WEEKLY ROUNDUP

*Lindsay Whalen starred at Hutchinson but fame came later *We pick top 50 players in each class for girls *Transformed Timberwolves

Volume 24 Issue No. 1 November 24 2017-2018 Girls No. 1 picks: Hopkins, DLS, Sauk Centre, Goodhue When we last saw the Hopkins girls team, the Royals were battling Elk River in a rare clash of undefeated teams for the state Class 4A championship.

Elk River’s senior-dominated lineup won that fierce duel 64-60, but Hopkins was loaded with underclass- men talent and looks like a good bet to cap- ture its seventh state title since 2004 next March.

The Minnesota Bas- ketball News pre-sea- son No. 1 teams in the four classes are Hop- Goodhue, celebrating their 2017 title, is the kins, DeLaSalle, Sauk only defending champion ranked No. 1. Centre, and Goodhue. Class 4A Sauk Centre is a Traditional powerhouse Hopkins finds themselves in three-time runner-up, Sophomore star Paige familiar territory as the program to beat in AAAA. The including last year, Bueckers is one of many Royals return four starters from last year’s second- weapons for Hopkins. looking to capture place finisher. Paige Bueckers made the USA 16U Na- that first champion- tional team and traveled to Argentina for international ship. Goodhue will be looking for its third consecutive action this past summer. title. DeLaSalle hopes to recapture the glory of their three-peat of 2011-12-13. Senior veterans Angie Hammond and Raena Suggs along with junior Dlayla Chakolis are bound and deter- The MBBN girls rankings are formulated by Kevin mined to finish the season with gold around their necks. Anderson, whose assessments of his picks for No. 1 Joining the Royals for her senior season is Kira Mosley. are presented here. The complete rankings appear on Page 15. The first boys rankings, formulated by Bruce Strand, will appear next week. Continued on Page 2 Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 2 MBBN preseason picks include one defending champ Continued from Page 1

Class 3A Kelsey DeLaSalle made it to state last year in an upset from Peschel Section 4. The Islanders ended up in fifth place at state. of Sauk This year they enter the season as the team to beat. Centre, a The Islanders did not have a senior on the 2017 roster. senior this Senior guard Ayanna Gardner runs the high-powered year, drives against offense. DLS has size inside with junior Mary Claire Watertown- Francois, freshman sister Nora Francois along with se- Mayer at the nior Olivia Travis. state tour- Class 2A nament last March. Sauk Centre was runner up to undefeated state champ Roseau last season. This year the Mainstreeters are looking to take the final step to the pinnacle. The Street- ers guards drive the engine. Maesyn Thiesen is in her fourth year of running the show. Sisters Kelsey Peschel ter than to make it back to the top of the podium in (senior) and Tori Peschel (sophomore) bring valuable March. She will be assisted by her 6-3 sister, junior years of experience. Lexie Lodermeier, and senior Emily Benrud. The Wild- Class 1A cats’ subsection will almost be a mini-state tournament with powerhouses Lyle-Pacelli and Hayfield looking to Goodhue has won the last two Class A championships step in if Goodhue stumbles. and senior Sydney Lodermeier would like nothing bet- Dad new for Caledonia & talented King sibs By Bruce Strand more time with your kids, it’s a blessing,” King said.

Brad King, the father of current two Diersen, on Caledonia’s 1997 state Class Caledonia stars and a budding third 2A champion team, coached the Warriors for 12 years star, has become their head coach. with a 264-81 record and state trips in 2013, 2014 (run- ner-up) and 2015 (third place). King was named in June to succeed Josh Diersen, whom he assisted for Diersen, who helps his parents and brother run a dairy five years. farm, and has two young children, told the Rochester Brad King Post-Bulletin it was his choice to step down: “This was “It’s pretty exciting,” King told the my decision. There’s a time to be with family. They’re LaCrosse Tribune. “I’ve been very fortunate to work only young once.” Diersen said he’s “very happy” for with this group of seniors in different sports and I’m King getting the job. “He’s a great guy.” excited for the opportunity to continue to do that.” King owns and operates a construction company and a King’s sons Owen and Noah each scored about 20 cabinetry shop. His sons and other players have worked points per game last year as a junior and freshman, re- for him in the summers, the LaCrosse Tribune noted. spectively, and son Eli saw significant action off the bench as a seventh grader. Owen has signed with South The Warriors were ranked No. 2 last year but got upset Dakota State for basketball.“Anytime you get to spend in the section finals by Lake City 55-51. Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 3 Whalen, great Gopher and pro, was under the radar at Hutch By Bruce Strand they don’t stand out in particular above a litany of other past stars in the state. She scored 1,996 points, hit dou- Lindsay Whalen is a the greatest female player Min- ble figures 82 straight games, posted 21 triple-doubles, nesota ever produced, but her legend didn’t start taking and averaged 20.1 points through her career, with a hold until after high school. high game of 35.

The captivating point guard had a With the Tigers, her coach was stellar prep career at Hutchinson Andy Rostberg, better known but never reached a state tourna- for football (all-state quarter- ment, nor was she a first-team back on a state champ team for all-state pick or a Miss Basket- Hutch and now their football ball finalist. She missed half her coach). Her most talented team- senior year with an ankle injury. mate was Kelly Brinkman, a year older, who went on to Iowa “Hutch folks knew she was a spe- State as a distance runner. cial talent,” said Chad Urdahl, who covered the Tigers then for “Time and time again, he (Rost- the Hutchinson Leader, “but I berg) would just roll his eyes in don’t think anyone could have disbelief over her athleticism,” predicted the career she’s had.” recalls Urdahl, who now does public information for the state If these were deep disappoint- House of Representatives. “She ments for the teenage Whalen, and Brinkman just broke teams, she has certainly earned some and would put up 10 points in consolation in the 17 years since. the blink of an eye.” This summer, she captured her Lindsay Whalen is shown here in a Just like she did later at the U of fourth WNBA championship Hutchinson Leader photo, recovering with the Lynx. Her resume in- a tipped ball in a section tournament. M, Whalen was great box office cludes leading the Gophers to for the Tigers.“When we played their only Final Four while trans- boy/girl double headers,” Rost- forming U of M women’s hoops into a hot ticket; mak- berg said, “we had to play the girls’ games later and set ing first-team All-America; playing in the Olympics out chairs because of the crowds we would get.” and collecting a gold medal; and winning more games than any player in WNBA history. The Tigers’ problem was that they had no height and were vulnerable to tall teams like Worthington, who It’s fortunate that the Gophers saw something in Wha- ended her last two seasons. len that was overlooked by the committees doling out high school honors at the time. (So did Iowa, but Wha- Whalen was a freshman sensation on a so-so team that len turned down the Hawkeyes when she heard that lost in the section quarterfinals to Waseca 63-59. But they had Bears games on TV rather than the Vikings.) she got within one game of “state” as a soph and junior.

Whalen’s high school stats are impressive, although Continued on Page 4 Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 4 Whalen: no state trips, but 4 WNBA titles Continued from Page 3 Also picked ahead of Whalen as Miss BB finalists were Hana Peltjo of Osseo, The Tigers were 22-2 her sophomore who became a two-time Ivy League year with a 22-game streak that ended player of the year at Harvard (23.7 in the Section 2AA finals against No. 2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game as a ranked Mankato East 69-56. Whalen had senior) and went on to three seasons of 26 points and Brinkman 15, but Manka- pro ball in Europe; Jenny Brenden, who to East shot 22-for-36, led by Kristen scored 2,279 points for Sauk Rapids- Kachelmyer (27 points) and Jennifer Rice, then played for Penn State, where Mitchell (26). she was a 3-point threat off the bench; Randi Wirt, who tallied 1,793 points The Tigers got closer her junior year, los- and 1,578 rebounds for New Prague, ing to top-seeded Worthington 58-54 in and went on to Colorado, not starting the section finals. Twenty-five of those until her senior year, then becoming an points came from Whalen. The Tigers assistant coach there; and Kate Town- took an 11-0 lead, but could not hold on, ley, leader of Cretin-Derham Hall’s shooting just 28 percent. state champs, who went on to Bing- hamton. N.Y., a small D-I team, and Her senior season was anti-climatic. currently serves the Minnesota Twins “She had a high ankle sprain,” said Rost- as manager of minor league adminis- berg, “and missed 14 games.” With the tration. graduation of Brinkman and others, the Tigers went 11-12 and fell in the section As a big-name player who never got to semifinals to Worthington 54-38. Wha- Lindsay Whalen is state, Whalen is hardly alone. Some len got just 14 points in her prep finale shown here in a Hutchin- others are: King at Holy Angels; Norm and missed 2,000 by four points. Becky son Leader photo during Grow, whose 2,852 career points and Schultz led Worthington with 19 points, her senior year when she 71-point game for Foley were state and can tell her grandkids that she out- missed 14 games. records for 31 years and 47 years, re- scored one of Minnesota’s greatest spectively; Megan Taylor, whose 3,300 sports heroes in her last prep game. points for Roseau was the state record at the time and starred at Iowa State; Sam Jacobson, whose 2,461 Thus ended, with hardly a ripple, Phase One of Wha- points for Park of Cottage Grove was the metro area len’s basketball odyssey. “Lindsay has a very laid-back record at the time; and Tracy Henderson, a dominant demeanor, and I don’t ever recall her being emotional. athlete at Minneapolis Henry who was recruited by ev- Just frank,” said Urdahl. “Maybe it’s because she knew ery major college and wound up with Georgia. other opportunities would be there.” Another hoops legend who did reach state (although With Whalen passed over by the Miss Basketball com- such a late bloomer that he wasn’t even a 1,000-point- mittee, the award that year went to a player who had a er) was Kevin McHale, who led Hibbing to a runner-up brief (three games) tenure with the Lynx in 2005, when finish behind Bloomington Jefferson in 1976, on his Whalen was starting her illustrious pro career at Con- way to the Gophers and a Hall of Fame career with the necticut. That was Susan King, who poured in 34 points . per game for Holy Angels Academy and rang up 3,037 in her career. King went on to play point guard for Stan- That is the short list, McHale and Whalen, of Minneso- ford, averaging 7.7 points in 86 games. tans who became great pro players at the highest level. Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 5

ROAD Questions?? Call Pacesetter at 320-243-7460 or TO email: [email protected] • Website: www.pacesettersports.net TARGET CENTER! Follow our Facebook page: Pacesetter Basketball 5 - state championship Wisconsin is joining in 2018! 2018 Region Playoff Schedule pacesetter ALL GRADES REFER TO THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR 4B = 4th grade boys Teams may register for more than one region. 4G = 4th grade girls See back for details Region 1 Site Date MINNESOTA 4G, 6G, 8G, 5B, 7B, 9B RCTC (Rochester) March 24 5G, 7G, 9G, 4B, 6B, 8B RCTC (Rochester) March 25 Region 2 Site Date Youth Basketball 5G, 7G, 9G, 4B, 6B, 8B MN State - Mankato April 21 4G, 6G, 8G, 5B, 7B, 9B MN State - Mankato April 22 State Championship Region 3 Site Date 5G, 7G, 9G, 4B, 6B, 8B Redwood Falls March 24 4G, 6G, 8G, 5B, 7B, 9B Redwood Falls March 25 REGION PLAYOFFS Region 4 Site Date Region Champions invited to the MN State Championship. 6G, 8G, 5B *(UPDATED) Willow River April 7 Teams with one loss invited to the MIT. 5G, 7G, 4B *(UPDATED) Willow River April 8 Top two teams at STATE advance to Target Center in Minneapolis. 4G, 7B, 9B Moose Lake April 7 9G, 6B, 8B Moose Lake April 8 Minnesota won Region 5 Site Date 5 of the 12 GREAT STATE 4B, 6B, 8B Paynesville April 7 CHAMPIONSHIP 5B, 9B, 8G Paynesville April 8 TITLES! 5G, 7G, 9G Paynesville April 14 4G, 6G, 7B Paynesville April 15 Detroit Lakes New London-Spicer Region 6 Site Date 5th Grade Girls 8th Grade Girls 2017 Great Four-State Champs 2017 Great Four-State Champs 5G, 7G, 9G, 4B, 6B, 8B Moorhead April 14 4G, 6G, 8G, 5B, 7B, 9B Moorhead April 15 Region 7 Site Date 6G Hibbing April 14 6B, 9B, 9G Hibbing April 15 ML/WR 5th Grade Boys 4G, 8G, 5B, 7B Grand Rapids April 14 2017 Great Four-State 5G, 7G, 4B, 8B Grand Rapids April 15 Champs Lake City Region 8 Site Date Sauk Centre 7th Grade Girls Wisconsin joining in 2018! 9th Grade Girls 4G, 6G, 8G, 5B, 7B, 9B Bemidji April 21 MN - IA - ND - SD - WI 2017 Great Four-State Champs 2017 Great Four-State Champs 5G, 7G, 9G, 4B, 6B, 8B Bemidji April 22 Minnesota State Championships • Maple Grove MS All grades refer to the 2017-2018 school year. 4G, 6G, 5B, 8B MIT - MN Invitational June 9 “Hometown Team” guideline: 4G, 6G, 5B, 8B State Championship June 10 All players on a team must either be enrolled in the same school system or live or attend school in 5G, 8G, 4B, 6B MIT - MN Invitational June 16 the same city, the same school district or the same tribal community. Smaller schools may combine 5G, 8G, 4B, 6B State Championship June 17 to form one team if the combined enrollment of their high schools for grades 9-12 is 400 or fewer. 7G, 9G, 7B, 9B MIT - MN Invitational June 23 Schools that combine should be from neighboring schools. 7G, 9G, 7B, 9B State Championship June 24

Team Entry Form - Minnesota Region Playoffs 3-4 game guarantee

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Site:______Grade______Circle: Boys or Girls Team Rating: Strong Good Fair Weak (Circle one ) The Minnesota Team Contact______Team Color/Name:______State Champion and (needed if two teams from same school register) Runner-up in each Cell #______Alt #______grade are invited to the Great Five-State Mailing address______Championships in (Street) (City) (State) (Zip) Minneapolis. Email address______(Email address required - Confirmation will be sent via email - Please write legibly) FREE Alternate Contact ______Cell # ______Timberwolves Tickets Send check and this form to PACESETTER, PO BOX 222, PAYNESVILLE, MN 56362 (2018-2019 season)

Registration also available online at www.pacesettersports.net All players will receive $170/team before Dec. 29 • $180/team after Dec. 29 a free ticket offer! Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 6 MBBN preseason top 50 players in each class HOPKINS Class 3A Class 4A Paige Bueckers, so G Angie Hammond, sr C AUSTIN ANDOVER Raena Suggs, sr G Lizzy Karp, sr C Abby Lewis, jr F LAKEVILLE NORTH ANOKA BECKER Taylor Brown, sr F Madi Kerzman, sr C Lily Schonecht, sr C Kiara James, sr C Lauren Jensen, so G APPLE VALLEY BEMIDJI Rumer Flatness, jr G Mykel Parham, jr C MAPLE GROVE Katrina Theis, sr F BLAINE BENILDE-ST. Theresa Mbanefo, sr C MARGARET’S MPLS SOUTH Aiana Whitfield, jr G Morgan Hill, sr G CENTENNIAL Claire Orth, sr G CHISAGO LAKES MINNETONKA Carmen Backes, sr G Sydney Stapleton, sr F Kayla Mershon, sr F , sr G CHAMPLIN PARK Sam Halbe, Moorhead DASSEL-COKATO Anna Peterson, sr G Amanda Pollard, sr G MOORHEAD Sam Haiby, sr G ST. FRANCIS CHANHASSEN Sydney Zgutowicz, sr F DELANO Morgan Frank, jr G Sidney Brastad, sr G MOUNDS VIEW Lindsey Becher, so F ST. LOUIS PARK CRETIN- Lindsey Olson, jr G DELASALLE Ayanna Gardner, sr G DERHAM HALL NEW PRAGUE Autam Mendez, sr F Emily Russo, so F ST. MICHAEL- Frannie Hottinger, jr F ALBERTVILLE FARIBAULT Grace Amacher, sr G Haley Moore, sr F OWATONNA Mackenzie Kramer, so G Sydney Schultz, sr F EASTVIEW ST. PAUL CENTRAL FERGUS FALLS Macy Guebert, jr G Aliza Karlen, so F Katelyn Strand, sr G PARK CENTER Lily Pearson, jr F Megan Walstad, sr F Sommer Blakemore, sr G STILLWATER EDINA Sara Scalia, jr G FRIDLEY PRIOR LAKE Patience Williams, so F Olivia Coughlin, sr G McKenna Hofschild, jr G Alexis Pratt, fr G GRAND RAPIDS FARMINGTON ROBBINSDALE TARTAN Sydney Blandin, sr G Kendra Ekereke, jr F Heaven Hamling, sr G ARMSTRONG Hannah DeMars, jr F Carly Krsul, jr F FOREST LAKE Masengo Mutanda, jr G WAYZATA Abigail Groeneweg, jr F Kallie Theisen, jr F HERMANTOWN Taylor Vold, sr F ROSEMOUNT Mimi Schrader, sr G HASTINGS Helen Staley, fr F Krystal Carlson, sr F WHITE BEAR LAKE HIBBING Abbey McDonald, jr G Mallory Brake, so F ROSEVILLE Jordan Ferrand, sr C Kaylee Nelson, jr G HENRY SIBLEY WOODBURY Tori Nelson, jr F Rachel Hakes, sr G Continued on Page 7 Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 7 MBBN top 50 players in each class Continued SAUK RAPIDS-RICE JORDAN from Page 6 Bailey Becker, sr G Paige Johnson, sr G SIMLEY LITCHFIELD HILL-MURRAY TeTe Danso, so C Laney Huhner, jr G Delaney Runyon, jr G Ravyn Miles, so G MARANATHA HOLY ANGELS ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE Kylie Post, sr G Riley Thalhuber, sr G Samantha Sibbet, so G Jaclyn Jarnot, sr F Destinee Oberg, jr C ST. CLOUD APOLLO MPLS. EDISON HUTCHINSON Lariah Washington, jr F Shanice Vaughn, sr G MaKenzie Rensch, sr G ST. CROIX LUTHERAN MPLS. NORTH MAHTOMEDI Audrey Gadison, sr G Monique Wooten, sr G Emma Grothuis, sr F Annika Sougstad, sr F ST. PAUL COMO PARK MINNEHAHA ACADEMY Makayla Van Nett, sr G Mia Curtis, so G MANKATO WEST Raiyne Adams, sr G Taytum Rhoades, jr G Ashley Gustavson, jr G ST. PAUL NEW LONDON-SPICER MONTICELLO HIGHLAND PARK Shea Oman, sr G Anna Olson, so F Kaylnn Asberry, 8th G NORWOOD- MOUND-WESTONKA WACONIA YOUNG AMERICA Jennifer Schaible, jr C Sidney Zieske, sr G Bren Fox, sr C Shea Oman, Kali Grimm, sr G NEW ULM WASECA New London-Spicer Joey Batt, jr G Madison Gehloff, jr G NEW RICHLAND- BYRON HARTLAND- NORTH BRANCH WILLMAR Ayoka Lee, sr C ELLENDALE-GENEVA Cianna Selbitschka, so F Cayle Hovland, sr G Betsy Schoenrock, sr C Hannah Johnson, jr G CALEDONIA NORTHFIELD Katie Tornstrom, sr G OSAKIS Annika Hoff, sr C WINONA Lauren Savageau, sr G Selena Lor, sr G DILWORTH- ORONO GLYNDON-FELTON PEQUOT LAKES Madeline Loder, sr G ZIMMERMAN Natalie Steichen, sr G Olivia Lane, jr F Naomi Hagstrom, sr F PRINCETON EDEN VALLEY- PINE ISLAND Julia Bjurman, sr G WATKINS Emilie Rucker, sr F Class 2A Halle Jansen, so G RED WING PLAINVIEW- Tayzha Buck, sr G ANNANDALE ESKO ELGIN-MILLVILLE Hannah Purcell, jr F Bridget Yelin, jr C Hayley Dessner, sr C ROBBINSDALE Allie Spaulding, sr C COOPER GLENCOE- PROVIDENCE Ju Gaston, sr G ATWATER-COSMOS- SILVER LAKE ACADEMY Aja Wheeler, jr G GROVE CITY Mckenna Monahan, sr G Maggie Murphy, jr F Madison Denton, sr F Continued on Page 7 SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN HOLY FAMILY Alexis Winter, sr G BARNESVILLE Shea Thompson, sr G Nicole Herbranson, sr G Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 8 Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 9 MBBN top 50 players in each class Continued Class 1A NICOLLET from Page 7 Brooke Skrien, sr G ADA-BORUP Mariah McKeever, jr G ORTONVILLE ROSEAU Maddie Smart, jr G Madysen Stegner, sr G Kacie Borowicz, jr G ALDEN-CONGER PARK CHRISTIAN RUSH CITY Erika Bute, jr G Karley Motschenbacher, so G Elena Herberg, jr G Shawna Mell, jr F BADGER-GREENBUSH- RANDOLPH MIDDLE RIVER Alyssa Whitson, sr F SAUK CENTRE Carly Mekash, sr F Tori Peschel, so G Maddi Janicke, sr G RED LAKE Maesyn Thiesen, sr G Alexis Desjarlait, sr G Kelsey Peschel, sr G BELGRADE- BROOTEN-ELROSA RED ROCK CENTRAL SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN Morgan Gronli, sr G Haley Simonson, jr G Lauren Jones, jr G BIGFORK RUSSELL- ST. AGNES Haley Grover, sr G TYLER-RUTHTON Adaya Sandifer, sr G Lexi Becker, sr G Tina Haroldson, sr G K’Lynn Lewis, sr G Heaven Hamling, BOLD ST. CLAIR ST. CLOUD Makenna Steffel, jr G Grand Rapids Megan Mettler, sr C CATHEDRAL Kate Tomczik, sr G HOUSTON SLEEPY EYE CANBY Alyssa Rostad, jr G Megan Voit, jr G Norah King, sr C Madi Heiderscheidt, sr G Sarah Ibarra, sr G STAPLES-MOTLEY KINGSLAND CEDAR MT.-COMFREY Lauren Buchholtz, jr G Claire Wolhowe, sr F Taylor Rose, sr F SOUTHWEST MN CHRISTIAN LAC QUI PARLE VALLEY ST. PETER CLEVELAND Brooklyn DeKam, sr F Olivia McCabe, sr G Grace Hegland, jr F Emily Nerem, sr G Caitlin Brink, jr G Kelsea Lund, sr G THIEF RIVER FALLS CROMWELL-WRIGHT SPRING GROVE Tiahna Nicholson, sr G LEROY-OSTRANDER Lauryn Bohr, sr C Teana Hakamaki, sr G Haley Hungerholt, jr G Kylea Praska, sr G Shaily Hakamaki, so G ST. CLAIR TRACY-MILROY- LESTER PRAIRIE- Megan Mettler, sr C DEER RIVER HOLY TRINITY BALATON Hope Schjenken, jr G Olivia Drummer, sr G Kaylee Kirk, sr G Marissa Radtke, fr G WABASSO GOODHUE LYLE-PACELLI WATERTOWN-MAYER Sydney Lodermeier, sr F Madison Guetter, jr C Monika Czinano, sr C Kristi Fett, sr C Brooke Walter, sr G GRAND MEADOW WEST CENTRAL WINONA COTTER Ella Van Kempen, jr F Jordyn Glynn, jr G MACCRAY Josie Huelskamp, sr G Riley Queensland, so G Piper Asche, jr C WHEATON- ZUMBROTA-MAZEPPA HAYFIELD HERMAN-NORCROSS Lauren Miller, sr C MINNEOTA Emma Schmidt, sr G Carrie Rutledge, sr G Lydia Sussner, jr F Maggie Streightiff, sr F Briona Edwards, sr C MT. IRON-BUHL HERITAGE CHRISTIAN Mary Burke, sr C Taylie Scott, jr G Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 10 Playing for home town still best way to go By Jeff McCarron training exercise from playing a variety of sports. Also, Pacesetter Sports director studies have shown that players in multiple sports be- come BETTER at each than had they specialized in Each year high school basketball teams, especially the one. Many learn that specialization can burn them out girls’ teams, are losing players to burnout, injury, and sooner and they quit before making varsity or college specialization in one sport. Is “chasing the dream” a level. Some who reach the pros are also finding that the fantasy causing boys and girls to miss out on the “real life is not as glorious as they had expected and pine for dream” of playing for their high school? the college experience they can never recapture.

Let’s start with the girls. Many volleyball players who What price can be placed on missing out on college, used to play basketball are opting out to play club vol- playing for your school, your community and your col- leyball, which seemingly has no set season. Many lective teammates and families? When you play for choose to specialize in volleyball Paynesville, for example, you play for the people of because they feel they have a better the towns and farmlands in the district who wear green chance for a college scholarship. to show their pride in you. You compete with team- Some feel pressure from parents mates who are neighbors. With the Minnesota Gophers, to take this route. Some prefer a you may play for the university and the state, but your sport with less fatigue and chance teammates could now be from Florida, New Mexico, or for injury. Some enjoy the club’s Montana. With the Timberwolves, you again play for travel experiences with families, the state, but your teammates could be from Bulgaria, and playing with like-minded girls Russia, or Australia. The connection thins out as the dedicated full-time to one sport. competition heightens. For most, it is some combination While players and parents may seek more money, fame, of all those reasons. Jeff McCarron and travel, there is still “no place like home” when it Metro areas, with school districts comes to the quintessential experience of playing for bordering each other and having less identity as home- your high school and community with friends and neigh- towns than outstate schools, are moving rapidly toward bors. The current team should never be undervalued. a club mentality in which parents and players specialize in one sport through individualized training and club Why give up playing for your school basketball team team participation in off-season competition. The club in order to play in JO volleyball tournaments hoping system is common in Europe and much of the world. it will help you get a college scholarship? Why leave The USA’s system of high school competition is rare your school teammates to play in an AAU tournament in the rest of the word and in danger of shrinking here. with non-teammates out of state? College coaches are experts at finding the best players -- wherever they play. With much influence from media promoting the pros and D-1 athletes on television, some starry-eyed parents College coaches and pro scouts -- and employers -- are and players set their dreams accordingly. The dream of also experts at recognizing character. Were you loyal to winning high school championships is falling victim to your school and your teammates? that of playing for a major college and then the NBA/ WNBA, the result of the regular brainwashing we re- Through Pacesetter Sports, we seek to do our part by ceive from TV, web pages, YouTube, Facebook, Insta- supporting “Hometown Team” culture – school teams gram, etc. The lure of big money causes many top male with multiple-sport athletes – by providing off-season college players to enter the NBA draft early. With play- instruction and competition within a seasonal time- ers sold on these fantasies, traveling to an AAU tourna- frame. We offer our youth team basketball 5-state ment in Las Vegas trumps high school competition as playoff system as a big-time experience for hometown the best path to being recruited for that higher level. teams at the Target Center in Minneapolis to counter the allure of playing in AAU tournaments in distant cities. Surprise, surprise. A “Hometown Team” culture is what we believe, in Many players who specialize are finding they are more the end, is the best path for players, teams, families, prone to injuries since they are passing up the cross- schools, and communities. Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 11 Leaving a year early Armstrong, Austin stars don’t return for senior seasons

By Bruce Strand “Race left early to get prepared for his freshman year mentally and physically,” explained Armstrong coach A pair of likely all-state boys basketball players left Greg Miller. “No hard feelings, as I have been his their schools a year early — Race Thompson of Cooper coach since fourth grade and am happy to see him in and Both Gach of Austin. college playing ball.”

Thompson, a 6-foot-9 forward, is a freshman for the In- Miller said his team is “not top 20 but we should be diana Hoosiers rather than a senior competitive.” His son, Isaiah Miller, for the Cooper Hawks, having opted along with Ben Inniger, grandson of to simply forego his senior year and former NDSU coach Irv Inniger, will accept a scholarship early. Thomp- be “two energy players who will be son averaged 19.6 points and 8.9 re- great leaders for us.” bounds last year. Gach, a 6-foot-4 guard ranked as That makes him, incidentally, the the No. 10 prospect in the state by fourth child of former Gopher foot- 247sports.com, has cast his lot with ball great Darrell Thompson to en- Race Both Arizona Compass Prep School. Aus- ter college sports. Dominique was Thompson Gach tin coach Kris Fadness told ABC 6 an All-American volleyball player News on August 30 that Both, who for Wisconsin. Indigo is playing averaged 18 points last year, felt the move will help him volleyball a San Diego State. True is playing football at develop more as a player. Iowa Western Community College. Both and Duoth Gach, twin brothers, led Austin to the Armstrong was 18-9 last year and a probable Top Ten state Class 3A finals and a 29-3 record last year. Both team this year before Thompson graduated early. made the all-tournament team. Douth stayed in Austin. New Pacesetter event: girls and boys JAMborees Three teams from Pacesetter girls preseason Top 20 The afternoon games started off with a bang. Grand were among the participants in the inaugural Pacesetter Rapids was pitted against their District 318 sister school Varsity Girls Pacesetter JAMboree in Grand Rapids on Bigfork. Bigfork took an early lead but were eventually Nov. 18. edged out by Grand Rapids in the closing minutes 45- 43. It was not a defensive struggle. Asked if they came Grand Rapids (No. 5, 3A), Bigfork (No. 5, 1A), and away from the JAMboree with something to work on, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (No. 18, 1A), all partici- Bigfork coach Greg Powell said, “Defense.” pated along with Greenway, Nashwauk-Keewatin, Pine River-Backus, Nevis, and Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City. The Pacesetter Boys Varsity JAMboree will be held Saturday, Nov. 25, showcasing Grand Rapids (No. 15, Each team started by scrimmaging three separate oppo- 3A), Bigfork, Cass Lake-Bena (No. 11, 1A), Crom- nents. Then in the afternoon, the teams matched up with well-Wright, Blackduck, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, a “like” opponent on the main court for a half game, and Northome-Kelliher, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. preseason showcase in front of all the other teams. Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 12 The new Timberwolves By Terry Kunze On the defensive end, Towns is a liability and there is MN Basketball News columnist no way to deny that. Strong, bulky posts kill him on the due to his lack of strength. But he runs the court, The , always a playoff team scores and plays with great enthusiasm, and although in the summer, may finally have the talent to attain the his shot selection is shaky, he is blossoming into the lofty expectations of their followers. real deal. Towns is a double-double machine that will only get better as the season progresses. The Wolves, coached by Tom Thibodeau, are predicted by the experts to be a playoff team and even picked as This brings us to Jimmy Butler – a 6-7, 225-pound two high as fourth or fifth in the tough Western Conference. or three man with toughness. Butler, acquired from Predictions are predictions, and as the season evolves, Chicago to rejoin Thibodeau, who relied on him great- it will be interesting to see how they progress. ly with the Bulls, should get the Wolves 15 points, six rebounds per game and be a defensive stopper. He is This is a team of talent and shortcomings, and I would searching for his place in this club and has spent the like to give you my opinion of the pluses and minuses early season getting other players involved. He will of this club. have to score more,. Hopefully his defensive toughness will be adopted by his teammates. Again, the coaching First off, this is a team that has to staff must not wear him out by the time the fourth quar- outscore opponents to win games, ter comes around. They must watch his minutes. not an easy task, especially on the road. With poor team defense, al- One constructive criticism I would suggest for the staff lowing opponents to shoot 50 per- is that they are playing the starters too many minutes cent or better, they must be very and not allowing the second unit the opportunity to consistent on offense to win. grow and become more effective and productive on the court. Team success starts with . He is the go-to guy who With Jeff Teague, 6-2 point guard replacing fan favor- demands a double team night in ite Ricky Rubio, the Wolves have a new look. Teague and night out. He is a nightmare has great speed and quickness, but he does not pass or matchup because he is too big at defend as well as Rubio. On the plus side, he is a bet- 6-8 for two guards and too quick Terry Kunze ter pick and roll guard and shooter. The Wolves will be for the three’s to handle. running more and this will allow Wiggins to operate on a broken floor before help can come. At this moment, I Although criticized for being soft and not defending, he really cannot say if this is a good move or not, but I do is well worth the max deal he signed with the Wolves. think that the staff felt they wanted to go in another di- Not only is Andrew a great scorer (22-plus points per rection because Teague will be a more consistent scorer game), he is also durable, missing one game in three especially in the last two minutes of a close game. years due to injury. The coaching staff must be careful not to run him too many minutes per game which may This brings us to the third new addition in , cause fatigue in the late season. Although criticized by a 6-9, 235-pound warrior. Taj, like Butler, is tough and some fans, he should not be traded for any two or three durable. He rebounds, defends, and does all the dirty in the NBA. He is a 22-year old blossoming superstar work. He has improved his shooting and though no that all clubs would love to have on their roster. plays are run for him, he will get ten points and ten rebounds and show up big in the plus minus categories. Next is Karl Anthony-Towns, a 7-foot buzz saw causing He is a good pickup and will give the Wolves better great matchup problems for opponent centers. Towns defending and consistent rebounding. has a fine low post game, but he can also face up and shoot the three. Like Wiggins, Towns is durable and has These first five are solid, and with better defense, they not missed a game due to injury. He, also like Wiggins, could be a nice playoff team. should become a superstar in this league, and although it is a slow process, the end result could be tremendous The big question is whether the second unit can hold for the Wolves. Continued on Page 13 Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 13 Kunze assesses transformed T-wolves Continued from Page 12 fensive ability. I wish he would look to score more be- fort when they come in the game. In the early games, cause he gives them no point production and at times the second unit minutes have been sparse and must in- needs an invitation to shoot the ball. He must score crease if they are going to be successful. This is kind of more or they will be looking for another backup at that a Catch 22: Are the second unit minutes sparse because position. they have not earned them, or sparse because they have not had the opportunity to earn them? Any finish out of the playoffs is not acceptable for this team this season, barring key injuries. Too many excus- Nemanja Bjelica, 6-10, 235-pound es have been offered for failure and if they want to win, power forward, has greatly im- they must defend. And let’s face it, proved his game. An excellent defending is 90 percent effort. It three-point shooter, he is a face up is the coaching staff’s responsibil- nightmare for power forwards. He ity for defense. Too often I hear it can put the ball on the floor and is a was “not our day” or “we didn’t feel definite scoring threat. He leads the right” or other excuses. second unit in minutes and has been solid in his role. You must win the battle between the top of the circles by getting up and Gorgui Dieng, 6-11 backup post, down the court. You must cut harder is struggling to find his role on this in offensive schemes and move the team. Being a starter for most of his ball. One of the first things a de- career, coming off the bench and fensive coach tells a defender is to not having consistent minutes has make the offensive player dribble. brought him some struggles. Dieng That is not hard to do when playing rebounds, defends, takes charges, the Wolves. and has an adequate midrange shooting game. It has been difficult Passing up a shot because a team- for him to develop a rhythm playing mate has a better shot is what good an average of 14 minutes a game. teams do. San Antonio is a great ex- ample of that. Decision-making is a Jamal Crawford, a 6-5 shooter, can growth ability, and if done correctly, change the complexity of the game. it develops trust, which is mandato- Being a streaky shooter, he can hit ry to be successful as a team. Once four or five in a row and is especial- you establish a pecking order, these ly dangerous on the broken floor things will happen. The Wolves have shooting in transition. He does not the pieces but still need better shot do much on the defensive end, but selection, better ball movement, and he can score and is an overall valu- better energy on the defensive end. able addition for the Wolves. Jimmy Butler, rejoining his for- They must not accept losses and mer coach Tom Shabazz Muhammed is a real mys- must be self-accountable for them. Thibodeau in Minnesota, is the We fans should not want the Wolves tery. Although athletic and a night- team’s crucial addition. mare for players his size, you never to succeed more than the players. know what he will do in any game. Let’s hope they prove that the ingre- His shot selection is unpredictable and at times he plays dients they have allow them to reach new heights this out of control. He does not seem to have the trust of the season. We wish them a playoff season and look for- coaching staff and will be pulled after a couple of bad ward to supporting them. decisions on the offensive end. He has talent and may be able to adjust his play to conform to the coaches’ Terry Kunze, leader of Duluth Central’s 1961 state wishes. It would be unfortunate to lose him. champions, and former Gopher and European pro player, is a MN Basketball News analyst. Tyus Jones is another mystery. He knows how to run a team and is a gifted passer and set up man. His strength and quickness have greatly improved as well as his de- Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 14 Hall of Fame adds coaches Linbo, Dolan, Knothe, Vorwald, Ross Five coaches — Skip Dolan, Terry Knothe, Kerry Lin- Ron Vorwald, Worthington coach for 24 years (1989- bo, Ron Vorwald and the late Ray Ross — were in- 2013), notched five conference championships, three ducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Hall of state trips and an overall record of 364-212. Vorwald Fame at the group’s meeting Oct. 28 in Minneapolis. played for a state champion basketball team in Bloom- ington, WI, and helped the football team go 18-0 his Don “Skip” Dolan, Annandale coach for 36 years, has last two years. A football player for Iowa State two ten conference titles and six state tournament appear- years and Mankato State for two years, he was also a ances (one runner-up and two third-place finishes) and football assistant coach at Worthington. a record of 330-193. Dolan has also coached softball for 27 years with Ray Ross was Min- four state trips. He neapolis Washburn’s has coached confer- coach from 1931 ence champions in through 1956, cap- four sports. Dolan turing five Minneap- was a 1,000-point olis championships, scorer at Renville five Twin Cities ti- High School and tles, and three state made all-conference trips in the one-class eight times in foot- tournament, high- ball, basketball and lighted by the 1954- baseball. 55 team that had a 23-game winning Terry Knothe, St. streak and emerged Charles coach for as state champion. 36 years, has nine The former Gopher conference and three baseball and bas- sub-section titles and ketball player also a record of 500-371. Holding their HOF plaques are (from left) Kerry Linbo coached baseball for of Byron, Skip Dolan of Annandale, Terry Knothe of St. He has also coached Charles and Ron Vorwald of Worthington. The other hon- e30 years and won 16 conference cham- oree was the late Ray Ross of Mpls. Washburn. the state baseball pion teams in boys title that same year, and girls golf. A na- 1955. He died in tive of Richland Center, WI, he played college basket- 1976. ball at Winona State. *The MBCA recognized coaches of the year for each Kerry Linbo, Byron coach for 31 years, has six con- class: Matt Halverson of Goodhue in 1A, Dave Galov- ference crowns and a state appearance in 2013, and an ich of Crosby-Ironton in 2A, Dave Thorson of DeLaS- overall record of 517-308. He is also a longtime foot- alle in 3A and Bryan Schlettler of Wayzata in 4A. ball assistant and got the Butch Nash Award in 2000. The Hayfield native played football, basketball and *Named to MBCA’s Hall of Honor for service to bas- baseball at Rochester Community College and baseball ketball were Frankie Bly, Wes Knutson, Dick Milinkov- at UW-Lacrosse. ich, Rich Penick, Bruce Strand and Steve Winfield. Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 15 Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 15 MBBN Girls Preseason Top 20 Class 4A Class 3A Class 2A Class 1A

1. Hopkins 1. DeLaSalle 1. Sauk Centre 1. Goodhue 2. Eastview 2. Holy Angels 2. Minnehaha 2. Lyle-Pacelli 3. Lakeville North 3. Hutchinson Academy 3. Hayfield 4. Minnetonka 4. Cooper 3. Rochester 4. Mountain 5. Centennial 5. Grand Rapids Lourdes Iron-Buhl 6. Cretin- 6. Mahtomedi 4. Norwood- 5. Bigfork Derham Hall 7. Simley Young America 6. Ada-Borup 7. Wayzata 8. Northfield 5. Roseau 7. Lac qui Parle 8. Forest Lake 9. Waseca 6. Eden Valley- Valley 9. St. Michael- 10. Hill-Murray Watkins 8. Cromwell-Wright Albertville 11. Chisago Lakes 7. Dilworth- 9. Southwest 10. Park Center 12. Willmar Glyndon-Felton MN Christian 11. White Bear Lake 13. Zimmerman 8. Byron 10. Sleepy Eye 12. Moorhead 14. Orono 9. Rush City 11. Mayer Lutheran 13. Edina 15. Waconia 10. Maranatha 12. Wheaton- 14. Champlin Park 16. St. Paul Christian Herman-Norcross 15. Roseville Como Park 11. New London- 13. Badger- 16. St. Francis 17. Hermantown Spicer Greenbush- 17. Andover 18. Alexandria 12. Annandale Middle River 18. Stillwater 19. Big Lake 13. Thief River Falls 14. Red Lake 19. Anoka 20. Faribault 14. St. Peter 15. Cedar Mount.- 20. Owatonna 15. Tracy- Comfrey Milroy-Balaton 16. Wabasso 16. St. Cloud 17. Stephen-Argyle Cathedral 18. Walker- 17. Pequot Lakes Hackensack- 18. Duluth Marshall Akeley 19. Barnesville 19. Belgrade- 20. Jordan Brooten-Elrosa 20. Sacred Heart (East Grand Forks)

Roseau, state Class 2A champs last year, graduated a Ms. Basketball finan- list but are strong again, ranked No. 5. Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Basketball News November 24 Page 16 2018 Pacesetter Youth Basketball Great Five-State Championships Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin teams to vie for titles at Target Center

Boys and girls teams from five states, in grades 4-9, in Fargo and Mandan. South Dakota will hold a state will play in the 2018 Pacesetter Youth Basketball Great championship in Yankton, and Wisconsin, in its first Five-State Championships, which will be returning to year in Pacesetter, will hold a state championship in newly-renovated Target Center in Minneapolis after Ripon. playing in the Xcel Energy Center last summer. All teams that qualify for the Pacesetter Sports, which began in Great State games at the Target 1980, has now invited Wisconsin Center will play three games in youth teams in grades 4-9 to join an 8-team bracket, using three teams from Minnesota, Iowa, courts, with all teams guaranteed North Dakota and South Dakota at least one game on the main in the Pacesetter Great 5-State Target Center floor. Championships for 2018. The champions of last year’s Over 1,000 teams are expected to Great State games included the play in Pacesetter state playoffs. following teams: The champion, and possibly the runner-up, from each state will 4th grade girls — Bismarck En- advance to play in the Pacesetter ergy (ND) Great Five-State Championships 5th grade girls — Detroit Lakes in Minneapolis at the Target Cen- Moose Lake-Willow River (blue jer- (MN) ter, which has just undergone a sey) defeated Williston (red) in the 6th grade girls — Bismarck In- $145 million renovation. 2017 fourth-grade finals. tensity (ND) 7th grade girls — Lake City This youth basketball playoff system supports school (MN) and community-based teams and is sponsored by the 8th grade girls — New London-Spicer (MN) Minnesota Lynx and Timberwolves. The Pacesetter 9th grade girls — Sauk Centre (MN) “Great State” games are scheduled to coincide with Lynx home games, so all players and families can at- 4th grade boys — Thompson (ND) tend a game. The Timberwolves support the Pacesetter 5th grade boys — Moose Lake-Willow River (MN) playoff system by providing a free ticket offer to every 6th grade boys — Sioux Falls (SD) Hurricanes participating player for the following season. 7th grade boys — Cedar Rapids Jefferson (IA) 8th grade boys — Cedar Falls Outlaws (IA) In 2018 Minnesota teams will compete in an 8-region 9th grade boys — Kindred-Richland (ND) playoff system in Rochester/Stewartville, Mankato, Redwood Falls, Moose Lake/Willow River, Paynes- All playoff sites are limited to 16 teams in each gender/ ville, Moorhead, Grand Rapids/Hibbing, and Bemidji. grade group. Teams may get further information and Iowa will hold regional playoffs in Cedar Falls/Water- register online at www.pacesettersports.net. loo and Pella. North Dakota will hold regional playoffs