EastGuruWannabe wrote:Eminence wrote:True, that BHS lost alot but they still return 2 starter's: Sigl and Feeney. With a new coach also, I think they will struggle against some of the teams.
Century, will be a decent team with Buck, Sorenson, and Peterson. Their guards will have to pick up the pace to be a contendor and that's why I think they match up so well with Jamestown.
Jamestown lost their outside shooter and their point guard. I don't see anyone who will be able to step up into Hornung's place or hit the 3's like Schuchard. I think Century will beat them again.
Mandan lost Jensen, but still has Collins. They will be short on the post's but that's not Mandan's strength since Kelpenski left. I still pick them to win with Collins. I don't see anyone in the league that can hold her.
South is a contendor but I wouldn't under estimate the loss of Anstad and Stroup. They were very balanced last year but those players added alot to the balance. Weatherspoon is tall but without the drive, anyone can hold her. She doesn't pound it in and she doesn't have a lot of finese moves. She's not very aggressive. Lee is only 5'10 and I don't see her dominating Buck-Century or Ramlo-Jamestown.
South vrs Jamestown/Century: Jamestown post are better, stronger and will score on south. South has better guards with Burck. Close game but I think Jamestown will win unless South figures out how to press and push the ball. Typically, South will slow it up and try to pound it in. I don't see them beating Jamestown or Century with that style of ball.
South vrs BHS/Mandan: Neither teams are stong in the post. Definetly decided by the guards. I think South will take BHS because they had so much turnover and a new coach but definetly cannot match up to the pressure of Mandan. I don't see anyone on South's team holding Collins.
What do you think?
Ahh, did you actually watch south play last season? South's fullcourt pressure and fast breaking was the key to their success. Teams that stayed with south were the teams that took them OUT OF their running game. South pressed every game and their great guard play - at least 4 deep - was and will continue to be their bread and butter. Did you watch the semi final vs bhs last march? yes the bruins did fall behind big early, but how did they get back in the game? it wasn't by slowing it down and trying to pound it into the posts, it was by pressuring the demon players into a faster pace. i look for a repeat perfomance this season from south - great guard play that will pressure teams until the game is securely in hand. slowing it down and trying to pound it inside is a last resort. go look at their scores from last year - 100, 92, 88, 85, couple 83's and a crapload of scores in the 70's. You don't get those kind of numbers by "slowing it up".
It's easy to score alot that with easy teams, a 100 against Valley City come on Class B teams were pounding them!
The East doesn't have much competition for South and I think that hurts them in the long run. I did see the semi finals with BHS and my opinion is that South was the team that couldn't handle the pressure. BHS look like they were in control the whole game. There is a big difference between the pressure put on in the East and the pressure put on in the West.
I still wonder about Central and why people pick them to be good? What about Devils Lake?