BIG
Team Previews:Aitkin Gobblers (2024-25 season: 10-17 overall, 8-6 conference, 4th)
Return one of the more promising 2026 prospects in Isaac Asmus, who is a UW-Superior commit. The 6'8" forward averaged 20.1 points and 14.6 rebounds per game as a junior. Asmus holds the Aitkin career and single season rebounding record. Senior Caleb Smith finished last season with an impressive 127 assists. He averaged 8.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Noah Moss is a junior who had a good season last year, he averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. New head coach this season, Landon Janzen.
Crosby-Ironton Rangers (2024-25 season: 11-16 overall, 7-6 conference, 5th)
Jack Kovatovich was an important piece for what the Rangers were able to do last season. He averaged 15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 41.9% (68-162) from three. Senior, Ethan Millsop will provide some size at 6'4" and did his share of scoring and rebounding last year. Millsop shot 42.3% (22-52) from three point range last season. Jacob English is a 6'4" sophomore, and should be the muscle that they need since he averaged 6.2 rebounds per game last year. English is one of the top football players in the 2028 class in Minnesota. New head coach this season, John Hoge.
Mora Mustangs (2024-25 season: 26-2 overall, 13-0 conference, 1st)
The loss of Gage Braiedy and Noah Oberfeld is huge for Mora, both are playing in college this season. Braiedy at UW-Superior and Oberfeld at Dakota Wesleyan. Senior Caleb Evenson is one of the few players who saw significant playing time last year with their deep senior class. The 6'0" guard will have to carry a heavy load for the team this year. Graham Balmer is a junior who does a little bit of everything.
Pine City Dragons (2024-25 season: 9-18 overall, 5-11 conference, 8th)
Should be an interesting season as Kyle Allen has left to go coach at New Richmond (WI). He'd been at Pine City since 2011. Struggled to find any information on any of their players.
Rush City Tigers (2024-25 season: 6-20 overall, 5-10 conference, t-6th)
Lukas Diedrich is back after being very solid for Rush City during his junior season. Should have some other solid athletes returning to go with Diedrich. Couldn't find much information on returning players.
Projections:
1. Aitkin
2. Crosby-Ironton
3. Mora
4. Rush City
5. Pine City
Conference Overview:
It'll be an interesting season after Mora comes off a great season, but graduated a lot of talent. A few new coaches are added to the mix as well. Aitkin gets my nod having Asmus and a few surrounding players returning. Crosby-Ironton could overtake them, and Jack Kovatovich could make a case for Conference MVP. Mora appears to have enough talent back to keep them relevant. Rush City is above Pine City for the time being strictly because Pine City lost their head coach. Other than that, that is a blind guess.
Conference MVP: Isaac Asmus (Senior) - Aitkin
Other Players to Watch:
Jacob English (Sophomore) - Crosby-Ironton
Caleb Evenson (Senior) - Mora
Jack Kovatovich (Senior) - Crosby-Ironton
Noah Moss (Junior) - Aitkin
Caleb Smith (Senior) - Aitkin
SMALL
Team Previews:
Braham Bombers (2024-25 season: 22-7 overall, 12-3 conference, 3rd)
There were no seniors on the roster last season. It's a promising season when you look on paper for the Bombers. Tyler Eklund was named the Great Rivers Conference MVP last season after averaging 26.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 5.6 steals per game. Fellow senior, Tanner Doble was an All-Conference selection last year after averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Junior, Soren Lilly was the third All-Conference selection after averaging 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
East Central Eagles (2024-25 season: 20-8 overall, 12-2 conference, 2nd)
Senior, Xavier LeTexier scored his 1000th career point last season. Add in another senior with 6'7" Ben Carlin, that should make them one of the early favorites in the Small side of the conference. Carlin also scored his 1000th career point in his junior season.
Hinckley-Finlayson Jaguars (2024-25 season: 6-21 overall, 5-10 conference, t-6th)
Seniors Grady Ausmus and Blake Bowers are back after a productive junior seasons. Both of them provide some height for the Jaguars; Ausmus at 6'4" and Bowers at 6'3". Ausmus had a record breaking night against Carlton/Wrenshall last season when he recorded 27 points and 27 rebounds. The 27 rebounds broke the school record.
Mille Lacs Raiders (2024-25 season: 8-19 overall, 4-10 conference, 9th)
Isle and Onamia combined a few years ago to form Mille Lacs. Josh Nickaboine is a senior guard who had a good season last year. He set the school record for threes make in a game against Ogilvie, making nine threes. Gabe Honek is another senior guard who has been a mainstay on varsity for a few years now.
Ogilvie Lions (2024-25 season: 1-25 overall, 0-13 conference, 10th)
The good news is that they only graduated two seniors from last season. The bad news, height is going to be a huge concern for them this season. Johnny Hoffman is a junior now and had a solid season last year.
Projections:
1. Braham
2. East Central
3. Hinckley-Finlayson
4. Mille Lacs
5. Ogilvie
Conference Overview:
Very top heavy in this side of the conference with Braham and East Central. Braham took the series between the two last season 2-1. Braham is going to get the nod for the conference title. East Central will make it interesting though. They have some size and scoring abilities to keep up with Braham. Hinckley-Finlayson and Mille Lacs could swap places, both of them seem to have enough pieces back that they could beat each other. Ogilvie appears to have some work to do in conference play.
Conference MVP: Tyler Eklund (Senior) - Braham
Other Players to Watch:
Grady Ausmus (Senior) - Hinckley-Finlayson
Ben Carlin (Senior) - East Central
Tanner Doble (Senior) - Braham
Xavier LeTexier (Senior) - East Central
Soren Lilly (Junior) - Braham
Games to Watch:
Crosby-Ironton @ Pequot Lakes (12/4/25)
East Central vs. Ely @ Duluth East (1/3/26)
East Central @ Braham (2/6/26)
Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin @ Aitkin (2/13/26)
Cherry @ Braham (2/19/26)
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