HVL 2009-2010

[whips]

With many volleyball teams done for the year, basketball season is right around the corner. I thought I would give my picks on how I think the HVL Conference will finish this year. Its always fun to speculate. Here is how I see the conference standings going this year:

Gold
1. Hayfield - They return all 5 starters, and 3 of the girls were starters on the State tournament team two years ago. Too much fire power, and Coach Kindschy always has his teams well disciplined.
2. Stewartville - They have a very athletic team, with Rainey being arguable the most athletic girl in the conference. Sperber can also shoot from anywhere on the floor.
3. Rochester Lourdes - Melquist is a D1 player and coach Glass always gets the most from his players. He just doesnt have much to work with besides Melquist.
4. Winona Cotter - They do not have much talent returning, but coach Bowlin has a great philoshpy down in Winona and that full court game will win them some games that they shouldn't win.
5. LaCrescent - They have some talent returning and have had some good younger teams over the years. Would win many more games if they were in the Blue side of the conference.
6. Kasson-Mantorville - They have some very good young talent (Barrett, Buck, and one other young guard that I can't think the name of). They do not have very much height which hurts there chances to compete. Look for K-M to be very good within 2 years.
7. Byron - Do not have much scoring power and I have never been impressed with the Bears coaching staff.

Blue
1. Goodhue - Went to state last year and should win the much inferior Blue side of the conference.
2. Kenyon-Wanamingo - Have some good young talent and they always seem to fin ways to win some games.
3. Cannon Falls - Anderson is gone, but the Bombers are always toward the top on this blue side.
4. Pine Island - Yes, Whitney Canton is gone, but the Panthers have a pesky bunch of players that will bother some teams.
5. Lake City - I dont know much about them, but they always seem to hav some descent size.
6. Triton - This program is still trying to grow, but are still far away from competing in the HVL.
7. Zumbrota-Mazeppa - This program has been is shambles for a while. Hopefully some young talent over the next few years can turn this program around.

That is how I see it going this year. I honestly would take any one of the seven teams from the Gold side of the conference over any team from the Blue side. What are everyone else's thoughts?

[2bits]

This how I see it.

Gold

1. Stewartville-They are good with Rainey and Sperber spelling? Have a good bench
2. Winona Cotter- They have some good guards and a good post, and a bench.
3. Hayfield- Two of the best players in the HVL, zero bench thats why I can't put them on top, very average if in any foul trouble.
4. Byron- They have a pretty good post, some shooters, and a bench.
5. Lourdes- Good post and maybe one guard from last years B-squad, and??? I know this is Lourdes but this is what I feel.
6. Kasson- Very good younger players, the coach always has them playing hard. I would not be surprised if they were 4 or 5
7. La Crescent- They will not be bad by me putting them last. They have Kadlec very good player.

I fell everyone in the gold should have a winning record.

Blue

1. Goodhue- The best team in the blue this year. Some good guards and a tall post.
2. Pine Island- Whitney is gone and they are young but coach Canton will have some success with this group in the blue.
3. Lake City- Have a good post, I'm sure a lot of High-low as usual.
4. Zumbrota- They have Hinch she will carry them to some victories.
5. Kenyon- younger players and a new coach and new system?
6. Triton- there are sparks there, just not enough to make a fire but they are coming around.
7. Cannon- They have Jordan but the lower levels i can't see anything there. Nicole Anderson is gone, who's going to run the show?

Blue is down again this year. It is Godhue's to lose

I agree, I would take everyone in the gold to win the blue.

[usmts]

Gold:
1 - Hayfield, too much depth and experience
2 - Stewartville, Rainey and Sperber will be tough to stop. Keep an eye on Curtis (sophomore) as well, she will very hard to stop in a year or two.
3 - Winona Cotter - Bowlin's teams always come to play, good bench.
4 - Lourdes, Melquist will win them some games, she needs to get more aggressive though in the paint and play more inside. She is not an outside threat.
5 - Byron, younger than last year, but much smarter and much more disciplined, could be a surprise.
6 - Kasson/Mantorville, young, athletic, but too small. No inside game. Guard play alone will not win alot in HVL.
7 - LaCrescent, Kadlec is good, but not a whole lot to go with it.

Blue:
1 - Goodhue, think they will walk through this side
2 - Pine Island
3 - Cannon Falls
4 - Kenyon-Wanamingo
5 - Lake City
6 - Triton
7 - Zumbrota/Mazeppa

[gwhiz]

It is hard for me to make predictions at the beginning of the season. I like to see things pan out the first month or so........but I do have to say that anytime people are predicting Lourdes to come in 3rd or 4th in the conference (with a D1 prospect and Glass as their coach), that speaks volumes to the overall talent and depth in this conference - especially the Gold. Should be a fun year to watch basketball!

[whips]

After watching basketball Saturday at the Austin Jamboree I have to switch a few opinions on what I said earlier. Goodhue is much better then I thought they were. They are very athletic and fast, and I no longer think every Gold division team will beat them. I think they would finish in the middle of the pack if they were in the Gold division. I think they will walk to the Blue division title. Also saw Hayfield play at this jamboree and they looked like a team that is already very focused and if their starters can all stay healthy they will for sure be the team to beat in the HVL. The worst part of the Lady Vikes game was their defense and we all know coach Kinsdschy will have this fixed by their first game. Should be a fun year in the HVL! First game is Tuesday in Hayfield as the Vikings take on the Hayfield Staff. Although this is just a scrimmage it is always fun to watch and gives a little taste of what to expect for the rest of the year.

[Dude]

How is Kreckling doing coming off wrist surgery?

[whips]

The first 3 3-pointers I saw her take were nothing but the bottom of the net. A lot of the offense runs through her and it will be interesting to see how much her reparied wrist can handle early in the season. Only once did it look like it was bothering her and that is when she dove into a player going for a loose ball. It will be interesting to see if her wrist weakens or strenghtens throughout the year and if that will throw off her shot like it seemed to at times last year. If she shoots at the percentage she did her sophomore year then Hayfield should be tough to beat.

[wcf]

Friday November 27, 2009:

Caledonia beat Stewartville tonight by one point on a neutral court. It looks as though it is going to be another very interesting season again!

[Dude]

12/1/09 Predictions:

Cotter over Pine Island
Cannon Falls over KM
Lourdes over ZM
Goodhue over Byron
LCA over La Crescent
Hayfield over Triton
WEM over KW
Lake City over Cannon Valley Luthern

[whips]

I will also give my predictions for tonight. Glad basketball season is under way!

Cotter over Pine Island - Pine Island lost a lot of talent, but I think this will be closer then most expect. The Panthers have a pesky bunch, but in the end the Ramblers will be too much.
KM over Cannon Falls - KM full court presses the whole game and with Anderson gone I dont think CF can handle that kind of pressure.
Lourdes over ZM - Rather easy.
Goodhue over Byron - In what I predict to be a good fought battle, the Wildcats will prevail.
LaCrosse Aquanis over LaCrescent - Aquanis usually has very good basketball programs.
Hayfield over Triton - Hayfield will control this game, but like most of their final scores it will only be a 15 point win. The way Hayfield plays though that is a wide margin.
WEM over KW - WEM has the Barton girl who should dominate in the paint.
Lake City over CVL - CVL is usually not very competitive and any HVL should be able to take it to them.