Rushford-Peterson (12-2, 24-4) grabbed it first TRC-East title in over a decade ahead of Caledonia (11-3, 18-11), Cotter/Hope Lutheran (9-5, 17-10), La Crescent/Hokah (3-11, 5-22), and Fillmore Central (0-14, 4-22). In the TRC-West, Chatfield (11-4, 17-10) grabbed it first TRC title in three decades over Lewiston-Altura (10-5, 21-9), Dover-Eyota (9-6, 15-13), St. Charles (8-7, 15-12), PEM (6-9, 10-17), and Wabasha-Kellogg (1-14, 10-19). And thus, three of the four teams covered by the Fillmore County Journal either contended for or won a league division title. R-P, Caledonia and Chatfield all then get multiple All-TRC selections. For East division champion Rushford-Peterson, senior Will LaFleur (6’0” G), juniors Cayden Lea (6’0” G) and Carson Johnson (6’1” F) are honored. Lea and Johnson each repeated as All-TRC. LaFleur moves up after being All-TRC honorable mention last year. Lea, a junior in his fourth year of varsity action, led the Trojans with 18.0 points and 4.8 assists per game. He chipped in 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per. Lea hit a team-best 95 threes (in 239 attempts), a strong 40% accuracy from deep. He hit three or more threes in a game 20 times this past season. He also led the team by making 65 of 88 free throws (74%). The talented young guard went over 1,000 career points, set the Rushford-Peterson all-time scoring mark in the play-offs, surpassing Jamie Carrier (1,435). Lea is at 1,458 and counting. He will aim for the program (Rushford, Peterson, and R-P) record (1,693) and possibly 2,000 points as a senior. Johnson was the Trojans’ versatile point-forward, averaging a team third-best 13.0 points, team-high tying 5.4 rebounds, and team second-best 4.6 assists per game plus 2.0 steals. He scored in double figures 20 times, went for 5-plus boards in a game 17 times, and 5-plus assists 16 times. Johnson shot 56% from the field (146 of 261). He basically needs show up and play a game next year to top 1,000 career points. LaFleur averaged a team second-best 14.3 points per game with a team-best 2.1 steals per plus 3.6 assists per. The senior shooter hit 60 of 157 threes, a very good 38% clip. He also shot 51% from the field (138 of 268) and 81% from the line (21 of 26). Making All-TRC HM are the Trojans’ other two starters Cole Thompson (5’10” Jr. G > 8.6 PPG, 71 made threes at a 42% clip) and Landon Dahl (6’1” Sr. F > 8.8 PPG, team-high-tying 5.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 64% field goal shooting). Said guys helped Coach Chris Drinkall’s Trojans to their first TRC title since the state title team in 2015, and aided R-P in posting a 48-9 record the past two seasons. TRC-West champion Chatfield’s two All-TRC picks are Carson Harstad (6’3” Jr. G) and Ross Stoehr (5’11” Jr. G/F). Harstad repeated as All-TRC while Stoehr moved up from All-TRC HM. Each in their third year of varsity surpassed 1,000 career points on the season, Harstad in December, Stoehr the season finale with Lake City. Harstad led the team in scoring at 20.5 points per game. He was right at his average of 20.5 PPG as a sophomore last year. The skilled junior added a team second-best 6.6 rebounds per plus 2 steals and 2 assists per game. Harstad hit a team-high 66 three-pointers plus a team-best 99 free throws, the latter at a 74% clip. He scored in double figures in every game but three, going for 20 or more on 14 occasions. Reid Johnson’s school scoring record (1.668) is in play next year, and with another 20-plus-point-per game year, maybe 2,000 points. Stoehr upped his scoring ante from 12.2 points per game last year to a team second-best 18.0 points this year. He added a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game plus 2.5 assists per. Stoehr hit 42 threes at a team-best (for volume shooters) 43% clip (including hitting 52% of his threes in league action). Stoehr scored in double figures in every game but one. Harstad and Stoehr as a duo each scored in double figures 17 of the last 18 games, as they averaged a combined 41.2 points per game over that span. Making All-TRC HM for the Gophers are cousins Brandt McBroom (6’0” So. G > 11.8 PPG, team-best 5.4 APG, 3.9 RPG, 53 threes made, 40% clip) and Kash McBroom (6’3” So. G > 9.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.8 APG). Said guys led the Gophers to a good 17-10 season where they grabbed Chatfield its first TRC title since 1991-1992. All four guys will return next year for coach Jeremy McBroom. Section 1AA runner-up Caledonia gets two All-TRC picks in Grant King (6’2” So. G) and Coby Hammell (6’3” Jr. F). King led the team with 23.7 points per game. He scored in double figures in every game, racking up 20 or more on 19 occasions. The all-around scoring weapon topped 1,000 points as just a sophomore. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, thus accomplishing the tough feat of averaging 20 or more points, five or more rebounds, and five or more assists per contest. Hammell averaged a double-double, 12.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He was the team’s top rebounder, maybe the best board-guy in the TRC. Aaron Stemper (6’1” Sr. G > 11.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.7 SPG) made All-TRC HM. Said guys helped the Warriors back to the 1AA finals. Fillmore Central had a tough team season, but Bridon Bahl (6’1” Jr. G) repeated in earning All-TRC. Bahl led the Falcons in scoring at 16.5 points per game, rebounding at 8.1 boards per game while finishing second in assists at 3.6 per and second in steals at 2.0 per. Bahl also hit a team-high 69 of 198 threes at a 35%. He should easily topped 1,000 career points next year as a senior. Clayton Schoepski (5’10” Sr. G > team second-best 12.2 PPG, team-best 4.8 APG, 3.9 RPG, team-best 2.1 SPG) is All-TRC HM. Other purely All-TRC selections not from Journal-covered schools are Dover-Eyota’s Matt Matejka (6’4” Jr. F/G), Luke Meyers (6’2” Sr. G), and Jace Drilling (6’4” Jr. G), Lewiston-Altura’s Tyson Prigge (5’10” Sr. G) and Cole Kennedy (6’0” Sr. G), Cotter/Hope Lutheran’s Mason Dotterwick (6’1” So. G/F) and Gedion Errthum (6’1” Sr. G), PEM’s Jack Schreiber (6’4” Sr. F/C), St. Charles’ Jackson VanGundy (6’3” Sr. G), and Wabasha-Kellogg’s Bryar Ender (6’5” Jr. F/C).
Leave a Reply