Blackduck Drakes (2024-25 season: 3-24 overall, 2-12 conference, 7th)
Coltyn Puffe was an Honorable Mention selection last season as a freshman. They do graduate Rock Cook who was a 1st-Team All-Conference selection. They were able to sweep Laporte last season.
Cass Lake-Bena Panthers (2024-25 season: 15-13 overall, 10-4 conference, 2nd)
Three returning All-Conference selections, and none of them are seniors this year. Sophomore Joseph Wind was a 1st-Team All-Conference selection last sesaon. Junior Adrik Fowler and sophomore Kenyon Goggleye were both Honorable Mention. They don't have a lot of height coming back this season, that might be their biggest weakness.
Laporte Wildcats (2024-25 season: 0-28 overall, 0-14 conference, 8th)
A tough season from the Wildcats last season. The positive outlook for this season is that Honorable Mention selection, Henry Weber is back for his junior season.
Nevis Tigers (2024-25 season: 27-6 overall, 14-0 conference, 1st)
Northland Conference opponents are probably glad to know that Alex Lester has graduated and they don't need to see him anymore. Graduated two other 1st-Team All-Conference selections in Isaac Bessler and Devan Lindow. The good news is three other All-Conference selections are back in senior AJ Bessler (1st-Team), junior Peyton Benson (HM), and senior Ethan Buckholtz (HM).
Northome/Kelliher Mustangs (2024-25 season: 15-13 overall, 5-9 conference, 6th)
Graduate two All-Conference players from last season; Billy Jack Schoenborn (1st-Team) and Kaanan Forseen (HM). Anthony Johnson is a returning senior and he scored his 1000th career point late last season. Johnson will have to be ready to score more of the load this season.
Pine River-Backus Tigers (2024-25 season: 15-13 overall, 7-7 conference, 5th)
Graduated Tate Norman, who was a 1st-Team All-Conference player as a senior. They do bring back their other 1st-Team All-Conference selection in Isaiah Aulie, who is now a senior. Junior Isaiah Downie was a Honorable Mention pick last season as well. Mason Nelson is a 6'8" senior that is capable of playing inside and outside. They do have a new head coach since Jordan Ackerman resigned this offseason.
Red Lake Warriors (2024-25 season: 13-13 overall, 9-5 conference, t-3rd)
Graduated two 1st-Team All-Conference picks in Tyrone Beaulieu and Andrew Roy. They do return junior Austin Perkins, who was a Honorable Mention selection last season. The Warriors have consistently been one of the better programs in the Northland Conference in the last ten season. Don't expect that to change just because of a few graduated players.
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves (2024-25 season: 20-7 overall, 9-5 conference, t-3rd)
Probably the biggest hit to any team comes for Walker-Hackensack-Akeley. Losing five All-Conference selections from a season ago. A very senior dominated team last year, with eight players who graduated, with three of them being over 6'5". Returning four varsity players from last year, only one of them is listed taller than 6'0".
Projections:
1. Cass Lake-Bena
2. Nevis
3. Pine River-Backus
4. Red Lake
5. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
6. Northome-Kelliher
7. Blackduck
8. Laporte
Conference Overview:
Cass Lake-Bena and Nevis have had a strong hold on the Northland Conference over the last 10 years. I'm going to stick with those two as the top two in the conference, in that order. Pine River-Backus probably has the most returning, which makes them probably a safe pick on my end. Red Lake almost always remains in the conversation, always a younger player ready to step in. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley seems like a trap team as of right now. After graduating so much, it's hard to really know where they might finish. Northome-Kelliher seems like they should be better than Blackduck and Laporte on paper. I don't anticipate the 7th and 8th positions changing from last season.
Conference MVP: AJ Bessler (Senior) - Nevis
Other Players to Watch:
Isaiah Aulie (Senior) Pine River-Backus
Peyton Benson (Junior) - Nevis
Kenyon Goggleye (Sophomore) - Cass Lake-Bena
Austin Perkins (Junior) - Red Lake
Joseph Wind (Sophomore) - Cass Lake-Bena
Games to Watch:
Red Lake @ Mountain Iron-Buhl (12/3/25)
Mountain Iron-Buhl @ Cass Lake-Bena (12/11/25)
Braham @ Nevis (12/20/25)
Crosby-Ironton @ Pine River-Backus (1/13/26)
Cass Lake-Bena @ Red Lake County (2/27/26)
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