Last year’s area girls basketball action was headed by Grand Meadow (23-7), which progressed all the way to their first ever 1A final. Lanesboro (19-9) and Kingsland (19-9) also made the 1A semis. Fillmore Central (12-16), Rushford-Peterson (12-16), and Houston (16-12) each made Rochester and the 1A quarters. In Class AA, Caledonia (17-11) and Chatfield (19-9) each made their respective section quarters in Rochester. GM, Lanesboro, FC, R-P, Houston, and Caledonia return multiple key pieces. Chatfield and Kingsland lost a good senior class, so each will have to regroup. Spring Grove (10-17), Mabel-Canton (8-19), and LeRoy-Ostrander (4-23) will look for improvement coming off sub-par seasons. Of note, the SEC is back to playing everyone twice, for an 18-game league season (versus only playing division foes twice, and cross-division foes once). Also, TRC squad Wabasha-Kellogg again has a girls team after not having one for multiple years.
Grand Meadow turned in a great season a year ago, progressing as far as they ever have. Ryan Queensland’s Superlarks topped L/P 62-23, R-P 47-45, and Kingsland 46-37 to make the Section 1A final. There, they fell to Hayfield 65-41. GM was the SEC-West runner-up (11-2) behind Kingsland. The Larks finished the season 23-7 overall. Team GM should again be poised for success. They had two 1st team All-SEC picks a season ago in sisters Kendyl Queensland and Lauren Queensland, two 2nd team All-SEC picks in River Landers and McKenna Hendrickson, and an All-SEC HM selection in Sydney Cotten. Only Landers (6’0” center > 11.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 56% shooting) graduated. Hendrickson (5’5” G > 10.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.1 SPG), however, decided to try wrestling for her senior year. So, the Larks return three “honored” players, all starters, and five total key contributors. The Queenslands head the group. Kendyl (5’10” Sr. G/F > 11.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.5 APG) was GM’s top scorer last season. Lauren (5’11” So. F > 9.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG) was the top rebounder. Cotten (5’6” Sr. G > 4.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 APG) led GM in assists. From there, Lexy Foster (5’11” Jr. F > 8.9 PPG) and Rebecca Hoffman (5’9” Sr. F) are two other key holdovers. Foster only played about half of last season per an injury, but made some big play-off shots. Alexis Westrum (5’4” G) joins with the above to give GM four seniors. Foster is the lone junior followed by six sophomores. The Larks have their new normal 18-game SEC schedule. Key West division games are with Kingsland on January 3 (home) and February 3 (away). They have the Decorah Border Battle (South Winn) and a holiday tournament in Hayfield (Kenyon-Wanamingo, Hayfield). Home non-con games are with Randolph and L-A. Away non-con games are with Blooming Prairie, R-P, and FC.
Poised to again be a good TRC squad are the Caledonia Warriors. Scott Sorenson’s group went 8-5 in the TRC last year. They won a first-round playoff game but got bounced by 2-seed Lourdes 52-35 in the 1AA quarters. They finished 17-11. The Warriors had three All-TRC picks and two more All-TRC HM selections a season ago, and only one, honorable mention pick Sadie Treptow (5’10” F > 8.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG), graduated. Caledonia returns four starters, as they look to improve upon last year’s solid season. Returnees Ava Privet (5’10” Sr. G), Alexis Schroeder (5’5” Sr. G), and Paige Klug (5’10” Sr. G/F) are all two-time All-TRC selections. Privet was the team’s leading scorer at 11.6 PPG. Klug averaged 10.8 PPG while Schroeder scored 10.6 PPG. Additionally, Jovial King (5’10” Sr. G) made All-TRC HM after averaging 7.7 PPG. Said foursome will be a strong drive-and-kick nucleus. From there, Josie Foster (5’9” So. G > 4.6 PPG), Isabelle Schultz (5’6” Sr. G), and Elly Milde (5’11 Sr. F) all saw action in at least 22 games last season. The Warriors return eight seniors total, as Kennedy Kruse (5’7” G) and Arianna Tostenson (5’9” F) join the above six. Similar to their volleyball team, the Warriors have size. Seven girls are listed at 5’10” or better. Caledonia has its normal TRC schedule. They open by hosting La Crescent/Hokah (November 29) and go to La Crescent later (January 26). Games with Cotter are December 2 (home) and February 3 (away). They have the Border Battle in Decorah (versus Decorah), the Goodhue Tourney (Maple River, Goodhue), and the TRC/HVL shoot-out (Stewartville). Home non-con games are with BP, Triton, Jackson County Central, and Cannon Falls. Away non-con games are with Waukon, Lourdes, Onalaska, and Lake City.
Lanesboro girls basketball had a good season last year. Bret Klaehn’s Burros went 10-3 in the SEC, grabbing the East title. It was the school’s first division crown since 2007. Lanesboro then progressed to the 1A semis, giving section champ Hayfield a game before falling 60-48. Team Burro finished at 19-9. Lanesboro played seven girls regularly last season. Three graduated including Brielle Ruen (5’8” G > 8.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.1 SPG) and Malia Tessum (5’4” G > 6.9 PPG, 3.1 APG, 3.1 SPG). But they had three post-season awards winners in All-SEC picks Kaci Ruen (6’0” Sr. C) and Jessie Schreiber (6’0” Sr. F/C) plus All-SEC HM selection Jensyn Storhoff (5’6” Fr. G). All three return. Ruen is the reigning SEC Player of the Year after averaging a double-double last year (19 PPG, 12.3 RPG). She is also reigning “Journal Sports” Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Ruen is what they call “a load to handle” inside. She is the top “Journal 11” returning scorer and rebounder. Schreiber, who was 2nd team All-SEC, gives the Burros twin towers again. She averaged 8.8 PPG and 8.9 RPG a season ago. Schreiber is a fourth-year player while Ruen would be, though she missed freshman year to injury. Both could surpass 1,000 career points. Storhoff was the most skilled Burro, missing some time, but averaging 9.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, and 2.0 SPG. After that, only Skyler Check (5’3” Sr. G) played most games last season. Nadia Highum (5’6” Sr F/C) is a fourth returning senior. The Burros open with the St. Charles tourney (Chatfield, St. Charles) and take on the Decorah Border Battle (New Hampton). They have a home non-con game with L-A. Road non-con games are with R-P, FC, Hayfield, and AC/G-E. Key SEC East dates with Houston are January 6 (home) and February 9 (away).
Kingsland was a 1A semifinalist last season. Steve Hauser’s Knights went 13-0 in SEC play, winning the West. It was their fourth consecutive shared or out-right division title, their third straight West championship. Kingsland was knocked off by GM 46-37 in the 1A semis. The Knights twice beat the Larks in the regular season. Kingsland finished at 19-9. Graduation dinged team double-K a bit. Five full-timers and six total seniors departed including All-SEC 2nd team picks Audrey Webster (5’4” G > 8.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG) and Shelby Beck (5’10” F > 6.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG). They do return All-SEC 1st team guard Anika Reiland (5’5” Sr. G), a fifth-year player who has been a key piece to the Knights recent girls basketball success. Reiland was all over the place averaging team bests 9.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 4.7 SPG last season. Katelyn Hauser (5’8” Jr. G), who was All-SEC HM, also returns. She averaged 6.6 PPG and a team-second-best 37 made threes. Chantle Reiland (5’5” So. G > 3.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG) and Cassidy Redman (5’7” Sr G/F) are two other key holdovers. Brooke Lecy (5’10” Jr. C) is a fifth experienced returnee. After that, new players will eat up Coach Hauser’s minutes. A-Reiland and Redman are the only seniors. They do have seven juniors. Kingsland has the Decorah Border Battle (MFL Mar-Mac). They have home non-con games with Randolph, Hayfield, AC/G-E, and FC (all in December). Road non-con games are with United Christian Academy, K-W, and W-K. The Knights have just two non-conference games after the first of the year. Kingsland notably plays GM January 3 (away) and February 3 (home).
In a similar boat to Kingsland is Chatfield this year. The Gophers had a good season a year ago. Brian Baum’s crew went 8-5 in the TRC. They won a Round of 16 play-off game but fell to Goodhue in the 1AA quarters 80-53. Chatfield finished at 19-9. Graduation dinged the Gophers too. They had two All-TRC picks and four All-TRC HM picks. Four of those kids moved on including All-TRC selection Peyton Berg (5’8” G/F > 11.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG) and HM picks Jaiden Zimmerman (5’8” G > 8.0 PPG), Zayda Priebe (6’0” C > 7.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG), and Tessa McMahon (5’5” G > 8.9 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.3 SPG). The latter missed a good chunk of the season with injury. The Gophers top holdover is two-time All-TRC selection Kara Goetzinger (5’9” Sr. F). With her mid-range game, she led the Gophers in scoring last season (12.9 PPG, 49% FGs, 6.5 RPG). Anna Kivimagi (5’7” Sr. G > 4.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.7 SPG) also returns after making All-SEC HM (filled in for McMahon at PG). Shea Jech (5’10” Sr. F/C) and Evy Goldsmith (5’8” Jr. F) are the only other returning Gophers to see action in basically all of their games last season. Josie Koenigs (5’7” Sr. G) rounds out a four girl senior class. Chatfield has more sophomores (10) than juniors and seniors combined (6). The Gophers open with the St. Charles Tourney (Lanesboro, Southland). They have the Decorah Border Battle (Decorah), the WSU holiday tourney (New Ulm, Kasson-Mantorville), and the HVL/TRC shoot-out (Z-M). They have one home non-con tilt, Triton. Road non-con tilts are with Cannon Falls, Pine Island, Waseca, and Lake City. They trek to Caledonia (January 3) while hosting FC (January 19) and R-P (January 23).
The Fillmore Central Falcons will look to add a few wins to last year’s total. Levi Olstad’s group went 2-11 in the TRC. They won a 1A Round of 16 game before falling to Kingsland 66-54 in Rochester in the 1A quarters. FC finished 12-16. The Falcons didn’t have an All-TRC selection. They only had two seniors. Included was the biggest departure, All-TRC HM pick Lauren Mensink (5’6” G > 6.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG). Kammry Broadwater (5’9” Jr. F/G) is the top returnee. She made All-TRC HM after averaging 8.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, and 3.9 SPG (a typical Broadwater-sister stat-stuffing line). FC’s top scorer last season, Abby Bothun (5’9” Sr. G/F), missed half the year to torn ACL. She averaged 9.1 PPG and 4.7 RPG before injury. Bothun played a full volleyball campaign, so she is back to full strength. After those two, Courtney Hershberger (5’2” Sr. G > 8.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.1 SPG), Alyssa Britton (6’0” Jr C/F > 7.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG), and Madison Simon (5’9” Sr. F > 7.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG) give FC five returnees who averaged between seven and ten PPG. Jersey Ristau (5’2” Jr. G > 4.9 PPG) and Regan Hanson (5’8” Sr. C > 4.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG) give the Falcons seven returning key players. Sydney Bronner (6’0” Sr. F) rounds out a five-girl senior class. FC has the HVL/TRC shoot-out (Cannon Falls) and a holiday non-con match-up at Kingsland. Road non-con games include the season opener versus Hayfield, Southland, Schaeffer Academy, Houston, Lyle/Pacelli, and Mabel-Canton. Home non-con games are with L-O, Lanesboro (January 10), GM, and SG. FC has games with R-P December 2 (home) and February 3 (away).
Rushford-Peterson begins the year with the luxury of having a 1,000-point scoring senior. The Trojans went 3-10 in the TRC a season ago. They won a Round of 16 contest before falling to eventual 1A runner-up Grand Meadow narrowly in the 1A quarters, 47-45. Joe Hatch’s Trojans finished the year 12-16. R-P will look to add some wins. They return five of their top eight players, a list headed by senior fifth-year player Kaylee Ruberg. The 5’11” forward averaged team-bests 19.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 2.3 SPG. Piling up over 500 points last season, she is already over 1,000 for her career. She is the second leading scorer amongst “Journal 11” girls athletes (Lanesboro’s Ruen). Ruberg was the sole Trojan to make All-TRC. But three other starters return. Included is lead guard Ellie Ekern (5’6” Jr. G), the team’s second leading returning scorer (8.4 PPG) and assistor (2.6 APG). Glue-girl Hannah Ronnenberg (5’7” Sr. G/F > 2.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.2 APG) and long shooter Tayler Helgemoe (5’10” Jr. F > 6.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.6 threes made per game) round out the group. Kallie Eide (5’4” Jr. G) is a fifth experienced returnee. The Trojans have just two seniors, Ruberg and Ronnenberg, but six juniors. R-P has the Decorah Border Battle (North Fayette) and a home Christmas Tourney (Annandale, Spring Grove, West Lutheran). Other non-con games are with Lanesboro, Grand Meadow, LeRoy-Ostrander, and Hayfield, as they play three of four 2022 1A semifinalists at home. Road non-con games are with Schaeffer Academy, Mabel-Canton, Southland, and Spring Grove. R-P has games with FC December 2 (away) and February 3 (home). *Note: Trojan stats are missing one game from last season.
Houston will look to get healthy this year to stay an SEC power. The Hurricanes lost a couple girls to torn ACLs last season. They went 9-4 in the SEC (second in the East), seeing a multi-year reign as division champion’s end. Dale Moga’s group won a 1A Round of 16 contest but bowed to Hayfield in the 1A quarters 67-29. Houston finished at 16-12. The Hurricanes return a centerpiece to their mantle. Senior Sydney Torgerson enters her fifth year on varsity. The three-time All-SEC 1st or 2nd team pick was 1st team last season, averaging Hurricane bests in points (17.6 PPG), rebounds (9.2 RPG), and steals (4.0 PPG). She chipped 3.4 APG, shot 55% from the field, 75% from the line. She’s already well over 1,000 career points. The Hurricanes, when healthy, have a seven-girl senior class including key returnees Priya Kingsley (5’7” G > 8.8 PPG, 5.2 APG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG), Olivia Beckman (5’6” G > 7.9 PPG, 53 made threes), Lilly Carr (5’8” F > 8.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG), Nicole Beckman (5’6” G > 4.6 PPG), Ashtyn Meyer (5’10” F > 3.7 PPG), and Kayleen Kulas (5’10” F). Carr was All-SEC HM last year. Kingsley and O-Beckman are coming off ACL injuries (might not be cleared until 2023). Emily Botcher (5’11” So. F) and Avery Kingsley (5’7” Fr. G) are two underclassmen key returnees, as Houston graduated just two seniors. The ‘Canes open with the Dover-Eyota tourney (D-E, Z-M). They have home non-con games with Hayfield, Alma, Randolph, FC, and Pine Island. A road non-con game is with Westby. Match-ups with Lanesboro are January 6 (away) and February 9 (home).
Spring Grove finished 10-17 last year, a fifth straight season below .500. But the Lions had a winning conference record (7-6) for the first time in five seasons, including a victory over East champion Lanesboro. They finished third in their division after taking fifth-place the previous season. Also, SG went 10-9 against other Class A clubs, better than the previous year’s 3-11. The Lions improved in almost every statistical category, including their best three-point shooting in 10 years (28%). Former Lion state-tournament standout Taylor Elton is the new head coach, moving up from junior high duties. Graduation claimed the only All-SEC selection and two-time Lion MVP, leading scorer Jordian Leahy (5’7” G > 13.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG). Last year’s leading rebounder (Katelyn Kraus) is not out this year. However, there is considerable experience to continue the climb. Among six letterwinners is All-SEC HM pick Addyson McHugh (5’10” G/F> 10.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG), last year’s second leading scorer and third leading rebounder. Another three-year letterwinner and returning starter is Lydia Solum (5’10” Sr. G/F> 3.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG) who was the assist leader and second leading rebounder. Also back with starting experience at point guard are Emerson Ingvalson (5’6” So. > 3.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG) and Siri Konkel (5’3” Fr. > 3.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG). Kendal VanMinsel (6’0” So. F/C > 2.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG) played in 21 of 27 games last year and Kylie Hammel (5’9” Fr. G/F) saw action in 19 games. The non-conference slate includes the Iowa-Minnesota Border Battle (Kee) and two games at the Rushford-Peterson Tourney. There are home non-con matchups with larger school Waukon and R-P, along with non-con road trips to FC, AC/G-E, and Class AA St. Charles.
Mabel-Canton will look to improve and utilize its young talent this year. The Cougars went 5-8 in the SEC last season. They fell to Lanesboro 52-37 in the 1A Round of 16. M-C finished at 8-19. Coach Adam Wilder’s graduated four full-timer seniors. But his top players a year ago were very young. Three of the team’s top four scorers return, headed by Kinley Soiney (5’10” Fr. F). She led the Cougars in scoring (10.6 PPG), rebounding (7.1 RP), and steals (2.3 SPG) last year as just an 8th grader. Soiney made All-SEC 2nd team. The Cougars All-SEC HM pick was also young, returnee Hope Erickson (5’8” So. F > 5.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG). After those two, McKenzie Kelly (5’5” Sr. F > 4.9 PPG) is third-year player. Katrinda Whalen (5’9” Jr. F > 3.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG) is fourth returnee, though she is coming off off-season injury. Kelly McClimon (5’6” F) gives M-C two seniors, and Whalen is the sole junior. As it typically the case for the small school Cougars, they won’t have a lot of numbers but will play the best from their entire school population. M-C’s schedule includes the Decorah Border Battle (Osage). Home non-con games are with La Crescent/Hokah (season opener), Randolph, R-P, and Fillmore Central. Road non-con games are with Postville, W-K, and St. Charles. M-C is at SG January 12 and hosts the Lions February 14.
Like M-C, LeRoy-Ostrander will strive for more wins this season. The Cardinals went 2-11 in the SEC a season ago. They fell to United South Central 54-49 in a 1A play-in game. L-O finished at 4-24. The Cards join Spring Grove in starting the year with a new coach. Kelly Masters takes over for Cori Ronnenberg. He inherits a team that didn’t have any All-SEC picks and graduated its sole All-SEC HM selection, Sam Volkart (5’8” F > 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.8 SPG). But L-O does have back its top two scorers in Jordan Runde (5’9” Sr. F) and Benita Nolt (5’11” So. F/C). Runde led the Cardinals by averaging 11.0 PPG while chipping in 4.5 RPG and 3.9 SPG. Nolt was one of two “Journal 11” players to average a double-double, as she put up 10.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG. After those two, Jenna Olson (5’5” Jr. G), Kendall Olson (5’8” Fr. F), and Maddi Huntley (5’5’” Jr. G) are returning full-timers. Runde and Nolt are the only pedigreed scorers. L-O has the Border Battle in Decorah (Postville). They have home non-con games with Faribault B.A. and Alden-Conger/G-E to start the season, then later versus St. Charles and United South Central. Road non-con games are with Fillmore Central, R-P, and W-K.