MINNESOTA
BARNUM BOMBERS
Coach: Rich Newman
2015-16 record: 20-8
Conference: Polar League
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Section: 7AA
Key returners: Seniors Daniel Gilchrist (G), Reece Parks (G) and Colton Ziegler (F)
Notable: Bombers have to replace Chris Carlson (19 ppg, 5.2 spg, 5 rpg, 5 apg) and Hunter Fetters from a squad that claimed Polar League’s large-school title, defeating Esko along the way. Newman is hopeful that junior guard Drake Weets can return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained over the summer.
CARLTON BULLDOGS Coach: Jeswa Harris
2015-16 record: 10-17
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Waylon Lekander (G), Sam Macor (C), Tyler Ojibway (G/F) and Eric Soderstrom (F) and junior Matthew Hey (G)
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Notable: Everybody’s back for the Bulldogs. Double-digit scorers Macor (12.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Ojibway (11.9 ppg) and Hey (11.8 ppg) are part of a balanced attack that could have Carlton flirting with its first .500 finish since 2007-08. Ojibway is on track to reach 1,000 career points.
CHERRY TIGERS Coach: Bob Asuma
2015-16 record: 12-13
Conference: Arrowhead
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Riley Erickson (G), Austin Flannigan (F) and Jeremy Hansen (C)
Notable: Last winter, the Tigers were vastly improved after the calendar flipped to 2016, going 9-4 to end the regular season after a 3-8 start. Their roster this time around shows seven middle-schoolers.
CHISHOLM BLUESTREAKS Coach: Larry Pervenanze
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2015-16 record: 12-17
Conference: Iron Range
Section: 7A
Key returners: Sophomores Brandon Butkovich (G), Alec Pessenda (C), Justin Pioske (F) and Eli Sundquist (G)
Notable: Bluestreaks and their sophomore-dominated roster are looking to get on the plus side of .500 for the first time since 2013-14.
CLOQUET LUMBERJACKS Coach: Steve Battaglia
2015-16 record: 9-18
Conference: Lake Superior
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Section: 7AAA
Key returners: Senior Brandon Hill (G) and juniors Joshua Bushey (G), Bryce Turnbull (F) and Spencer Wehr (F)
Notable: Almost everyone’s back for the Lumberjacks, though junior Riley Johnson could miss the entire season with a knee injury. “If we can find consistent scoring, we’ll be in the conversation come March,” Battaglia said.
COOK COUNTY VIKINGS Coach: Mitch Dorr
2015-16 record: 3-16
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7A
Key returners: Senior Sam O’Phelan (F) and sophomores Leif Anderson (F), Dyami Blackwell (F) and Will Ramberg (F)
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Notable: O’Phelan (10 ppg, 6 rpg) and Marcus Logan are the only seniors, prompting Dorr to say: “The Vikings will continue their rebuilding process with a very young squad filled with sophomores and freshmen.”
CROMWELL-WRIGHT CARDINALS Coach: Bill Pocernich
2015-16 record: 14-11
Conference: Polar League
Section: 5A
Key returners: Seniors Ryan Juntunen (G), Samuel Kemper (F) and Zion Smith (G/F) and sophomore Marcus Pocernich (G)
Notable: Tyler Randall (18.7 ppg, 11.9 rpg) and Carter Karppinen (12 ppg) graduated, but the Cardinals aren’t short on experience. Smith, one of five seniors, came in needing 298 points to reach 1,000.
DEER RIVER WARRIORS Coach: Michael Williams
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2015-16 record: 10-18
Conferences: Iron Range, Northern Lakes
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Tyler Anttila (C) and Chad Benham (G), junior Garrett Schjenken (G) and sophomores Kyle Shevich (F) and Noah Williams (F)
Notable: Shevich scored 24 points in Monday’s 68-44 win at Duluth Marshall. Anttila averaged about eight rebounds a game as a junior.
DULUTH DENFELD HUNTERS Coach: Jeff Nace
2015-16 record: 8-18
Conference: Lake Superior
Section: 7AAA
Key returners: Seniors Caleb Gibson (G) and Jaaren Jorgenson (F) and juniors Ben Gibson (F) and Chance Larson (C)
Notable: Hunters need to replace All-LSC first-teamer Marques Jones’ offense, but they have enough talent and experience to be dangerous. Denfeld also has a promising sophomore class. Jones is playing at Wisconsin-Superior.
DULUTH EAST GREYHOUNDS Coach: Rhett McDonald
2015-16 record: 12-15
Conference: Independent
Section: 7AAAA
Key returners: Seniors Cody Carlson (C), Ty Seymour (F), Jack Thompson (G) and Jalen Vatthauer (G)
Notable: Carlson (12.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg), a Concordia-St. Paul commit, possesses uncommon skills for a 6-foot-9 guy. He can take control on offense both inside and from the perimeter. East has quality depth, experience and athleticism, though the Greyhounds will miss Joey Zwak and Quentin Miller. McDonald hopes to contend in a section he says defending champ Blaine should be favored to win.
DULUTH MARSHALL HILLTOPPERS Coach: Kevin Snyder
2015-16 record: 4-23
Conference: Lake Superior
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Senior Jack Schenk (F), junior Ben Landherr (G) and sophomore Kevin Snyder (G)
Notable: Landherr and Snyder, the team’s second- and third-leading scorers, respectively, comprise a solid backcourt. Graduated All-LSC second-teamer Cole Feriancek will be difficult to replace.
ELY TIMBERWOLVES Coach: Tom McDonald
2015-16 record: 20-7
Conference: Arrowhead
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Josh Heiman (G), Izaak Nosbisch (F) and Evan Omerza (G), junior Carter Gaulke (G) and sophomore Patrick Vanderbeek (G)
Notable: Leading scorer Gaulke (16.1 ppg, 5.2 apg) is one of four returning starters for a club that should be a factor in 7A. The selfless Omerza averaged more assists than points as a junior, 7.9 to 7.6.
ESKO ESKOMOS Coach: Mike Devney
2015-16 record: 27-4
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Senior Isaak Blue (F), juniors Quinn Fischer (G), Ryan Pantsar (G) and Adam Trapp (C) and sophomore Camden Berger (G)
Notable: All-world guard Jaxson Turner graduated, but just about everyone else returns for the four-time defending section champs. Things start and stop with the 7-2 Trapp, a future NCAA Division I player who should benefit from what Devney expects to be improved 3-point shooting. The coach also believes the Eskomos will face “the toughest schedule in school history.”
EVELETH-GILBERT GOLDEN BEARS Coach: Mike Aro
2015-16 record: 8-19
Conferences: Iron Range, Arrowhead
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Seniors Joey Addy (G) and Tyler Kemp (F) and juniors Kyle Sickel (C), Sam Albrecht (G) and Kyle Kvitek (G)
Notable: Aro likes the Golden Bears’ chances even after the graduation of Austin Erickson (19.4 ppg).
FLOODWOOD POLAR BEARS Coach: Chris Tommila
2015-16 record: 18-9
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7A
Key returners: Senior Eric Hall (F) and junior Cameron Goutermont (G)
Notable: New faces abound at Floodwood, which graduated its entire starting five.
FOND DU LAC OJIBWE OGICHIDAAG Coach: Earl Otis
2015-16 record: 14-14
Conference: Independent
Section: 7A
Key returners: Senior Joe Fineday (G) and sophomores Uriah Aubid (G) and Evan Butcher (F)
Notable: Fond du Lac’s two-year run atop 7A came to a close in last March’s semifinals.
GRAND RAPIDS THUNDERHAWKS Coach: Dan Elhard
2015-16 record: 20-8
Conference: Independent
Section: 7AAA
Key returners: Seniors Christian George (G), Brock Schrom (C) and Jake Skelly (G) and junior Nate Seelye (G)
Notable: Sharp-shooting point guard Skelly (17.8 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2.5 spg), who will play collegiately at Valley City State in North Dakota, helped the Thunderhawks bounce back from a 12-16 showing in 2014-15. They look poised to duplicate their success from a year ago.
GREENWAY RAIDERS Coach: James Earley
2015-16 record: 7-20
Conferences: Iron Range, Northern Lakes
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Seniors Kyler Daniels (G), Michael Finckbone (G), Alec Sigdestad (G) and Sam Skaar (G) and freshman Dylan DeChampeau (F)
Notable: Raiders have an up-and-comer in DeChampeau, who averaged better than 18 points and 11 rebounds as an eighth-grader.
HERMANTOWN HAWKS Coach: Andy Fenske
2015-16 record: 15-14
Conference: Lake Superior
Section: 7AAA
Key returner: Senior Nate Soumis (G)
Notable: Soumis, whose quick-release and dependable shot requires constant attention from defenses, is the only returning starter from a team that boasted 11 seniors. Fenske, the former Duluth East boys assistant and Princeton girls head coach, takes over for Joe Schmitz.
HIBBING BLUEJACKETS Coach: Joel McDonald
2015-16 record: 15-12
Conference: Iron Range
Section: 7AAA
Key returners: Seniors Travis Carruth (G) and Corey Nelson (F), junior Phil Rebrovich (C) and sophomore Luke Lundell (G)
Notable: Bluejackets have the kind of experience - starting with Carruth (16 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg) - to build on their first winning season since 2011-12. Big question, though: Do the defending IRC champs have the size to compete in 7AAA?
INTERNATIONAL FALLS BRONCOS Coach: Mason Imhof
2015-16 record: 11-16
Conferences: Iron Range, Arrowhead
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Seniors Ben Everson (F) and Kjell Fogelberg (F), juniors Wyatt Braaten (C) and Tanner Budris (G) and sophomore Taylor Wilson (G)
Notable: Broncos are led by Everson (13.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg). They stumbled midway through last year, closing the regular season on a 2-8 skid.
LAKEVIEW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LIONS
Coach: Josh Turnquist
2015-16 record: 12-15
Conference: Independent
Section: 7A
Key returners: Senior Sam Easty (G) and sophomore Josh Emerson (G)
Notable: Strong batch of underclassmen - Emerson, Josh Reinertsen, Brandon BarBee, Jonny Emerson, Bennett Easty and Jacob Easty - bodes well for the future. Bennett and Jacob Easty are twins; Sam is their older brother.
MCGREGOR MERCURIES Coach: Josh Wahlin
2015-16 record: 18-9
Conference: Polar League
Section: 5A
Key returners: Seniors Cole Gelhar (F) and Billy Staska (C) and junior Carson Passer (F)
Notable: The three listed above all should go over the 1,000-point mark this winter. The team’s nine seniors finally got a taste of winning last season, and it could continue, even after the graduation of Jordan Mickelson, the MVP of the Polar League’s small-school division. Passer already holds the program’s single-game scoring record, at 53 points.
MESABI EAST GIANTS Coach: Dan Darbo
2015-16 record: 9-19
Conferences: Iron Range, Arrowhead
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Seniors Dayton Cromley (G) and Drew Geise (G), junior John Larson (C) and sophomores Tyler Baribeau (F) and Carson Becicka (G)
Notable: Giants lost big-time scorer Riley Erickson (24 ppg), but they return the rest of their starters, plus Geise, an All-IRC performer two years ago who missed 2015-16 because of a medical issue, according to Darbo. Larson is 6-8 and Baribeau is 6-6.
MOOSE LAKE-WILLOW RIVER REBELS Coach: Wes Cummins
2015-16 record: 7-20
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7AA
Key returner: Senior Isaac Riihiluoma (G)
Notable: Cummins, a former Barnum player and assistant coach, replaces Neil Dickenson on the Rebels’ bench. They lost five seniors, including leading scorer Rex Janke.
MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL RANGERS Coach: Luke Winans
2015-16 record: 24-7
Conference: Arrowhead
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Jaylon Holmes (G) and Josh Isaacson (C)
Notable: Holmes should have no problem supplanting Archie Winans atop the program’s career scoring chart. Winans, who graduated last year after helping the Rangers to the state tournament, totaled 2,326 points. Holmes reached 2,000 at Williams Arena in the Class A quarterfinals.
NASHWAUK-KEEWATIN SPARTANS Coach: Kyle Giorgi
2015-16 record: 20-7
Conference: Northern Lakes
Section: 7A
Key returners: Juniors Cody Staydohar (G) and Corey Warwas (F)
Notable: Spartans “will be extremely young and inexperienced this season,” according to Giorgi. Their lone senior, Bryce Bender, is out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.
NORTH WOODS GRIZZLIES Coach: Will Kleppe
2015-16 record: 26-3
Conference: Arrowhead
Section: 7A
Key returners: Senior George Bibeau (C) and sophomore Cade Goggleye (G)
Notable: An explosive offense that tallied about 83 points a night propelled the Grizzlies to last year’s section final. Darnell Goggleye (18.1 ppg), one of three graduated senior starters and the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,719 points, was dangerous outside, as evidenced by the 10 3-pointers he buried in a January win over Two Harbors. Another departure, Spencer Viita, is playing at St. Scholastica.
NORTHEAST RANGE NIGHTHAWKS Coach: Ron Marinaro
2015-16 record: 4-18
Conference: Arrowhead
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Travis Loewen (F), Brandon Mackai (G), Alex Pecha (F) and Drake Pecha (F) and junior Quintin Pecha (G)
Notable: Nighthawks are 7-80 over the past four seasons. Alex, Drake and Quintin Pecha are brothers.
PROCTOR RAILS Coach: Todd Clark
2015-16 record: 19-10
Conference: Lake Superior
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Senior Bryden Urie (G) and junior John Pioro (G)
Notable: Rails reload minus career scoring leader Jordan Wetterlind and Chase Urie. Fourth-year starter Bryden Urie (18.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.8 apg) already has more than 1,000 points, and Pioro (14.3 ppg, 3.5 apg) was a 40-percent shooter from the 3-point line. Wetterlind is playing at Wisconsin-Superior.
SILVER BAY MARINERS Coach: Terry Blood
2015-16 record: 20-9
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Jerry Congious III (F), Zach Lewis (F) and Hunter Monson (F) and junior Jason Blood (G)
Notable: After going 13-12 in 2011-12, the Mariners were a combined 8-59 the next three seasons, until last year’s dramatic turnaround.
SOUTH RIDGE PANTHERS Coach: Nathan Shulstad
2015-16 record: 16-10
Conferences: Polar League, Arrowhead
Section: 7A
Key returners: Senior Christian Houle (G) and junior Nick Carlson (G)
Notable: In his first season at the helm, Shulstad guided the Panthers to a nine-win improvement over 2014-15. Houle is the only senior.
TWO HARBORS AGATES Coach: Bill Anderson
2015-16 record: 3-24
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Seniors Ollie Carpenter (G), Mahtahn Jenkins (F), Karter Kinn (G) and Alex Oling (C) and sophomore Jayden Ruberg (F)
Notable: With 12 returning seniors, Agates should be much improved.
VIRGINIA BLUE DEVILS Coach: Rich Odell
2015-16 record: 21-8
Conference: Iron Range
Section: 7AA
Key returners: Senior Max Carlson (G) and juniors Nathan Fink (F), Bryce Kennedy (C) and Ethan Youso (F/C)
Notable: The 6-7 Youso (15.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg) is a hot commodity among college programs - he has an offer from Minnesota Duluth. Kennedy (8.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg), meanwhile, also goes 6-7, giving the Blue Devils their very own twin towers. Virginia has won at least 20 games each of the past nine seasons. Odell was inducted into the coaches association Hall of Fame in November.
WRENSHALL WRENS Coach: Jon Bartczak
2015-16 record: 0-24
Conference: Polar League
Section: 7A
Key returners: Seniors Adam DeVall (C) and Phil Vine (C)
Notable: Wrens’ two seniors are two more than they had a year ago.
WISCONSIN ASHLAND OREDOCKERS
Coach: Bob Blaschke
2015-16 record: 4-19
Conference: Lake Superior
Division: 2
Key returners: Seniors Talon Day (G) and Tyler Van Vlack (F), junior Ethan Graff (G) and sophomore Jordan Brennan (F)
Notable: Blaschke takes over for Joe Corbine.
NORTHWESTERN TIGERS Coach: David Gustafson
2015-16 record: 18-6
Conference: Heart O’North
Division: 3
Key returners: Seniors Mike Lindsay (G), Riley Stowers (G) and Alex Tecker (C)
Notable: Depth is a strength for the Tigers, who bring back seven regulars - six seniors and a junior - from a team that captured the program’s first HON crown since 2010.
SUPERIOR SPARTANS Coach: Jake Smith
2015-16 record: 21-4
Conference: Lake Superior
Division: 1
Key returners: Seniors Blake Graskey (C), Aaron O’Shaughnessy (G/F) and Justin Reinkall (G/F)
Notable: Reinkall (8.6 ppg) is the top returning scorer after Brandon Myer (20.7 ppg, 8 rpg) and Brett Lozon (10.4 ppg, 4.3 apg) graduated. Myer is starting at UMD. The Spartans are coming off their ninth LSC title in 11 years.
