By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
There are 50 conferences in the state of Minnesota, and seven are named with a lake-related theme, not surprising, since Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
In a new twist this week, here is a look at some of the leaders in these lake-themed conferences and high schools from around the state. Here’s a heads up – there is some serious talent on these teams in these lake conferences.
1. Lake Conference: Home to Minnesota’s largest schools, this conference features league-leader Eden Prairie, who at 15-2 has wrapped up the conference title. At 19-4 overall, the Eagles are ranked No. 6 in the state in 4A. The leading scorer in the Lake is Alex Richter of Lakeville South, averaging 19.6 points per game. Zach Vraa of Lakeville South is second at 18.6 points per game.
2. Classic Lake Conference: This conference is loaded, and includes top-ranked Hopkins, Edina, Wayzata, Armstrong and Minnetonka. These five teams have a combined record of 82-23. Minnetonka, the 2009 big school state champion, is 0-6 in the conference – but 11-5 overall. Hopkins is ranked No. 1 in the state, Wayzata No. 8 and Edina No. 9. In a high-scoring conference game this week between the two unranked teams, Armstrong defeated Minnetonka 91-84. In that win Armstrong’s Damarius Cruz scored 22 points (he’s averaging 22.3 on the season) and Marquel Curtis 20.
3. Central Lakes Conference: St. Cloud Tech? 23-0 and ranked No. 3 in the state in 4A. St. Cloud Apollo? 21-3 and ranked No. 3 in the state in 3A. The conference’s leading scorer? Ben Rausch of Rocori at 20 points per game, followed by Adam Backes of Rocori at 19 per game. Rocori is one of five teams in the conference with double-digit wins this season.
4. Heart O’Lakes Conference: At 23-0, Pelican Rapids is on top of this conference and ranked No. 1 in the state in 2A. In a recent 86-23 win over Ulen-Hitterdal Pelican, Rapids had 13 players score in the win, led by Ty Storrusten with 19 points and Eric Shulstad with 12. At 19-4 overall, and 13-2 in the conference, Breckenridge is unranked, but ready to prove thrive in the postseason.
5. Metro Lakes Conference: While the Classic Lake boasts the best large school teams, the MLC boasts the best small school teams. Its four teams – Ag & Food Science Academy, Minnesota Transitions, Four Directions and Community of Peace Academy, have a combined 66-21 record – and some big-time stat leaders, including the state’s leading scorer Kevin Noreen of Minnesota Transitions at 34.4 points per game. Transitions Jerrell Washington averages 27.4 points per game and Cory Oquist 21.3
Three to Watch
1. Lakeville North: At 17-6, North is in second place in the Lake Conference and led by a number of key players including Tyler Swanson, Daion Newell, Cliff Johnson, Dave Berthene and Chris Orgas among others.
2. Spring Lake Park: At 14-3, the Panthers are in a battle for second place in the North Suburban Conference. At 18-5 overall, SLP averages 73.1 points per game and is led by Shaun Jensen’s 20.3 points per game.
3. Adam Miller, Big Lake: Miller averages 17.6 points per game, leading the Hornets in scoring. Miller has made 38 percent of his 3-pointers and connected on 53 this season. He scored 42 points, making 5-of-8 3-pointers and 8-of-14 two-point field goals, in a 87-73 win over Zimmerman Tuesday.
Two Hot Too Handle
1. Zach Riedeman, Forest Lake: Riedeman scored 23 points in a 90-87 win over Duluth East, and then scored 43 points, a school-record, in an 85-83 double-overtime win over Cretin-Derham Hall. Riedeman leads Forest Lake (8-6 SEC/16-8 overall) at 18.1 points per game
2. Ben Snyder, Prior Lake: Snyder leads the Lakers in scoring with 16.6 points per game. After being held to single digits in three of four games in early February, Snyder has responded with 24, 16 and 18 points in his last three games to lead Prior Lake.
