Photo by Kristi Ruen
Spring Grove sat ahead of Southland and Lyle/Pacelli as the SEC’s top team this season. As such, a pair of Lion players highlight the All-SEC list. Elijah Solum (6’1” So. G) and Tysen Grinde (6’3” Jr. G) each made 1st Team after leading SG to the SEC-East title (14-0), the 1A semifinals, and a 24-5 season. Grinde led the team in scoring (16.0), assists (3.4), and steals (4.8). He hit a team-best 56 threes at 31%. His long arms and athleticism led him to post 5.4 steals in league games, tops in the SEC. He had 139 total. Solum was the Lions go-to scorer in the play-offs. He averaged team second-bests in points (15.2) and assists (2.9). He added 3.9 RPG and 1.6 SPG. Solum hit a team second-best 42 threes at a 37% clip. He made a team best 97 free throws at a 68% clip. Solum was All-SEC HM last season. Making All-SEC HM for the Lions is Carson Gerard (6’4” Sr. F). He led SG with 5.7 RPG while adding 7.5 PPG, 1.5 SPG, and 1.1 BPG. Gerard shot 48% from the field and 71% from the free throw line. He was All-SEC 2nd team last season. Grand Meadow and LeRoy-Ostrander each get one All-SEC 1st teamer, one 2nd teamer, and an HM pick. Tanner Olson (6’3” Sr. F) makes 1st team for L-O. The big, strong athlete led his team in scoring (18.0) and rebounding (7.9) while adding 2.0 SPG. Olson topped 20 points in a game 12 times including a season-best 36 versus Houston. He was All-SEC 2nd team last season. Classmate Levi Royston (6’3” Sr. G/F) makes the All-SEC 2nd team. The long senior averaged team second-bests 16.2 PPG, 3.0 APG plus 5.6 RPG and 2.0 SPG. Royston was L-O’s top shooter, hitting 37% of his threes (67 of 182), plus making 46% of his total field goals. Making All-SEC HM for L-O is Chase Johnson (5’6” Sr. G > 7.4 PPG, 3.3 APG, and 2.0 SPG). The Cardinals used their senior class to have a solid season (16-11). The Superlarks 1st Team All-SEC pick is Roman Warmka (6’3” Sr. F). He led GM with 15.9 PPG and around 7.5 RPG (17.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG in pure SEC games). Warmka’s percentages were impressive in pure league games; 78% free throws, 53% two’s, 50% from deep. He had the near perfect huge night versus M-C (35 pts, 13-14 FGs, 4-4 threes, 5-5 FTs, 15 rebs). Taylor Glynn (6’1” Sr. G) made All-SEC 2nd Team. He was second on the Larks in scoring (13.5) and rebounding (around 6.5). He led the team with almost 4.0 APG (14.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.4 APG in SEC games). Glynn was second in SEC-play in assists (4.4 per). Making All-SEC HM for GM is Jace Kraft (6’0” Jr. G > around 9.5 PPG and around 4.0 RPG). Lanesboro gets a pair of All-SEC 2nd team selections and an All-SEC HM pick. John Prestemon (6’1” Jr. G) and Mason Howard (6’0” So. G) are the 2nd team guys. Prestemon, in his fourth year on varsity, averaged team-bests across the board; 13.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, and 2.7 SPG. He scored in double figures 24 times, had five-plus rebounds 22 times, and five-plus assists 14 times. Prestemon had five point-rebound double-doubles, two point-assist double-doubles, and a triple-double. He was tops in SEC-play in assists (5.1 per). It was Prestemon’s third All-SEC 2nd team nomination. Howard burst on the scene as the Burros second best scorer (12.0 PPG). He was their best three-point shooter, hitting 40% (72 of 178). Making All-SEC HM was Stephan Schultz (6’3” Jr. F > team third-best 9.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG). Kingsland and Mabel-Canton each get one All-SEC 2nd team pick and an All-SEC HM pick. Walker Erdman (6’2” Sr. G) makes 2nd team for the Knights. Erdman led his team in scoring (just over 13.0 PPG) and rebounding (just over 8.0 RPG). The senior had double-doubles in his last seven games and 10 total for the year. Erdman would’ve been a 1,000-point scorer had his junior year not been cut short by COVID. He finished with 985 career points. He was All-SEC HM last season. Knight point guard Kaden Rath (5’8” Sr. G > 5.8 PPG, team-leader in assists and steals) made All-SEC HM. Cayden Tollefsrud (5’10” So. G) is M-C’s All-SEC 2nd team pick. He repeats that distinction. Tollefsrud led the Cougars in scoring (17.6) and steals (2.1). He was second on the team with 6.8 RPG and 2.4 APG. Tollefsrud scored in double figures in 23 of 27 games. He topped 20 eight times and 30 four times. He hit a team-best 57 threes and 81 free throws. Making All-SEC HM for M-C is Jordan Larson (6’0” Jr. G > team third-best 8.8 PPG, team-best 3.0 APG, 3.8 RPG). Rounding out the All-SEC picks is Houston’s lone selection, All-SEC HM pick Tanner Kubitz (6’3” Sr. F > team leader 11.6 PPG and 7.7 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG).
