Camden Conference Preview 2018

The Camden Conference, located out on the South Dakota border, is a darn good and highly competitive Class A/AA conference. 8 of 12 teams have won a divisional title this decade. On the other hand, only 2 teams—Minneota and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton—have had the best overall record in the conference in the past 7 years. 7 of the 12 conference teams have made it to the state tournament, 4 of them in this century, but only Minneota in this decade. Somebody else is due, and if so, that would have to be Lac Qui Parle Valley. Lac Qui Parle, which joined the conference just 5 years ago, looks to be the cream of the crop in the North, while Minneota, TMB and Yellow Medicine East, which joined just 2 years ago, will all battle it out in the South. Meanwhile, come March, LQPV and Minneota, just dropping back down to Class A from AA, will compete with Southwest MN Christian in Section 3A. YME is a section 3A darkhorse. TMB faces some tough sledding in Section 3AA where Eden Valley Watkins and New London Spicer are favored. North 1. Lac Qui Parle Valley (forecast for the Camden Conference only 14-2, was 13-3 last year). Lac Qui Parle, located in Madison, MN, moved over from the West Central Conference in 2013 and has gone 46-14 in the Camden since then. It is no coincidence that those seasons correspond with Kelsea Lund’s high school career. The 5-3 point guard is a senior now and, finally, a conference title seems to be at hand, and a trip to the state tournament is hardly out of the question. Lund is small but quick, fearless, with a high basketball IQ. She sees the floor, she gets the balls to her teammates, and she scored 20 ppg last year, mostly from long range. She’s got plenty of people to pass it to. Guards Maci Lund (a freshman), and Haley Wollschlager, a junior, and 5-11 junior forward Lindsay Kranz all scored in double figures a year ago. They also have 6-0 Grace Hegland, a junior, in the middle, so they will not be looking up at any opponent in the conference. 5 of 7 key returnees are underclassmen, so the Eagles should be good even after Lund graduates. Still, this year, while Lund is still here, is their best chance for something special. 2. MACCRAY (11-5, was 7-9 last year). The Wolverines, located in Clara City, are just 22-51 over the past 5 years after taking the North title at 37-11 the previous 3 years. They have the firepower to return to the top, except that Lac Qui Parle stands in the way. Guards Sidney Schwitters (a senior, 12 ppg last year) and Jessica Wellnitz (a junior, 11) lead the way, and they’ve also got size inside with 6-0 junior post Piper Asch. 3. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sundberg (8-8, was 5-11). Things are looking up at KMS. They lose the great Sam Gjerde (23 ppg) but 5 contributors return. Much depends on the development of sophomores Madison Rohner, a power forward, and Morgan Lesteberg, a combo guard. 4. Dawson-Boyd (6-10, was 4-12). The Blackjacks won the North in 2013-2015 at 36-6 but have gone just 9-23 since. Things are looking up somewhat with junior guard Alex Sather (11 ppg-8 reb-2 steals) leading the way. Still, .500 would be a decent result. 5. Central MN Christian (5-11, was 10-6). The Bluejays, located in Prinsburg, have finished under .500 in the conference just once this decade, but there’s always a second time as they lose 7 senior contributors from last year. This time out, they’ll have some size in 5-10 sophomore post Ellie Street and 5-9 senior forward Ellie Greenwaldt (14 ppg). But, the guards will be untested. 6. Renville County West (3-13, was 1-15). The Jaguars, located in Renville, have won just 11 conference games while losing 106 this decade but things are looking up. Freshman guard Aleah Zieske scored 11 ppg with 3 steals last year, while juniors Pam Winzenberg and Avery Elfering are solid. Still, we’ll say that 2019 is their year. All-North C—Grace Hegland, LQPV, 6-0, junior (8 ppg-5 reb last year) PF—Ellie Greenwaldt, CMC, 5-9, senior (14 ppg) SF—Avery Bartunek, Cawson-Boyd, sophomore (8 ppg) PG—Kelsea Lund, LQPV, 5-3, senior (20 ppg-5 reb-4 asts) SG—Haley Wollschlager, LQPV, 5-4, junior (11 ppg-4 reb-6 stls) 2nd C—Piper Asch, MACCRAY, 6-0, junior (10 ppg) PF—Madison Rohner, KMS, sophomore (8 ppg-4 reb) SF—Pam Winzenberg, Renville CW, junior (9 ppg-5 reb) PG—Aleah Zieske, Renville CW, freshman (11 ppg-3 stls) SG—Maci Lund, LQPV, freshman (13 ppg) South 1. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (14-2, was 15-1). The Panthers go for their 3rd straight South title. They’re 31-1 the past 2 years but only won by 1 game last year. The same could be true in 2018. Forwards Evelyn Dolan and Sidney Lanoue and guard Kaylee Kirk, all seniors, and all scored in double figures a year ago. They also won at LQPV last year, so they get ‘em at home this year. But, LQPV is Class A and TMB is AA, so a state tournament trip is much more likely for the Eagles than for the Panthers. 2. Minneota (12-4, was 13-3). As long as Lydia Sussner returns, things will be OK in Minneota. The 5-9 post scored 19 ppg with 6 boards last year. But, then, guards Abby and Morgan Hennen also return. 3. Yellow Medicine East (11-5, was 6-10). The Sting, located in Granite Falls, joined the Camden in 2016 and they’re 16-14 since. They should be better with 5 contributors back led by sophomore point guard Madison Hinze (18 ppg) and senior post Anna McCosh (14 ppg). 4. Canby (6-10, was 14-2). The Lancers lost guard Natalie Dinius and a total of 8 seniors. Senior point guard Alyssa Beckius will carry a heavy load this year after scoring 7 ppg with 5 boards a year ago. 5. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (5-11, was 1-15). Here’s the best proof of how good this conference is. RTR was not a bad team, yet went 1-15. Point guard Tina Haraldson is a good one with 14 ppg, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 more assists per game. But, there’s not a lot of help. 6. Lakeview (2-14, was 7-9). The Lakers lost all-time great Sadie Stelter and center Maddie Fenske, and those are losses you don’t replace. Rebuilding time. All-South C—Anna McCosh, YME, 5-11, senior (14 ppg-9 reb) PF—Lydia Sussner, Minneota, 5-9, junior (19 ppg-6 reb) SF—Evelyn Dolan, TMB, 5-7, senior (18 ppg-9 reb-4 asts) PG—Tina Haraldson, RTR, 5-5, senior (14 ppg-6 reb-4 asts-6 stls) SG—Kaylee Kirk, TMB, 5-3, senior (15 ppg-4 reb) 2nd C—Sidney Karbo, TMB, 6-0, senior (7 ppg) PF—Meegan Dahlager, YME, 5-10, junior (5 ppg-3 reb-34 asts-3 stls) SF—Sidney Lanoue, TMB, 5-9, senior (12 ppg-5 reb) PG—Madison Hinze, YME, 5-6, sophomore (18 ppg-2 asts) SG—Morgan Hennen, Minneota (11 ppg).