Previewing the Central Lakes Conference
In this article:
Wendy Kohler and Brad Strand know what it takes to win a basketball game. Between them, the two coaches have led their respective teams for 66 years and amassed more than a thousand wins – 1,173 to be precise. They’ve won conference titles and section championships and been to 15 state tournaments, and there’s a better-than-average chance that either Kohler’s Cardinals from Alexandria or Strand’s Otters from Fergus Falls will win another Central Lakes Conference championship in 2021.
Last year it was Fergus Falls that went undefeated in conference play, going 15-0 to capture the title. Alexandria finished in second place at 12-3. Who will prevail this time around? Probably one or the other, although Dustin Carlson’s team from Willmar might have something to say about it. He has a ways to go to catch Kohler and Strand but Carlson does have 130 wins of his own and is most certainly trending in the right direction.
Over the past decade, Fergus Falls has won five of the 10 titles, including four in a row from 2010-2014. Alexandria has won three conference championships, including three in a row from 2015-2017. Then it was Willmar’s turn as Carlson’s Cardinals captured back-to-back titles in 2018-2019. Here’s how we see the Central Lakes Conference in 2020.
LOOKING BACK TO 2019-20
- 15-0 – Fergus Falls
- 12-3 – Alexandria
- 11-4 – Willmar
- 11-5 – Brainerd
- 6-10 – Sartell-St. Stephen
- 5-11 – Sauk Rapids-Rice
- 4-12 – St. Cloud Tech
- 3-10 – Rocori
- 2-14 – St. Cloud Apollo
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2021
Fergus Falls
Brad Strand has coached high school basketball for 30 years and has 549 victories to show for it. His Otters have been to the state tournament five times, most recently in 2019. It was at that tournament where the college basketball world first got clued in to the greatness of point guard Ellie Colbeck Ellie Colbeck 5'9" | PG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN . Ellie is the #12-ranked prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022 and has already made a commitment to South Dakota State University. The 5’10 guard can handle the basketball, is a lights-out shooter and is incredibly athletic. She averaged 21 points and 4 rebounds per game last season, surpassing the magical 1,000-career points mark as a sophomore. I can’t imagine anyone would argue over the notion that she is the premier player in the conference. Colbeck is clearly the engine that pulls the train in Fergus Falls.
The Otters did lose seven players to graduation, including all-conference guard Sabrina Fronning (MSU-Fergus Falls), but they return two more all-conference players in addition to the aforementioned Colbeck. Paige Pearson is a solid 6-foot senior who has committed to UW-River Falls. Junior guard Tori Ratz Tori Ratz 5'7" | CG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN averaged 14 points per game and can fire the ball from distance with the best of them.
The Otters went 25-5 last season. They opened with a loss to AAAA power Wayzata and then rolled off 19 straight victories. Their other regular-season defeats were to Minnetonka, Moorhead and Sauk Centre, and there’s no shame in that. Fergus beat Roseau in the section semis before falling by a single bucket to then-undefeated Pelican Rapids in the final. The Otters are experienced, they’re athletic and they’re very well coached. It would not be at all surprising to see them triumph again this season in the Central Lakes.
Alexandria
The Cardinals finished 23-8 overall last winter, losing twice in conference play to Fergus Falls and once to Willmar. With 624 wins over 36 years, Wendy Kohler has built a formidable program. The Cardinals have made 10 trips to the state tournament, including three in the past four years. Alexandria won it in 1997. Last spring they beat Bemidji in the section final but were eliminated in the opening round at state by a very strong team from Becker.
The Cardinals graduated 31 points per game from all-conference guard Mia McGrane, and forwards Summer Gerhardt and Ella Grove Ella Grove 6'0" | CG Alexandria | 2020 State MN . Ella was a top-50 prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops class of 2020 and an all-state selection last season. The 6-footer had an outstanding career in Alexandria but has now moved on to the University of Mary in Bismarck.
Four crucial seniors return, including skilled guards Jaya Hattlestad (UW-River Falls) and Mataya Hoelscher Mataya Hoelscher 5'5" | CG Alexandria | 2021 State MN (Concordia-Moorhead), big shooting guard Lilly Horn Lilly Horn 5'9" | CG Alexandria | 2021 State MN and athletic forward Alayna Strand (Jamestown) who is a defensive force. Among the leading newcomers are junior forward Maggie Anderson and sophomore guard Morgan Jones plus juniors Tessa McGrane, Addison Boesl and Lilly Thul.
Willmar
There have been some awfully nice players coming through Willmar in recent years but the Cardinals approach to the game has never been about individual performance. Coach Carlson is all about defense, and you’d be hard pressed to find a team that does a better job of that aspect of the game regardless of personnel. The Cardinals are not flashy, and they aren’t always the most athletic team in the gym, but their we-over-me approach pays dividends. Despite all of the accolades we have bestowed upon Alexandria and Fergus Falls in the preceding paragraphs, it was Willmar that captured the Central Lakes championship in 2019, finishing a game up on Fergus, two ahead of Alex. They also won it in 2018. Willmar has been to state eight times.
The Cardinals, who went 16-10 overall, graduated five players last spring, including all-conference performers Madi Linbo and Katelyn Murphy (St. Ben’s) along with forward Ashley Prahl (Ridgewater CC). The top returner is senior forward Mackenzie Jones Mackenzie Jones 5'9" | SF Willmar | 2021 State MN , an all-conference selection who averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds per game and recently committed to Southwest Minnesota State. She’ll be joined by fellow seniors Jaida Reiman, Ashley Guse and Emily Staska. Junior forward Adia Laidlaw will be a contributor, as well, along with junior point guard Ellary Lange.
Brainerd
Coach Troy Nelson’s Warriors won 11 games in conference play to finish 4th while going 14-12 overall. Brainerd lost five players to graduation but return a pair of all-conference performers in junior Myah Nelson and senior Erika Lane Erika Lane 5'8" | CG Brainerd | 2021 State MN . Nelson is a skilled point guard who averaged 11 points per game. The 5’10 Lane, who will join her sister Olivia at the University of North Dakota next season, is a gritty all-around athlete who averaged nearly 11 points and 5 rebounds. 5’9 senior guard Ally Brzezinski and 6’0 junior forward Olivia Tautges should be major contributors.
Sartell-St. Stephen
Coach Katie Martin’s Sabres finished 5th in the Central Lakes and posted a record of 10-15 overall. Sartell-St. Stephen graduated all-conference performer Gretta Mahowald along with Libby Crandall but return two dynamic sophomores with whom we are very familiar. 5’7 guard Avery Templin Avery Templin 5'8" | PG Sartell | 2023 State MN made a splash last season as a freshman, averaging 12 ppg and scoring 37 against Sauk Rapids-Rice. Templin’s solid play over the winter and in AAU earned her a spot in our 2023 rankings this fall. Emily Crandall Emily Crandall 5'10" | CG Sartell | 2023 State MN is a gritty guard, a defensive dynamo who can also put the ball in the basket. The 5’9 sophomore is a warrior on the floor. Junior guard Megan Driste will also be important.
Sauk Rapids-Rice
Coach Jon Roesch’s Storm will be without all-conference center Shayna Payonk, who averaged 17 ppg and earned herself a post-high school opportunity just up the road at St. Ben’s. Guard Noel Reberg has also graduated. The Storm are long and athletic and experienced. Key veterans include senior forward Kyanah Evans (8.5 & 5.5) and sophomore Grace Roesch (8.5 & 3.5), a high-IQ point guard who will be relied upon to run the show. The senior class includes Adyson Froiland, Mia Turner, Emily Schloe and Brynn Seaman. Junior Corina Miller and sophomore Mackenzie Felchle should be factors, as well.
St. Cloud Tech
Coach Kari Heine’s Tigers graduated five players, including all-conference veterans Rachael Kaczor and Genaya Murray. Tech won four games in conference play, six overall. This season they’ll have a lot of fresh faces who will be relied upon to play important roles. The top returners include seniors Emma Imdieke (7.0 & 2.9) and Hailie Christiansen (6 & 5) along with junior guard Sarah Harris (7.0 & 2.3) and sophomore post Mattie Vought. It remains to be seen which other Tigers will roar in 2021.
Rocori
After a lengthy dry spell in recent years, coach Valerie Fraley’s Spartans turned it up a notch last season winning 11 games overall. This year could be tough, however, as Rocori lost its entire starting lineup to graduation and nine players overall. Ouch! The top returner is sophomore Jada Bierschbach, a 5’5 guard who averaged 11 points and 3 rebounds per game. Jada has super quick hands and feet and darts around the court like a firefly on steroids. Bierschbach looked good this summer when we saw her with the Central Minnesota Swish and nearly made the 2023 rankings. It remains to be seen how much help she’ll have.
St. Cloud Apollo
Following in the jet stream of an elite performer like Lariah Washington Lariah Washington 5'9" | PF St. Cloud Apollo | 2019 State MN is never easy. The 2019 Apollo graduate was all-everything for the Eagles and moved on last season to Eastern Illinois where she was named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Washington left behind a young and inexperienced crew. This season Coach Abby Notch returns her entire lineup which has plenty of energy and lots of potential. The Eagles will rely a lot on seniors Keshona McGaughy (10 ppg) and Serenitie Jackson-Banks (4.4 & 6.7) along with 5’9 junior guard Keiara Anderson (8.7 & 6.8).
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
- Ellie Colbeck Ellie Colbeck 5'9" | PG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN –#12 junior, guard, Fergus Falls (South Dakota State)
- Erika Lane Erika Lane 5'8" | CG Brainerd | 2021 State MN – #50 senior. guard, Brainerd (North Dakota)
- Tori Ratz Tori Ratz 5'7" | CG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN – #60 junior, guard, Fergus Falls
- Emily Crandall Emily Crandall 5'10" | CG Sartell | 2023 State MN – #58 sophomore, guard, Sartell-St. Stephen
- Avery Templin Avery Templin 5'8" | PG Sartell | 2023 State MN – #120 sophomore, guard, Sartell-St. Stephen
- Mackenzie Jones Mackenzie Jones 5'9" | SF Willmar | 2021 State MN – #125 senior, forward, Willmar (SMSU)
- Lilly Horn Lilly Horn 5'9" | CG Alexandria | 2021 State MN – #128 senior, guard, Alexandria
- Mataya Hoelscher Mataya Hoelscher 5'5" | CG Alexandria | 2021 State MN – #131 senior, guard, Alexandria (Concordia-Moorhead)
- Paige Pearson – senior, forward, Fergus Falls (UW-River Falls)
- Alayna Strand – senior, forward, Alexandria (Jamestown)
Top photo: Fergus Falls junior guard Ellie Colbeck Ellie Colbeck 5'9" | PG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN .