The season begins with a bunch of county teams trying to rally after less than ideal 2015-2016 campaigns.
It was bound to happen. Rushford-Peterson was bound to finally not win the section. After a four-year state run, the Trojans fell to Spring Grove in last year’s 1A East finals. Tom Vix’s group finished 14-3 (TRC), 20-9 (overall), as 1A East runner-up. It was their sixth straight 20-win season. Sub-section runner-up trophies don’t cut it, so this year’s Trojans will look to rally. They graduated one All-TRC player (Matt Culhane) and four full-timers. They return (eventually) their most versatile athlete, fourth-year stand-out, All-TRC pick Noah Carlson (6’1” senior G). Carlson was either first or second on the team in scoring (11.0 PPG), rebounding (5.2 RPG), assists (4.4 APG), and steals (3.2 SPG) last season. Re-joining him in the starting line-up is fellow-senior sweet-shooting Luke Rasmussen (5’9” G > 8.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.4 SPG). Landon Goree (5’11” senior G/F > 2.5 PPG) was a mainstay last year. Jake Paulson (6’1” junior F) and Landon Skalet (5’9” sophomore) were late season contributors. Trojan football’s success helps and hurts. A lot of the keys guys are the same, but R-P basketball won’t be full strength until after the New Year cause of injury (Carlson). R-P has three seniors, six juniors, and four sophomores on varsity.
The only FCJ covered team that won’t have to rally is Houston. The Hurricanes had a 30-year best campaign last year, going 17-3 (SEC), 22-5 (overall). They fell to R-P in the 1A East semis. Jason Carrier graduated six seniors who accounted for nearly all of the minutes and stats. Three made All-SEC teams, including 1,000-scorer Austin Peplinski. Seniors Tyler Albrecht (6’1” F > 1.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG) and Brandon Grupe (5’9” G > 2.0 PPG) are the only two returnees to play in 20-plus games last season. Experienced Wesly Johnson is back in the fray. They are three of five seniors. Seven juniors and five sophomores round out Houston’s 17-man varsity roster.
The Fillmore Central Falcons enter the year looking to rally from last year’s 3-14 (TRC), 8-19 (overall) season. Aaron Mensink’s group fell at W-K in a 1A quarterfinal. FC will have to overcome the losses of last year’s leading scorer (All-TRC) Trace Tollefson, and their would-be returning scorer, Sam Rustad (6’1” senior F > 8.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG). A torn ACL in football will unfortunately keep him off the basketball court. Returning key seniors Drew Tienter (6’5” C > 7.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.8 BPG), Riley Means (5’10” G > 6.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.2 SPG), and Samuel Peters (5’8” G > 4.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.0 APG) will head the squad. They are part of a ten-man senior class. Tienter is in his third year of varsity action, and is one of four 6’5” seniors. A nine-man junior class, plus one sophomore, make the Falcons as big a squad (20) as any.
The Lanesboro Burros ended last season 6-14 (SEC) and 7-20 (overall). They fell to Spring Grove in a 1A East quarterfinal. Second-year coach Chris Hanson should have cause for optimism. He graduated three full-time seniors, but returns his top three scorers. Cole Schwichtenberg heads the cast. The 6’1” senior guard was second team All-SEC last season with team bests in scoring (16.7), rebounding (7.4), and assists (3.9). He’s been Lanesboro’s leading scorer the past two seasons and is nearing 1,000 points. He gets help from third-year teammate Colin Scott (6’1” senior G), who gives team black and orange a second returning double-digit scorer (10 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.1 SPG). Sophomores Andrew Luck (6’1” G > 5.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG) and Carson Schwichtenberg (5’9” G > 9.3 PPG the last fourteen games) give the Burros good returning scoring punch.
Kingsland begins the year with a somewhat fresh start. Head coach John Fenske saw eleven seniors graduate, including All-TRC guy, 1,000-point scorer Quinn Larson. The Knights will look to improve upon last year’s 4-14 (TRC), 10-17 (overall) showings. They fell to Houston in the 1A East quarters. This year’s cast is headed by a big junior class featuring Zach Bubany (5’8” G > 5.5 PPG) and Ian Meisner (6’7” C > 4.5 PPG). Each played a lot last year as sophomores. Senior Zach Buchholtz (6’1” G/F > 3.2 PPG) is another returning full-timer. He is one of four seniors to go with seven juniors and two sophomores to comprise the Knights’ 13-man roster.
The Chatfield Gophers will be the only county boys team with a new coach. Jeff DeBuhr takes over for Tom Bance. DeBuhr was the Gopher girls B-squad coach last season. He inherits a squad that went 6-12 (TRC), 6-19 (overall). They fell to Lake City in the 1AA East quarters. Senior returning starters, third-year player Parker Fossum (6’3” F > 10.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG), and Dillon Bance (6’0” G > 6.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.1 APG), head the cast. Fossum missed nearly half of last season to injury. Fellow seniors Brandon Ebnet (5’9” G) and Nick Maki (5’9” G) also got a bit of time last season. Chatfield has numbers, ten seniors and seven juniors.
The Mabel-Canton Cougars will try to move upward after last year’s 6-14 (SEC), 8-20 (overall) finish. Doug Wyffels’ guys fell to R-P in a 1A East quarter. M-C will have just one senior this year, third-year player Wayne Ross (5’9” G > 7.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.9 SPG). He’s the team’s top returning scorer. Sophomore Drew Wyffels (5’6” G > 6.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.7 APG) and junior Brenden Kerns (5’11” G/F > 6.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG) were big-minute-getters last season. Blake Henry (6’1” sophomore C), Logan Richardson (5’9” junior F), and Michael Selness (5’11” junior F) also saw some action. The Cougars have five juniors and five sophomores to go with the one senior.
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