2015-16 Section 4A Preview

This is the 14th preview in my 2015-2016 season preview series.  115 individual team and 12 conference previews are completed.  Now I move on to phase 2 of the previews.  Over the next 3 weeks, I'll take a look at 12 metro area sections plus a couple of outstate class AAAA sections that have local teams.  We start with a look at Section 4A.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 4A (24 Teams)
Defending Champion: Maranatha (2015 state 2nd place)

New teams in the section

• Chesterton Academy (N/A)
• Groves Academy (N/A co-op with Champlin Park)
• Lincoln International (N/A)
• Metro Schools College Prep (N/A)
• Prairie Seeds Academy (4AA)
• St. Paul Prep (4AA)

Teams that left the section

• Academy for Sciences & Agriculture (4AA)
• Christian Life (1A)
• Math and Science Academy (4AA)
• Southwest Christian (5AA)

Predicted Seeding

1. Minneapolis North
2. Heritage
3. MTS
4. Legacy
5. Maranatha
6. CHOF
7. Cristo Rey
8. West Lutheran
9. Hope 
10. Community of Peace

Minneapolis North goes on top of the list.  Heritage and MTS are poised for 20 win seasons and should be in a battle for that 2nd seed.  As usual, the bottom of the section has some of the worst teams in the state.  Very little usually happens in the way of surprising seeding wise in this section (only 1 upset in each of the last 3 years).  It starts to get interesting once you get thru the 1st week and down to the final 4.  You also never know who will actually play as many of the bottom teams in the section don't play the MSHSL tournament series.

Sleeper:  Cristo Rey.  Forward Jericho Sims has seen a meteoric rise in his stock.  If he continues to develop you have arguably the most dominant player in the section.  At the small school level, that means a team can go a long way.  After their opener, they play 6 straight games against the MCAA, including section matchups against the entire north division.  That will ultimately determine their seeding as most of the rest of the schedule is very weak.

Section Winner: Minneapolis North.  The Polars are still far and away the favorite here.  Too much talent and too much depth.  The experience of not making the last 2 years has to help at some point.