HIGHLIGHT ISSUE

Top 20 Rankings by Class Pages 4-5

Volume 22

Issue No. 2

December 4

Minnesota Basketball Highlights Banham’s back to lead Gopher women, but another superstar left By Bruce Strand

It was during that loss to Auburn that Banham sank a three-point

O

on a show!”

Banham has returned and recently broke the school scoring record held by the program’s greatest player, Lindsay Whalen. But once again the Gophers won’t have a Banham/Zuhai pairing as the 6-foot-4 Swedish import took the unusual step (for female players) of turning pro last spring. The Gophers have started the season 4-1, losing to Auburn 81-79 in overtime in the San Juan shootout.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL Boys’ Top 20 Team Rankings Girls’ Top 20 Team Rankings Highlights - Boys Highlights - Girls COLLEGE BASKETBALL MN Gopher men MN Gopher women MN college conferences PRO BASKETBALL MN Timberwolves MN Lynx Minnesotans in pro basketball

ne superstar gone, one superstar back, that’s the main story lines for the Minnesota Gopher women this winter. Last year, senior guard Rachel Banham, a pre-season All-America pick, had a knee injury in early December, and sophomore Amanda puta first-team Zuhai B “Tyus morphed into All-America center.

2015-2016

Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

shot that eclipsed Whalen’s record of 2,285 points from 2000 to 2004. Banham had 29 that game, lifting her total to 2,304 in 117 career games, a 19.7 average. The senior guard from Lakeville North is hitting 25.0 per game this year. “It will be nice not to be asked about it, always,” Banham said in a WCCO Radio interview. “I mean, I loved that, but it will be nice to just focus on the team’s goals. My focus has always been on how far the team can go.” Continued on page 11

CONTRIBUTORS Bruce Strand - lead writer Ron Haggstrom - boys’ editor Kevin Anderson - girls’ editor Terry Kunze - column Jeff McCarron - publisher, column

Big Game Breakdown Tipoff Classic Minnetonaka High School Saturday, December 12 @ 3:45 p.m. #2 Apple Valley vs. #1 Hopkins

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Minnesota Basketball News

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Carr leaves Eden Prairie girls for Minnetonka boys, and Eagles land Johnson-Patterson to replace him By Bruce Strand

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The Eden Prairie post was open because Carr, the former Timberwolf who’s the only ex-NBA player coaching in the state, moved to Minnetonka to take over the boys program.

Johnson-Patterson, who built Class 3A dynasties at Minneapolis North (five championships) and DeLaSalle (three championships), is now Faith Johnson-Patterson coach of Class 4A power Eden Prairie.

Carr, 41, who played six seasons with six NBA teams, has headed Eden Prairie girls for five years, averaging over 20 wins, with two state tournament teams. He also owns and operates 43 Hoops Basketball Academy.

wo of the state’s most high-profile coaches, Faith Johnson-Patterson and Chris Carr, are heading new teams this winter.

“It’s an exciting opportunity … the next chapter in my journey coaching,” Patterson commented to the Star Tribune. The former Wisconsin Badger guard, 52, had to sit out the 2014-15 season with several painful health issues and commented that she took two months to decide to accept the new post.

Chris Carr

“This is a new opportunity and I am really looking forward to it,” Carr said, in a press release from Minnetonka High School. “Minnetonka has a history of good success, and they play in the most competitive conference in the state.” Carr succeeds Tom Dasovich, who became the Activities Director at Watertown-Mayer High School. Minnetonka went 19-8 last season.

Email Erik Olson at [email protected]

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Minnesota Basketball News

December 4

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Minnesota Basketball News

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BOYS High School Team Rankings - Top 20 Class 4A

Class 2A

Class 3A

Class 1A

1. Apple Valley (3-0) 2. Hopkins (3-0) 3. Maple Grove (0-0) 4. Champlin Park (0-0) 5. Tartan (1-0) 6. Lakeville North (3-0) 7. Rochester John Marshall (2-0) 8. Wayzata (2-1) 9. Shakopee (2-0) 10. Eden Prairie (1-1) 11. Minnetonka (1-1) 12. Edina (3-0) 13. Cretin-Derham Hall (1-0) 14. Osseo (2-0) 15. Armstrong (1-1) 16. Chaska (2-1) 17. Lakeville South (2-1) 18. St. Louis Park (4-0) 19. Mounds View (3-0) 20. Chanhassen (1-1) 1. DeLaSalle (0-0) 2. Northfield (4-0) 3. Minneapolis Henry (1-0) 4. Waconia (3-0) 5. Mankato East (2-1) 6. Fridley (1-0) 7. Delano (4-0) 8. Red Wing (4-0) 9. Orono (4-0) 10. St. Paul Johnson (0-1) 11. Hermantown (1-2) 12. Marshall (1-2) 13. Mankato West (0-1) 14. Alexandria (3-0) 15. Columbia Heights (1-0) 16. Totino-Grace (1-0) 17. St. Thomas Academy (1-1) 18. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (1-2) 19. Monticello (2-2) 20. Rocori (3-1)

1. Melrose (2-0) 2. St. Croix Lutheran (2-0) 3. Braham (2-0) 4. Caledonia (2-0) 5. Minnehaha Academy (1-1) 6. Esko (2-0) 7. St. Paul Academy (4-1) 8. Jackson County Central (0-0) 9. Lake City (3-0) 10. Albany (2-0) 11. Watertown-Mayer (3-0) 12. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (3-0) 13. Redwood Valley (2-0) 14. Maple River (2-0) 15. Minneapolis Roosevelt (1-1) 16. Brooklyn Center (1-1) 17. Crosby-Ironton (0-0) 18. Annandale (2-0) 19. St. Charles (5-0) 20. St. Cloud Cathedral (2-1) 1. Minneapolis North (1-0) 2. Central Minnesota Christian (2-0) 3. Battle Lake (2-0) 4. Spring Grove (2-0) 5. Minnesota Transitions (1-0) 6. Rushford-Peterson (2-0) 7. Browerville/Eagle Valley (3-0) 8. Cass Lake-Bena (1-0) 9. Springfield (2-1) 10. Goodhue (1-1) 11. Heritage Christian (1-1) 12. Mountain Iron-Buhl (2-0) 13. Park Christian (0-1) 14. Waubun (0-0) 15. MACCRAY (2-0) 16. St. Clair (3-0) 17. Nevis (2-0) 18. Murray County Central (3-1) 19. Red Lake (1-0) 20. Mankato Loyola (1-2)

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Minnesota Basketball News

December 4

GIRLS High School Team Rankings - Top 20 Class 4A

1. Hopkins (2-0) 2. Minnetonka (1-0) 3. Elk River (1-0) 4. Eastview (2-0) 5. Edina (1-0) 6. Centennial (0-0) 7. Shakopee (1-0) 8. Park Center (0-0) 9. Rochester Mayo (1-0) 10. Lakeville North (3-0) 11. St. Michael-Albertville (1-0) 12. Lakeville South (1-0) 13. Anoka (1-0) 14. White Bear Lake (0-2) 15. Andover (0-0) 16. Osseo (1-2) 17. Rochester John Marshall (1-0) 18. Blaine (2-0) 19. Maple Grove (0-0) 20. East Ridge (1-0)

Class 3A

1. Orono (1-0) 2. Hutchinson (2-0) 3. Thief River Falls (1-0) 4. Winona (0-0) 5. Bloomington Kennedy (0-3) 6. Marshall (0-0) 7. Kasson-Mantorville (0-0) 8. Alexandria (0-0) 9. St. Paul Como Park (2-1) 10. Holy Angels (1-0) 11. Mahtomedi (0-0) 12. Hill-Murray (0-0) 13. Totino-Grace (0-0) 14. Willmar (0-0) 15. Simley (0-0) 16. Grand Rapids (1-0) 17. Byron (3-0) 18. Northfield (2-0) 19. Waseca (2-0) 20. DeLaSalle (1-2)

Class 2A

1. Plainview-Elgin-Millville (1-0) 2. Sauk Centre (1-0) 3. Annandale (0-0) 4. Roseau (1-0) 5. Pequot Lakes (1-0) 6. New London-Spicer (0-0) 7. Minnehaha Academy (2-0) 8. Dover-Eyota (2-1) 9. St. Croix Lutheran (0-0) 10. Esko (1-0) 11. St. Peter (1-0) 12. Minnewaska Area (1-0) 13. Watertown-Mayer (1-0) 14. Pipestone Area (0-0) 15. Pelican Rapids (0-0) 16. Norwood Young America (0-0) 17. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (1-0) 18. New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (1-0) 19. Albany (1-0) 20. Staples-Motley (1-0)

Class 1A

1. Mountain Iron-Buhl (1-0) 2. Goodhue (2-0) 3. Lyle-Pacelli (1-0) 4. Browerville (0-0) 5. Win-E-Mac (1-0) 6. Maranatha (0-1) 7. Ada-Borup (0-1) 8. Mankato Loyola (1-0) 9. Cromwell (1-0) 10. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity (1-0) 11. Sleepy Eye (2-0) 12. Wheaton-Herman-Norcross (1-0) 13. Canby (0-0) 14. Fosston (1-0) 15. Stephen-Argyle (1-0) 16. Granada-Huntley-East Chain (0-0) 17. Red Lake (0-0) 18. Floodwood (1-0) 19. Rushford-Peterson (1-0) 20. Menahga (1-0)

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Pacesetter - Supporting HOMETOWN Teams By Jeff McCarron

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here is nothing quite like the feeling of being part of a group, whether it is a family, a community, a team, an organization, or a special group of friends. Working together for a goal, sharing life’s journey, and supporting each other at all times make it a special experience. You are a fortunate person if you are part of one good group. You are truly blessed if you are part of several. At Pacesetter and Minnesota Basketball News, we have a great office staff, a great coaching staff, and a large group of supportive parents, players and fans. In the big picture all basketball people are part of a large family, a network of people with a love for basketball in common. Our mission at Pacesetter is to support this larger basketball family in the Upper Midwest five-state area by supporting “Hometown Teams”, teams that play for the same school or within the same community. WHAT DO WE DO? We started in 1980 by offering low-cost high-quality area basketball camps in outstate areas throughout Minnesota and South Dakota. We send the best coaches we can find – who love basketball and teaching it to kids – directly into hometown gyms. Our coaches stay in the communities, eat in the communities and get to know the people and players from each area. We have continued this bond with hometown teams for 36 years. We also provide volleyball camps. In 2010, we started providing residential basketball camps in a 28-hour, 3-day program featuring specialty camps: Shooting Camps, Jump Shooting and Offensive Skills Camps, Championship All-Skills Camps, and Combo Camps with all-skills and shooting combined. Parents and players love this program with so many hours in a 3-day period, so we have been

expanding these camps, seeking good gyms with a nearby hotel for player and staff housing. Anyone with a good setting in your community should contact me at [email protected]. We are especially looking for a good site in SE Minnesota.

Jeff McCarron

Our coaches for all camps are either state championship coaches, former state championship players, college coaches or coaches with the highest credentials as teachers of the game. In 1993 we began the Minnesota Youth Basketball State Championships with an 8-region playoff system. Over 600 teams compete in this playoff system annually. In 2010 we began the Pacesetter Great Four-State championship system for youth teams in Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. The top two teams from each state are then invited to play in the Pacesetter Great Four-State Championships at the Target Center in Minneapolis. As a support system for Hometown Teams, all players must attend the same school or live or attend school in the same school district or tribal community. Over 1,000 youth teams in grades 4-9 are expected to play in this system in 2016. This system – and all Pacesetter programs - supports basketball in communities by providing high-quality experiences close to home at a reasonable cost. We hope you will join us in this Hometown Team effort by encouraging participation in our camps or tournaments. Our website is www.pacesetternet. com. Fliers for our four-state youth playoff system are posted, and fliers for all camps will be posted as the camps are scheduled. Pacesetter is here to stay. We hope you will join us and share the journey!

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Minnesota Basketball News

December 4

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Caledonia boys revved up for another state hoops bid after winning it all in football By Bruce Strand

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aledonia basketball coach Josh Dierson enjoyed the football team’s march to the state championship like everyone else in town this fall but not without some anxious moments. “When anyone gets hit hard you hope they don’t get injured,” Dierson said. “To be honest, I was hoping Owen would get out of bounds anytime he ran.” Owen King, the junior quarterback who rifled four touchdown passes in the 40-0 rout of Pipestone Area in the Class 2A finals at the Prep Bowl, and senior wide receiver Colton Lampert are returning starters from Caledonia’s state Class 2A runner-up basketball team. Lampert averaged 14.5 points and King 14.0, sinking 104 three-pointers at a 42-percent rate. “Colton and Owen will be big-time players for us this year,” Dierson said. “Colton is one of the best open court players we have had. He can hurt you by scoring and is a solid passer. He is one of the top guards in our class. Owen has become a complete player. He has a great court sense and can hurt you outside or in.” Caledonia, which also placed third in the 2014 state basketball tournament, makes a deep run in football playoffs every year, which means a late start for the kids who also play basketball. “The Prep Bowl has always affected our basketball season,” Dierson said. “If we win, it affects us even more.” He adds, “It is a great problem to have.” The Warriors were able to open with a 90-47 rout of Fillmore Central just 11 days after the Prep Bowl —

they had 20 turnovers but otherwise played solid, said Diersen — and follow up with a 75-45 win over Winona Cotter. Schroeder had 26 points and 11 rebounds against Fillmore, and King 20 points. Lampert had 15 and 19 in the two games. Other state champion football players hoping to pick one up in basketball, too, are senior Henry Russert (kicker), junior Thomas Jergenson (wide receiver), and sophomores Sam Barthell (cornerback, kick returner) and Andrew Goergen (running back), who scored twice in the Prep Bowl on passes from King. Another gridder/cager seniors Sean McGonigle (cornerback), who has a broken tibia and might not be able to play. Dierson also brings back 6-foot-5 senior Gavin Schroeder, who averaged 10 points and plays above the rim. He added that senior Ethan DuCharme will also be a factor. Schroeder and DuCharme don’t play football. Caledonia usually reschedules its basketball opener and Dierson gives the girders three days off “if they want it, or even more if they need it.” “They do need the rest mentally more then anything. They have been going hard since August in football. Its hard to make the switch right after a state championship. We just want their minds and bodies right for the end of the year.” The time off usually gives them about three days off before the basketball opener. It came easy for Caledonia in football this fall; their three state tournament wins were 48-0 over Blue Earth Area (King had five TD passes, Lambert catching two), 43-6 over Mounds View and 40-0 over Pipestone. Continued on page 10

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Minnesota Basketball News

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Pacesetter Newsletter

Minnesota Basketball News

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Minnesota Basketball Highlights By Bruce Strand

Apple Valley boys loaded with D-I talent, crush first 3 opponents

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pple Valley boys are poised for another state championship bid with three Division I level prospects, including Gary Trent Jr., who scored 87 points in the Eagles first two games. Trent, a junior guard, notched 46 points and 11 rebounds in a 105-69 win over Chanhassen and followed with 41 points and nine boards in a 96-79 win over Minnetonka. The Eagles have also beaten Chaska 9961. Apple Valley also has 7-foot senior center Brock Bertram (signed by Buffalo) and sophomore point guard Tre Jones back from their 2015 state championship team -- one D-I prospect in each of the top three grades. And senior forward Cameron Kirksey has an offer from Minnesota-Moorhead. The Eagles were also champs in 2013 so they’re seeking their third crown in four years under coach Zach Gorning.

Hopkins’ Coffey follows dad to Gophers

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opher men’s basketball made a long-awaited in-state recruiting coup in September when Amir Coffey of Hopkins verbally committed. The 6-foot-7 guard who missed most of his junior year with a knee injury is regarded as a four-star recruit and ranked in the top ten nationally at his position. This was great news for Gopher fans after three blue-chip recruits from the class of 2014 went elsewhere (Tyus

Jones to Duke, Rashad Vaughn to UNLV and Reid Travis to Stanford). “I want to be one of the first to stay home and play for my hometown,” he said at a press conference to announce his choice. “I’m excited to be a Gopher.” Coffey follows his father, Richard, as a Gopher; the elder Coffey was a rugged rebounder for the “U” in the late 1980’s. He’ll be the second sibling in the Big Ten as his sister Nia is an all-Big Ten player at Northwestern in her junior season. Coffey, who scored 100 points in four games in the Pacesetter Sweet Sixteen this summer, also had offers from Arizona, Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa and others.

Rochester JM boys poised for breakthrough season

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he Rochester John Marshall boys, featuring Gophers recruit Michael Hurt, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, and his freshman prodigy brother, 6-foot-9 Matthew Hurt, opened with a 66-53 win over Rochester Century and a 68-49 conquest of Mankato East when the Rockets blocked 19 shots. RJM is hoping for big things this year after losing to Lakeville North in the section finals the last three years. Michael Hurt averaged 21.5 points last year and Matthew averaged 15 as an eighth-grader. Point guard Isaiah Walden told the Rochester Post Bulletin: “It’s nice to have two Division I (future college) guys right next to you.” Continued on page 12

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Minnesota Basketball News

Kunze’s Corner

Terry Kunze

Gopher Men: Season Preview

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he 2014-15 Gophers finished the year at 18–15 but only 6-12 in the Big Ten Conference. They also lost to graduation solid players in Andres Hollins, Maurice Walker and Deandre Mathieu from the lineup. Returning is Joey King (6-9” 9.77 ppg), Carlos Morris (6’-5” 11.1 ppg), and Nate Mason (6’-1” 9.8 ppg), Bakery Konate (6’-11” 2.2 ppg), Charles Buggs (6’-9” 3.5 ppg), and Gaston Diedhiou (6’-10”). Joining the returnees are three talented freshmen; Jordan Murphy at 6’-6” plays above the rim and looks like he could push someone out of the lineup. With long arms and quick feet and great hops, he will become a solid scorer and rebounder and plays hard. Kevin Dorsey, Jr., 6’, is a tenacious, on the ball defender. He is strong and fast and can put a lot of pressure on opposing point guards. Dupree McBayer is a long 6’-5” guard

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with a big upside. He has an excellent handle and can penetrate and dish. His quickness and high basketball IQ will get players good shots. The big question mark is on the block. Konate and Diedhiou must improve inside. Both have great size and are athletic, but they are not much of a scoring threat inside. Both are prone to fouling and must defend better in the Big Ten, which is a very physical league. Teams will test their inside defense when playing the Gophers. Charles Buggs at 6’-9” with NBA athleticism might be the key for this club. Playing above the rim and with adequate shooting skills, he can be an athletic stretch 4 and gives them great size at that position. He is kind of a mystery man because he shows no consistency from game to game. If he develops – look out! With very good perimeter players, the Gophers can pressure, run, and score a lot in transition. Lacking a back to the basket scorer, the Gophers will have to rely on transition baskets and jump shots. They must shoot it well enough to keep the driving lanes open. Their glaring weakness is defensive rebounding, which allows opponents second shots. King, Morris and Mason are solid and with the addition of Murphy, Dorsey and McBrayer this is a team that could surprise. This is a better team than last year’s addition and the upside is there. Picked 12th by the Big Ten by the so-called experts lowers expectations. This is incentive for the Gophers to prove them wrong. I also think they have to improve the home schedule, as it is hard to evaluate your progression if you are playing mid-majors at home. Schedule a couple of majors in the barn and prepare yourself for the Big Ten. Although they have struggled against teams that are not power houses, they are finding out who their players are. The freshmen are coming and the enthusiasm is catchy. After they develop a solid rotation they will be fine.

Continued on page 11

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Gopher Men - Season Preview Continued from page 10 On the plus side, coach Pitino knows the league now and can better prepare for the Big Ten season. Veteran coaches, as a rule, do not change what they do a lot. Scouting is a must and doing your homework in the video room will lead to victories. Let’s wish them success and support them in the barn. With expectations low, they can surprise the critics. They are a young team with potential, and remember – young teams usually get better game by game. If they can limit post scoring and not get killed on the boards, this season might prove interesting. Go Gophers!! Terry Kunze played for the Minnesota Gophers as a 6-4 starting guard after leading his Duluth Central high school team to the one-class Minnesota state championship in 1961. Kunze played with former Gopher great Lou Hudson before playing pro basketball in Europe and the American Basketball Association. He also coached the Minnesota Fillies (women’s pro

team) along with stints at the UM, other colleges and in Belgium over a long career. Possibly Minnesota’s greatest all-around basketball enthusiast, Terry Kunze volunteers his keen insight of players and teams in Minnesota Basketball News annually through Kunze’s Corner.

Big Father-Son Girls’ Game in Annandale Tuesday, Decemember 15 @ 7:30 p.m. #3 Annandale Cardinals coached by Matt Dreier vs. #6 New London-Spicer Wildcats coached by Mike Dreier

Caledonia Continued from page 7

They lost in last year’s hoops finals to Melrose 6351, and the Dutchmen have everybody back. Dierson acknowledges that Melrose is definitely the team to beat again.

had. We need those games to prepare us for the Lake City and St.Charles in our section. It is always fun to watch how basketball teams grow before they get to playoffs.”

As for his own team, he said: “We do think we can get back to the state tourney and that is our goal. We play the toughest non-conference schedule we have ever

Caledonia lost five seniors including Kyle Sorenson, now playing at Bermidji State and Austin Bauer at Bethany Lutheran.

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Gopher Women

Minnesota Basketball News

Continued from page 1 She said the team took her to a Cheesecake Factory and bought a big cheese cake to celebrate. Banham’s knee injury in Grand Forks during the 10th game, against North Dakota, sidelined the pre-season All-America pick and delayed her likely entry into the WNBA. Her petition to play a fifth college season was granted, and she’s picked up where she left off. Zahui B., plucked from Sweden three years ago by former Gopher coach Pam Borton, was just a sophomore but was 22 years old last year, and after the banner season she figured she was ready for the WNBA, after leading the Gophers to a 23-10 record and an NCAA trip despite the loss of Banham. Zahui, who was a tremendous scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, became one of the few women collegians and first Gopher to bolt early, with her coach Marleen Stolling’s blessing and good wishes. The 6-foot-4 center was the No. 2 pick in the draft, by the Tulsa Shock. She didn’t make a big impact as a rookie, averaging 9.7 minutes, 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Stollings last year installed a racehorse offense that helped the Gophers make NCAA’s for the first time since 2009 in her first year at the helm. This year she has a four-guard lineup while deploying another foreign player at the post in 6-foot-3 Jessie Edwards of Perth, Australia, although junior Kaylee Barnes from Milwaukee has started one game. Edwards averages 7.3 points, and Barnes 12.5 in two games. The Gophers also lost another WNBA player to graduation, forward Shae Kelley, who saw some action with the Minnesota Lynx. Stollings has four veteran starters with Banham at off-guard, senior Shayne Mullaney (Eden Prairie) at

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the point, and sophomore Carlie Wagner (New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva) and senior Mikayla Bailey (Osseo), all of whom were starters in at least 10 games or full time last year. Wagner, a sweet-shooting sophomore from New Richlard-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva who is likely to be Banham’s successor as the team’s marque player, is averaging 18.6 points. Bailey is next with 12.5 and Mullaney is providing 7.2 points and 7.0 assists per game. Stollings said she does not expect any one player to replace Zahui B’s or Kelley’s production. Rather, she wants guards to help take on some of those responsibilities. Stollings noted in a Gophers press release that this setup will not only allow for the fast pace of play she favors, but will also bring out more creativity in Banham’s game. “We have the versatility with Rachel to play her at any number of positions, 1 through 4,” Stollings said. “I think an exciting part of that is, from a defensive standpoint of our opponents, it makes it a little bit more difficult to match up with that much versatility on the perimeter.” The Gophers, whose 214 three-pointers last year was a school record, broke the single-game record with 16 of them in a 98-54 win over Wofford. Bailey had the hot hand with 26 points and six trey’s along with 13 rebounds. The Gophers are averaging 11 three’s per game.

Gophers sign twins and two others The Gophers signed four out-of-state players to national letters of intent, including twins Kehinde and Talye Bello of Southfield, Mich, both 6-foot-2 forwards; guard Gadiva Hubbard of Virginia Beach, Va.; and guard Jasmine Brunson of Queens, N.Y. ESPN’s prep rankings have Talye and Kehinda Bello ranked 20th and 45th among forwards and Hubbard 27th among guards.

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Minnesota Basketball News

MN Basketball Highlights Continued from page 9 Against Century, Matthew Hurt notched 19 points and 11 rebounds,Walden had 14 points, Ray Adams 12 points, and Michael Hurt eight points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and six blocked shots. Against Mankato East, Michael Hurt had a triple double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks, plus six assists. Matthew Hurt had 23 points and 13 rebounds.

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becoming her school’s first Big Ten basketball scholarship player. The 6-foot-2 center averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a junior, leading the Elks to an undefeated Northwest Suburban season and runner-up finish in the section. Northwestern coach Joe McKeown commented: “She really impressed us with her mobility ... she can run the floor, shoot threes, guard inside and out, and plays with great intensity.” Northwestern’s star is another Minnesotan, junior Nia Coffey of Hopkins.

DGF girls snap Ada-Borup win streak at 32 The longest basketball win streak in the state was snapped on Tuesday as the Ada-Borup girls lost to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 58-57. Ada-Borup, defending Class 1A champion, had won 32 straight games. DGF’s Faith Anderson made the second of two free shots with 3.3 seconds left to tie the game, and Natalie Steichen stole the inbounds pass, got fouled, and made one of two freebies with 1.8 seconds left. Steichen, a sophomore, scored 27 points. “We had a lot of confidence coming into it,” Steichen told the Fargo Forum. “We shoot a lot of free throws in practice. I was pretty confident, but the emotions going around were crazy.” Ada-Borup, which suffered 32 turnovers, lost its opener, giving them a below-.500 record for the first time since they lost the 2010 opener. Emma Kroshus had 16 for Ada-Borup. Coach David Smart credited DGF with “a great job pressuring the ball.”

Scheid signs with Northwestern; first Elk in Big Ten Abi Scheid, Elk River’s team MVP and all-conference since ninth grade, has signed with Northwestern,

AROUND THE STATE New Prague girls, a state tournament entry in Class 3A last year, won their opener 80-73 over DeLaSalle behind 37 points by guard Maizie Deihl at the Pat Paterson tournament in Hamline. Top players back are Deihl, who averaged 16.5 points and Taylor Hustad, who averaged 13.3. Both are juniors. Longtime coach Ron Gunderson told the Star-Tribune he loves the team’s attitude. “They play with their hearts and they play with passion,” he said. Moorhead girls opened with a 70-54 conquest of St. Francis, led by Brooke Tonsfeldt with 19 points and 14 rebounds and Sam Haiby with 17 points, six assists and four steals. (Fargo Forum). Kobe Ahonen delivered 20 points and 12 rebounds to help the Brainerd boys beat Grand Rapids 57-48 in the season opener for both teams. (Brainerd Dispatch) Mankato Loyola boys lost four starters from last year’s team but the lone returning starter showed he might be ready to step up and lead, the Mankato Free Press reports. Crusader senior guard Jackson Dehen notched 27 points and 15 rebounds in a 72-65 openContinued on page 14

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Minnesota Basketball News

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MN Basketball Highlights Continued from page 13 ing win over New Ulm Cathedral. Dehen averaged 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season. “He is tenacious,” coach Tim Anderson said. “He’s strong and fast, and he leads by example. He’s a good passer that makes people around him better.” Osakis girls are looking for a fourth straight 20-win season with five regulars back from a 21-8 team led by two all-conference players, senior Brittney Sadlemer and junior Alecia Kealke, reports the Echo Press of Alexandria. The Silverstreaks also have seniors Abby Stroup and Alli Scherr and junior Kayla Sorenson back under coach Pat Kalpin. Mountain Iron-Buhl, perennial Class 1A girls power, humbled Duluth East 87-46 on Monday, led by Mary Burke and Chelsea Mason with 18 points apiece and Tatum Primeau with 15. In trying to qualify for a sixth consecutive state tournament, MIB beefed up its schedule this year, starting with the Class AAAA Greyhounds, the Duluth News Tribune noted.

Sauk Rapids-Rice boys have been dominated by St. Cloud Tech for years, but the Storm snagged one from the Tigers 48-45 on Tuesday in their home opener. Tyler Kranz sank two free shots with 5.1 seconds left, after Kobe Boraas stole the ball from Tech, for a threepoint lead, and Tech missed a 25-footer at the buzzer. “We had them on the ropes twice last year, and we couldn’t pull it out. This means a lot, especially here in our home opener,” Kranz told the St. Cloud Times. The Storm are 2-1 and Tech 2-2. (St. Cloud Times)

Jack Garaets of Brainerd hit a jump shot at the buzzer

to beat St. Cloud Apollo 55-53 on Tuesday. Chris Pederson scored 18 as Brainerd improved to 3-0. Ethan Novacinski tied the game for Apollo (1-1) with 20 seconds left. He and Cole Johnson scored 16 each. (St. Cloud Times) Kyler Newman nailed 30 points, and Chris Tungseth had a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, for Hillcrest in an 81-68 conquest of Parkers Prairie on Tuesday, the Fergus Falls Journal reports. Sam McGuire had a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards.

The Bemidji boys didn’t get their third win until Jan. 23 last season, but the Lumberjacks stand 3-2 already after defeating International Falls 74-48 on Tuesday at home, the Bemidji Pioneer reports. Caden Rolfes, junior guard, led with 16 points.

Hutchinson swept a girl-boy doubleheader from Highway 22 neighbor Glencoe-Silver Lake on Friday. The Tiger girls won 67-56 in the opener for both teams, led by Tori Wortz with 21 points and Morgan Kurtz with 16 points, four steals and five assists. Mac Monahan scored 18 and Maddie Monahan 15 for GSL. The Hutchinson boys (1-2) pulled out a 55-54 win as Andrew Schmidt sank a 3-pointer with about three seconds left. Michael Kieser had 13 points and Schmidt 12, while Jacob Popelka hit 17 and Mason Ahlbrecht 16 for the Panthers. (Hutchinson Leader)

See Bruce Strand’s web site mnsportsblog.com for Minnesota stories and sports art.

Pacesetter Newsletter

Minnesota Basketball News

December 4

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I LOVE This Crazy Game! “Cutting Down the Net” By Al Halbur

There are 12 loops at the top of a basketball net. The reason I tell you this is that you don’t want to spoil the success of your championship by awkwardly completing the simple task of cutting down the net. Admittedly, I have spent more time thinking about this topic than it deserves. So to spare you of wasting your time, here are my suggestions: The honor of cutting those 12 loops should be reserved. Your point guard, who led your team on the court, should lead your team once again and cut the first loop. The starting underclassmen go next, followed by the first two or three off your bench. Those not mentioned, the future, the practice squad, the student managers each snipping a little piece off the already cut loops, reserving the last few loops for the starting seniors followed by the captain(s) who go last. I recommend that you practice this. This isn’t an original thought; I was reminded last night when I saw that ESPN was showing their 30 for 30 “Survive and Advance”, the story of the NC State Wolfpack and their run to the NCAA championship in 1983. Coach Jimmy Valvano had his team practice cutting down the net… for very good reason, let me explain. Every self-help book written on personal growth expounds on the suggestion of establishing goals. Regardless of level, regardless of past performance, every team’s ultimate goal is to win the championship. The token reminder of that championship run is the severed net from your victory. Each loop cut exuberantly by the members of the victorious team. Each saving a short piece for their personal scrapbook with

the remainder of the net draped over the trophy in the case at school. Most personal-growth gurus suggest that you provide a visual reminder of the goal to keep it in the forefront of daily thoughts. What better way to visualize the goal of becoming champions than to see the net your team practiced cutting down draped conspicuously in the locker-room? As I said, this isn’t an original thought of mine; I stole it from Jimmy V. Next week is officially ESPN’s Jimmy V Week with the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic featuring West Virginia(20) vs. Virginia(10) and Maryland(2) vs Uconn on December 8th. I also anticipate several opportunities to watch what I consider ESPN’s best 30 for 30, Survive and Advance. This should be required watching for every basketball program. (OK, maybe not for all ACC programs.) The underdog, come-from-behind persona that the Wolfpack exemplified, their ability to defy and win at all odds is truly inspiring. At a minimum, I urge you to watch Jimmy V’s ESPY speech, and remember “Don’t give up… Don’t Ever give up”! One last piece of advice: To ensure that the process of cutting down the net goes smoothly – buy a new scissors. If you are really confident, have it engraved at the beginning of the season!