydney Stapleton) to take charge — and they're certainly capable.


Hannah Spaulding, Annandale

Sparks division

Teams: Perham, Little Falls, Mora, Maple Lake, Warroad, Monticello, White Bear Lake II, Zimmerman

Speaking of the next generation, that's certainly going to factor into the season for Monticello and coach Craig Geyen. The Magic graduated a massive class of top players who helped lead three straight state tournament runs. Perham should be strong with Maria Rutten and young Josie Beachy, as could Warroad with Molly McDonald. Probably the biggest question as to how this division will fall is what players White Bear Lake has on its No. 2 team. The Bears shocked many by ripping off 25 wins last year and return many key players, although most will likely play on its Dream division team. Keep an eye on guard Melanie Dorn (Little Falls) and athletic forward Emily Webb (Maple Lake).


Molly McDonald, Warroad

Liberty division

Teams: Rush City, Dassel-Cokato, SW Christian, Mt. Iron-Buhl, St. Cloud Cathedral, Sebeka, Rogers B, Legacy Christian

Assuming this truly is the Rogers B team playing in the bracket, this looks like Mt. Iron-Buhl's division to win — no pressure for the Rangers and coach Jeff Buffetta, of course. This year's preseason No. 1 team in Class A has great guard play with Mya Buffetta, Chelsea Mason and Lissy McCulloch, but must develop a front court. SW Christian could cause the Rangers fits with a front court including Ally Krommendyk, as could St. Cloud Cathedral with Rylee Medelberg. Both are volleyball stars, as well, so make sure they're in the house Thursday before thinking about pulling MIB out of the favorite's role. Watch out for Sebeka guard Heidi Olson and Legacy Christian's combo of Kayla Ruf and Lexi Weddle.


Chelsea Mason, MIB

Fever division

Teams: Alexandria, Rosemount, Andover, Stillwater, Fargo Shanley (ND), Buffalo Purple, Owatonna, Irondale

How good is Alexandria going to be this year? Well, under longtime coach Wendy Kohler the Cardinals are always a threat and it won't be any different this winter, not with center Brooke Heggie anchoring a young guard lineup that includes sophomores Macy Hatlestad and Kendall Kohler. Rosemount and Andover both graduated key guards, so developing someone who can bring the ball up the court will be interesting to watch. Irondale could be a sleeper wth returning guards Sydney Driggs and Delaney Kohler and Buffalo has been strong under coach Scot Sorenson. Getting an out-of-state team in the bracket (Fargo Shanley) also makes things interesting for the big schools. Shanley is a small private program, but plays up in the biggest class in North Dakota (A) and finished second in the state.


Brooke Heggie, Monticello

Dream division

Teams: White Bear Lake, Edina, STMA, Anoka Black, Orono, New London-Spicer, Chaska, Rogers A

Looking for state tournament contenders? The Dream division looks like just that — a dream — for anyone wanting a really early preview of March. These eight schools won an average of 20.5 games last year (164 in total) and three represented their section at state (STMA, Anoka and New London-Spicer). This White Bear Lake team could include All-SEC guards Niki Daul and Alison Hinck, which could be a great test for Edina's Jill Morton. The Hornets also have a great young front court with sophomores Annika Jank and Bailey Helgren. STMA is also loaded with Rae Johnson running the show and Sydney Tracy and Bobbi Brendefur in a dominant back court. Chaska and Anoka graduated many key players who had started for four years which may cause rebuilding, as in New London-Spicer without Taylor Thunstedt. Orono brings back lots of talent as does Rogers with Taylor Anderson and crew. There should be some great basketball in the Dream division.


Rae Johnson, STMA