Section 8A Preview
Matt Bigelow
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Postseason play is right around the corner. With sections set to start in less than two weeks, PrepDig is breaking down each section with teams and players to watch.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Section 8 has five 20-plus win teams and while there aren't any that rank even in the top-15 in the QRF metrics, there are a plenty of quality clubs. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stephen-Argyle is the reigning section champion and looks like one of the contenders again this time around. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Favorite</strong>: <em>Sacred Heart</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Eagles earned the No. 1 seed in the West subsection thanks to a 24-win regular season. Jessica Remer is one of the top outside hitters in the state and leads a strong attack. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sacred Heart beat Stephen-Aryle earlier in the season and has just two losses - both coming to section opponent Badger/Greenbush-Middle River. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Up Next</strong>: <em>Stephen-Argyle, Badger/Greenbush-Middle River</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stephen-Argyle earned the No. 2 seed in the section with a 21-6 regular season record and after getting to state last season, looks capable of doing it again. The Storm lost to Sacred Heart in its regular season matchup and split with B/G-MR in two bouts. With a veteran-laden group (11 upperclassmen) and a solid out-of-conference schedule, the Storm should feel good heading into postseason play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">B/G-MR will likely earn the No. 3 seed in the west subsection but should feel pretty good about its chances going into postseason play. The Gators have wins over Sacred Heart and Stephen-Argyle - the top two seeds - and while they lost to both clubs in a late-season tournament, they've proven they can beat top-notch competition. Carly Mekash is a player to watch.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>In the Hunt:</strong> <em>Fosston, Ada-Borup/Norman County West, Fertile-Beltrami</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fosston is the heavy favorite to get through the east subsection to the section final round. The Greyhounds do have losses to both Sacred Heart and Stephen-Argyle but basically beat the rest of the section teams they could potentially see in the playoffs. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ada-Borup and Fertile-Beltrami would both be top-three seeds in the east subsection but are relegated to the No.4/5 matchup in a very tough west subsection. Both teams have several impressive wins on the resume. Fertile-Beltrami beat A-B/NCW earlier in the season. </span></p>
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