Tri-Metro Conference Preview
Fact: There are 10 teams in the Tri-Metro Conference, separated into two geographical divisions. Reality: People are only talking about two of them. That's because Holy Angels and DeLaSalle occupy a different part of the stratosphere than the other eight.…
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Continue ReadingFact: There are 10 teams in the Tri-Metro Conference, separated into two geographical divisions. Reality: People are only talking about two of them. That's because Holy Angels and DeLaSalle occupy a different part of the stratosphere than the other eight. In the interests of fairness and facts, here's the scoop on all 10 teams in the conference listed by predicted order of finish.
TRI-METRO EAST
1. St. Anthony Village
St. Anthony Village was one of the most surprising teams of the spring, and their impressive rise was sparked by a pair of then-freshmen, Sam Sibbett and Anica Thomas. Sibbett is a gifted guard who plays the game with a certain flair that just gives you the sense she knows what she's doing. Thomas is a natural scorer who can take advantage of you in many different ways. Those two will again carry the bulk of the load. The ace in the hole for the Huskies this season might just be Monique Walker. St. Anthony coach MJ Hadler says that the 5'10″ freshman is a big, strong forward who also runs the 200 in track. Size and speed is generally a pretty good combo, one that could bode well for the Village. The Huskies also boast sharp shooters Amelia Zmuda and Jessica Goldsmith. It's a nice collection of players led by an outstanding coach. That will be good enough to win the Tri-Metro East.
2. Concordia Academy
Concordia Academy went 12-14 last year. This year they get the glass slipper as the Tri-Metro Cinderella. The Beacons have even made their way into the top 20 of our AA poll, so I'm either going to look like a genius or an idiot. Let's be honest here, Concordia has been pretty average of late. Last year, the team from Roseville usually left us wanting more. This year they could deliver. Why? Because Concordia has the two key ingredients that every successful team needs: a great point guard and a big, physical post player. The PG is highly skillful freshman Ivane Tensaie of Tayler Hill Elite, who scored 18 in the team's season opener and 25 ppg in fall league. She has great handles, good court vision and two years of significant varsity minutes already. The post is Hailey Paup, a senior transfer from Cedar Falls, Iowa who inherited broad shoulders and powerful legs from her father Bryce, who was an NFL Pro Bowler. Paup should form a nice big-big combo with 6'1″ junior forward Lydia Lecher, who averaged 13 ppg last year.
3. St. Croix Lutheran
We have lost count of how many seasons in a row St. Croix Lutheran was defeated in the section 4AA final by Minnehaha Academy. Last year's stall debacle aside – ugh! – it was always good theater watching the Crusaders try, try, try again. The good news for SCL is it won't happen again. The bad news for SCL is that they were bumped up to section 3AAA where they have to get past Holy Angels. Good luck with that. Still, the Crusaders boast Audrey Gadison, a very good point guard who knows what's up. The senior will serve her country next season by delivering 3-point bombs at the Air Force Academy. Senior post Stephanie Miller is a strong presence up front. Two exciting freshmen, Kenna Moon and Juel Skrein, will contribute. Sophomore Clara Avery is out with a torn ACL.
4. St. Agnes
It seems like seniors Adaya Sandifer and K'Lynn Lewis have been the backbone of the St. Agnes program forever. That's because they have. The two highly-skilled Aggies are entering their 5th season of providing skill, grit and saavy for the AA school in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood. New head coach L'Ronne Graves is off to an odd start with a win over 1A Cristo Rey, a 21-point loss to Totino-Grace, and a tight contest with AA #2-rated Minnehaha Academy. The Aggies have plenty of seniors on their roster, including small-but-skillful point guard Bailey Larkin. She'll play an important role alongside junior Maria Gutzman. Perhaps the most intriguing young player is long, lean freshman Brigid Boyle.
5. Visitation
Visitation managed to win seven games last year, thanks to some judicious scheduling and a solid team concept. The Blazers, led by coach Doug Gavic, always seem to play simple, no-nonsense basketball, combining well enough to be competitive but lacking the athleticism needed to excel. There are six seniors now at the Mendota Heights school, and three of them are being depended upon in a big way. Guard Maria Callahan (6 ppg) is the Blazers floor leader while Caitlyn Schreier (13 ppg) and Kaitlyn Zenner (7 ppg) are her most effective accomplices.
TRI-METRO WEST
1. Holy Angels, 1 a. DeLaSalle
I'm going to make this quick and easy: the only difference in the potential success of Holy Angels vs. that of DeLaSalle is monstrous post Destinee Oberg of Holy Angels. The #2 player in the Class of 2019 is a beast when she wants to be, and in those moments she is virtually unstoppable. That's why a steady stream of big-time college basketball coaches have made their way to Richfield the past few years. If the grade A, ready-for-prime time Destinee shows up with her dancing shoes, all bets are off. If not, flip a coin.
Marc has covered the Holy Angels-DeLaSalle equation ad infinitum in section and state AAA previews so I'll spare you the details. In summary, it comes down to something like this:
- Destinee Oberg (HA) vs. Olyvia Travis (DLS) in the paint
- Power forward Elaina Jones (DLS) vs Kaylie VanderWerf (HA)
- Point guard Alex Walker (HA) vs Ayanna Gardiner (DLS)
- Shooting guard Alexis Cochrane-Starr (DLS) vs Megan Meyer (HA)
- Wings Emma and Isabelle Henry (HA) vs. Dacoda Speidel and Nurjei Weems(DLS)
- Youngsters Frankie Vascellero (HA) vs. Kiani Lockett (DLS)
- Forwards Nora Francois (DLS) vs Riley Thalhuber and/or Emma Mastre (HA)
So take your pick – 1 or 1a – and mark your calendars: Jan. 19 at DeLaSalle, Feb. 9 at Holy Angels.
3. Fridley
If Fridley is going to be better than its 11-14 record of last year, the Tigers will need a lot of Patience, as in star post Patience Williams. One of the premier players in the class of 2020, Williams is an athletic 6-footer who can do it all. She had a great summer with E1T1 and should be ready to bust out. Unfortunately, Williams didn't get off to a great start in the opener scoring just 4 in a 36-point loss. She'll be relied upon for much more than that. Britney Smith averaged a double-double last season and she's back along with guards Tyliah Frazier and Eboni Davis. Senior Morgan Teff will play a key role, as well.
4. Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights went 12-13 one year ago, and coach Brian Born has done a nice job of rebuilding the program. Unfortunately, they have lost two big pieces of their puzzle. Posts Pashia Scott and Emily Sheets have both moved on to college basketball, Scott at Augsburg in Minneapolis and Sheets at North Country Community College in New York. There are some talented youngsters in the program, including 8th grader Cloey Dmytruk, but it is junior Destiny Vaughan who will do most of the scoring for the Hylanders.
5. Brooklyn Center
It has been a struggle at Brooklyn Center in recent years as the Centaurs have lacked numbers and, as a result, victories. They will be captained once again by sophomore Shamia Hudson, a point guard who led Brooklyn Center last season in pretty much every positive statistical category. She's joined in the backcourt by freshman Nayeli Williams, who is a capable scorer and the team's best defender.
All Conference
C – Destinee Oberg, Holy Angels, junior
F – Elaina Jones, DeLaSalle, junior
F – Nora Francois, DeLaSalle, freshman
G – Adaya Sandifer, St. Agnes, senior
G – Audrey Gadison, St. Croix Lutheran, senior
2nd Team
C – Olyvia Travis, DeLaSalle, junior
F – Kaylie VanDerWerf, Holy Angels, sophomore
F – Patience Williams, Fridley, sophomore
G – Ayanna Gardiner, DeLaSalle, senior
G – K'Lynn Lewis, St. Agnes, senior
3rd Team
C – Haley Paup, Concordia Academy, senior
F – Riley Thalhuber, Holy Angels, senior
F – Nurjei Weems, DeLaSalle, sophomore
G – Anica Thomas, St. Anthony, sophomore
G – Sam Sibbett, St. Anthony, sophomore
Stock Raisers
C – Stephanie Miller, St. Croix Lutheran, senior
F – Britney Smith, Fridley, senior
F – Mary-Claire Francois, DeLaSalle, junior
G – Alex Walker, Holy Angels, junior
G – Ivane Tensaie, Concordia Academy, Freshman