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The Classic Suburban Preview

Once again this conference will be a three horse race. Henry Sibley, Tartan, and St. Thomas are the favorites as usual and it could go any way this year. It's possible Tartan could reclaim the prize but for that to happen they must end their eight game losing streak to the Sibley Warriors. And don't sleep on the Cadets who have size with shooters!
Preseason all-conference team...
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Jay Sewer of Richfield
Jake Kreuser of Henry Sibley
Jordan Jackson of Henry Sibley
Drew Preiner of Tartan
Manani Beavers of Tartan
Billy Chapman of St. Thomas Academy
Predicted Order of Finish...
1. Henry Sibley
2. Tartan
3. St. Thomas Academy
4. Richfield
5. Hill-Murray
6. North St. Paul
7. Mahtomedi
8. Simley
9. S. St. Paul
Top returning scorers...
Jordan Jackson, Henry Sibley (16.3 ppg at Como Park)
Rob Daul, Hill-Murray (15.8 ppg)
Billy Chapman, St. Thomas (12.8 ppg)
Jay Sewer, Richfield (12.6 ppg)
Rex Johnson, North (10.7 ppg)
Bobby Sherwood, Mahtomedi, (10.3 ppg)
Charlie Aslesen, St. Thomas (8.8 ppg)
Mike Rostampour, Henry Sibley (8.1 ppg)
Andy Bestler, Hill-Murray (8.0 ppg)
Manani Beavers, Tartan (7.8 ppg)
Top coaching records...
Dick Ghizoni (361-265) Hill-Murray
Mark Klingsporn (350-201) Tartan
Mike Sjoberg (305-114) St. Thomas
Jim Dimick (220-194) Richfield
Tom Dasovich (134-61) Henry Sibley
Top senior prospect...Jake Kreuser of Henry Sibley
Top junior prospect...Drew Preiner of Tartan
Top sophomore prospect... Dante Grant of Henry Sibley
Best individual player battle to see - backcourt...Jordan Jackson, Jimmy Ryan & Dante Grant vs. Troy Klingsporn, Max Ryan & Drew Preiner
Best individual player battle to see - frontcourt...Mike Rostampour vs. the five foul rule
Most explosive player...Jordan Jackson or Manani Beavers
Hope he's healthy...Jake Kreuser
Don't forget about me!... Rob Daul of Hill-Murray and Jay Sewer of Richfield
Top Defensive Player…Max Ryan, Manani Beavers, or Drew Preiner of Tartan
Top shooter...Billy Chapman of St. Thomas Academy or Tim Lubke of Tartan
Craftiest Post…Jake Kreuser
Box Him Out!…Mike Rostampour
Top Young Talent…Darion Strong of Tartan, a freshman
Rivalry game to see...Henry Sibley vs. Tartan
All breakout team...
Rex Johnson of North
Troy Klingsporn of Tartan
Jake Kreuser of Henry Sibley
Drew Preiner of Tartan
Jay Sewer of Richfield
Quoteables and Top players...
Henry Sibley (27-3, 16-0)
Coach Tom Dasovich on his posts:
"I expect both Mike and Jake to have huge years. They get to step out of the shadows a little bit and be the key guys. We should have an inside advantage on most teams that we play. That is a great position to be in! I wouldn't describe either of them as unknowns on the Minnesota high school basketball scene but I think they will both surprise some people with their play this season after having tough summers with injury and illness."
Five to watch on the Warriors:
Jordan Jackson, senior guard
Dante Grant, sophomore combo guard
Jimmy Ryan, senior wing
Mike Rostampour, senior power forward
Jake Kreuser, senior center
Biggest Loss: Mike Bruesewitz
Hill-Murray (11-17, 4-12)
Dasovich on Hill-Murray:
"They have had a rough few years and they played a lot of younger guys last year but I think coach Dick Ghizoni does a great job preparing his teams. I think this will be the year they make the leap into the upper part of the conference."
Five to watch on the Pioneers:
Rob Daul, junior wing
Andy Bestler, senior wing
Tim Markoe, senior forward
Tommy Steicher, senior guard
Dave Simmet, sophomore center
Biggest Loss: Nick Wegner
Mahtomedi (17-12, 8-8)
Coach Keith Newman on his team:
"After graduating seven seniors who all contributed we will be inexperienced, but will have great leadership from guard Bobby Sherwood and guard Andre Arnett."
Five to watch on the Zephyrs:
Bobby Sherwood, a senior guard
Andre Arnett, a senior guard
Ryan Redmond, senior guard
Just Pahl, sophomore wing
Dane Schmid, junior post
Biggest Loss: Zach Goodwin
North St. Paul (20-7, 14-2)
The Breakdown on North:
"North St. Paul has a group of energetic, hard-working players who are dedicated to turning the program around. It'll be a tough task in arguably the toughest section in the state, but first-year coach Gerard Coury is enthusiastic. "We are going to turn this program around," said Coury, who has just two returning letter winners from last year's 14-13 team. Senior captains Nathan Schouvieller and Kyle Whyte will anchor the lineup from the frontcourt. Schouvieller is an imposing 6-7 in the post."
Five to watch on the Polars:
Rex Johnson, junior shooting guard
Nathan Schouvieller, senior post
Kyle Whyte, senior forward
Pat Savoboa, senior forward
Andy Jensen, senior post
Biggest Loss: Josh Bennett
Richfield (16-11, 10-6)
Coach Jim Dimick Jr. on his team:
"We will be a good shooting team with a mix of quickness and size. We have a lot of dedicated kids who have worked hard in the off-season. There will be intense competition between many players for playing time. As the season progresses, we should improve, and we could be tough by tournament time."
Five to watch on the Spartans:
Jay Sewer, senior guard
Corey Fitzgerald, senior wing
Jared Etienne, junior post
Ben Webster, senior forward
Darrien Johnson, sophomore forward
Biggest Loss: Renard Robinson
St. Thomas Academy (18-10, 11-5)
The Breakdown on the Cadets:
" They will have shooters, they will have size, they still have a great bunch coaching on the bench, and of course they will be disciplined on both ends of the floor.
Up front there is a group of four seniors ready to make their mark on the program. Six-foot-8 Will Patt has put in a lot of time to improve so expect him to be a low post threat. Especially considering that in the corner Charlie Aslesen should become a big scorer for the Cadets. The other dangerous scorer is 5-foot-10 sharp shooting off-guard Billy Chapman. This young man can hit from about 24 feet and in and he will do it consistently if defenses don't step out with him Last year he averaged 12.6 points a game and if the guys up front can keep defenses honest Chapman could be filling up the stat sheet all winter long."
Five to watch on the Cadets:
Billy Chapman, senior shooting guard
Chalie Aslesen, senior wing
Will Patt, senior post
Isaac Rinehart, senior post
Will Ratelle, junior point guard
Biggest Loss: Mike Fitzgerald
Simley (9-18, 3-13)
The Breakdown on Simley:
"Simley might be in rebuilding mode after graduating guards Muresuk Mena and Thomas Sims from last year's nine win squad. The Spartans also lost all conference honorable mention forward Tyler Nelson to graduation."
Five to watch on the Spartans:
Lamon Hoyt, senior forward
D.J. Vasquez, senior wing
Eric Kropp, senior shooting guard
Andrew Ewing, senior point guard
Shinoby Yang, a junior guard
Biggest Loss: Thomas Sims
South St. Paul (4-23, 1-15)
Ryan James on the Packers:
"This might be the toughest coaching gig in the Twin Cities. After several years Kent Getzlaff could never get this team out of the conference cellar and Getzlaff is widely considered to be one of the bright basketball minds in the Twin Cities. The Packers lose all their producers of reasonable note and that's off a four win team. If Matt Fletcher can get some things done there he deserves coach of the year awards and that is a serious statement."
Five to watch on the Packers:
Dan Ryan, senior guard
Xavier Rhodes, senior guard
Jack Bjorklund, senior forward
Billy Krodel, senior forward
Greg Lofquist, junior post
Biggest Loss: Brandon Strickland
Tartan (24-5, 13-3)
The Breakdown on the Titans:
" Tartan is one of the more storied programs in the state in recent history, having made eight straight state tournament trips from 1998-2005 and posting a dozen straight 20+ win seasons - and counting. Led by legendary coach Mark Klingsporn, the Titans should make it a baker's dozen this winter. "Our players will always play extremely hard," said coach Mark Klingsporn. "There is a major sense of pride to continue the winning tradition. We love the attitudes of the group of kids we will be working with."
Five to watch on the Titans:
Troy Klingsporn, senior guard
Drew Preiner, junior wing
Tim Lubke, senior shooting guard
Manani Beavers, senior forward
Charlie Buchmayer, senior post
Biggest Loss: Marc Sonnen
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