Day 2 at State: Top 10 small-school standouts
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There was no shortage of drama Thursday on the second day of Minnesota’s high school State Tournament in Minneapolis. We began our day with Class A action at the Maturi Pavilion and concluded with the big Class 4A games at…
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Continue ReadingThere was no shortage of drama Thursday on the second day of Minnesota’s high school State Tournament in Minneapolis. We began our day with Class A action at the Maturi Pavilion and concluded with the big Class 4A games at Williams Arena. In between there was a Class 3A encounter that will go down as one of the premier State Tournament games of all time – 4th-seeded Stewartville’s dramatic 60-59 upset of #1 Becker.
Stewartvilled trailed by 11 at halftime it looked as though the Bulldogs’ experience might trump the Tigers’ exuberance. In the end, however, it was Stewartville’s ability to fight back and deliver at crunch time with everything on the line that will be remembered fondly, along with a frenzied set of fans on both sides of the court. The sheer joy from the Stewartville folks – both coach Ryan Liffrig’s raw emotion on the sidelines and the craziness of a hyper-enthusiastic Tigers student section – was a site to see.
Hats off to veteran point guard Haylie Strum Haylie Strum 5'6" | CG Stewartville | 2023 State MN , who delivered a gutsy performance on a bad ankle. To freshman post Ella Theobald Ella Theobald 6'0" | PF Stewartville | 2026 State MN who scored an efficient 15 points on just 7 shots and 4 free throw attempts and was a load down low. To junior Savannah Hedin Savannah Hedin 5'9" | SG Stewartville | 2024 State MN who must now be known as Miss March. She came up with another outstanding performance with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a ton of positive energy.
Thursday’s other highlights were delivered by some of the state’s very best players, including…
- Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN scoring 33 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead Benilde-St. Margaret’s to a berth in Saturday’s Class 3A finals with a 70-51 win over Alexandria, a game in which BSM’s super sophomore Kendall McGee Kendall McGee 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN was forced out with a serious knee injury.
- Taylor Woodson Taylor Woodson 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #28 Nation MN delivering yet another big-time performance at State. Woodson, like Olson, is committed to the University of Michigan who saw Taylor put up 23 and 12 as Hopkins defeated Stillwater 79-51. Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN went 17 and 8 and was a ball of fire all night. Not to be overlooked was a breakthrough game from Stillwater sophomore Liana Buckhalton Liana Buckhalton 6'0" | CG Stillwater | 2025 State MN , who went 16 and 6 and was the Ponies’ top performer.
- Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN of St. Michael-Albertville propelling the Knights into Saturday’s Class 4A championship game with Hopkins in an impressive 55-40 win over Eden Prairie. The #1 prospect in Minnesota’s Class of 2023 – also Gatorade Player of the Year and McDonald’s All American – capped off the day with a 29-point performance.
THURSDAY’S BEST OF CLASS A
Although it paled in comparison to the drama of the Stewartville-Becker proceedings, the best Class A game of the day was the first Class A game of the day: Mountain Iron-Buhl’s 65-50 win over Minneota. It was nowhere near as easy for the Rangers as the score makes it seem.
The game began the same way recent State Tournament contests have started for the Rangers… with star guard Jordan Zubich Jordan Zubich 5'11" | SG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN in foul trouble. The contest was officiated the way Class A basketball was played in 1993, not 2023. In the early going, it seemed, every little bit of contact was ruled a violation. As a result, Zubich received her first foul just 17 seconds into the contest. Her second came five minutes later. That set the tone for the day and made it much more difficult for the Rangers to do what they do – put a ton of defensive pressure on opposing ball-handlers, get to the basket with pace and physicality, and generally pester the heck out of their foes. Thanks to superior play from senior Sage Ganyo Sage Ganyo 5'4" | CG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN and junior Hali Savela Hali Savela 5'8" | CG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN , that is eventually what happened anyway. Sparked by an 11-2 run MIB earned a 30-24 lead at the half. The margin was just 7 midway through the second half with Zubich on the bench. But then the Rangers did what the Rangers do, putting together a 15-2 run to seize control of the game and dominate down the stretch. Not surprisingly, MIB’s top three performers of the day were the top three performers of the day in Class A.
TOP 10 CLASS A PERFORMERS
Jordan Zubich Jordan Zubich 5'11" | SG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl
What can we say about Jordan that hasn’t already been said? Doesn’t the fact that the 5’11 junior from the tiny town up on the Iron Range has committed to the University of North Carolina say it all? Jordan fought through the foul trouble, backed off on her defensive aggressiveness as necessary, and demonstrated her superior level of skill and ability to shoot the basketball from anywhere at anytime with the results to show for it. Zubich went 10-for-14 from the field, including 3-for-4 from three-point range, and had 5 steals and 2 assists. She’s the best player in Class A pretty much every day of the week.
Hali Savela Hali Savela 5'8" | CG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl
Hali doesn’t have Jordan’s length or resume or a glamorous college commitment in her back pocket, although she can shoot it big-time. What she has is as much grit as the grittiest players around. This kid is a sandpaper warrior and she showed it again on Thursday. There’s not a loose ball Hali won’t fight for, an elite player she won’t defend with passion and intensity, a game that’s not worth leaving it all out on the floor for. The 5’6 Savela played all 36 minutes, went 8-for-11 from the field and grabbed 6 rebounds. Zubich may be the headliner but Savela is the heart and soul of Ranger basketball circa 2023.
Sage Ganyo Sage Ganyo 5'4" | CG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN – 2023 guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl
The big stage of the State Tournament is nothing new for Ganyo, but this is her last go-round and she’s trying to make the most of it. MIB has been to Minneapolis in March 10 of the last 11 seasons, but the Rangers have never won. They looked like the best Class A team in the event on Thursday and Ganyo played a huge role in that. She played 32 minutes, went 7-of-14 from the field, had 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. That’s the kind of stat line Sage has produced throughout her career, a feat she needs to do just twice more before it’s all over.
Ireland Stassen – 2023 forward, Minneota
There have been some big-time performers for the Vikings at the State Tournament over the years, most recently by the great Natalie Rolbiecki. Natalie is now a volleyball player at Southwest Minnesota State, which has left the basketball leadership role in the hands of Stassen, who did her level best against MIB to deliver on expectations. Stassen is relentless. With a big frame, ample athleticism, and a willingness to attack the basket at every opportunity, she would just as soon run defenders over than go around. Stassen had a great day Thursday, going 7-for-14 from the field and 4-of-4 at the line for 18 points. Her 11 rebounds tell a big part of the story. She’s just hard to play against.
Natalie Beaver Natalie Beaver 5'11" | PF Hayfield | 2024 State MN – 2024 forward, Hayfield
When it comes to putting up points, Natalie has proved herself again and again in both summer ball and high school play. Not surprising then that the long and lanky junior led the Class A field Thursday with a 31-point performance. She went 11-for-17 from the field, made 3 threes and 6 free throws. What makes the point total paramount is the fact that the Vikings needed every last one of them as Hayfield required extra minutes to beat Badger-Greenbush-Middle River 63-58 in overtime. The long and lanky 5’11 forward uses her size and length to great effect in Class A, has put in the time to develop a quality skillset, can finish consistently inside and shoot it from distance at a high level.
Here are 5 more of Thursday’s Class A standouts:
Abby Berge Abby Berge 5'10" | CG Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa | 2023 State MN – 2023 guard, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
Abby is no stranger to the State Tournament having made a name for herself in previous March outings in Minneapolis. The tall, athletic guard didn’t have her best shooting day from the field on Thursday but excelled at the line where she scored 10 of her 18 points as the Jaguars recorded a 60-44 win over Underwood. With quick feet, superior agility, and an innate understanding of the principles involved, Berge also happens to be one of Minnesota’s premier on-ball defenders. She is committed to MSU-Moorhead.
Elizabeth Lukken Elizabeth Lukken 5'9" | CG Underwood | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Underwood
Like Beaver, Lukken has been a dominant scorer in spring and summer ball at mid-level events. We just haven’t seen much of the Rockets over the years but watching Liz in person on Thursday it was obvious why she puts up numbers in Class A. On a team full of lengthy guards, Lukken is the best driver and slasher. She stood out against BBE because of her ball-handling skills, light feet, and some adept finishing moves, including a sweet spin and a nice floater. Lukken shot 50% and scored 16 points. This kid’s got bounce.
Jade Reese – 2023 guard, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River
We told you about Jade earlier in the week in our State Tournament preview. The first time we watched her two years ago in North Dakota it was her athleticism that really stood out. Thursday in the Class A bracket it was once again her athleticism that was so obvious. She is the source of the Gators’ defensive energy, the player who brings the juice and makes the others go. She had 6 steals against Hayfield and made things happen on offense, as well. Jade’s teammate Kinsley Hansen had herself a nice day, too, with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Together they sparked a near-upset for the Gators.
Lainey Braulick Lainey Braulick 5'9" | SG BOLD | 2025 State MN – 2025 guard, BOLD
As we saw at last week’s sub-section final game in St. Peter, Lainey is the engine that pulls the train for the Warriors. She did it again in Thursday’s final Class A quarterfinal contest with a no-nonsense display of court management, individual skill and the ability to execute at a high level in BOLD’s 67-29 win over United Christian Academy. Braulick had a solid day shooting the basketball and scored 15 points. She pulled down 8 boards and dished out 5 assists. That’s par for the course for the bouncy 5’8 sophomore who has inserted herself into the thick of the conversation in the Class of 2025.
Mari Ryberg Mari Ryberg 5'11" | SG BOLD | 2023 MN – 2023 forward, BOLD
While everything BOLD does seems to start with Lainey, it very often finishes with Mari. The 5’10 senior had herself a day at the State Tournament on Thursday, going 10-for-14 from the field and 5-for-5 at the free throw line for 26 points and recording 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Those are impressive numbers on the big stage, but Ryberg is no newcomer. Mari is a four-year starter who topped 1,000 career points in January. She runs the floor well, can score off the dribble or from outside the arc, has nice athleticism and good quickness. Her feel for the game is solid.
THE WHO WHAT WHERE OF CLASS
The Class A State Tournament is a ton of fun and their fans are what make it great. From the fire department and police car escorts out of town to the large contingents of faithful followers who make the annual trek to Minneapolis, one could make the case that the small schools are what gives the State Tournament its flavor. Every year, however, people ask me the same question: “Where the heck is – insert small town name(s) here – so we’re going to tell you.
Listed in order of the number of students enrolled per the Minnesota State High School League, these are the eight participants in Class A that we watched on Thursday:
79 – Badger-Greenbush-Middle River: The high school is located in Greenbush, which is about 25 miles south of the Canadian border and approximately 350 miles north of the Twin Cities. They hardly ever venture south and are one of the least-known participants in these parts. The Gators are coached by Brad Dahl, who is in his 8th season.
107 – United Christian Academy: Located adjacent to Normandale Community College in Bloomington, the private school will soon be relocating to a multi-million dollar campus in Farmington. The Thunder are coached by Peder Eide who is in 10th year and is also a nationally prominent musician in the contemporary Christian genre.
136 – Mountain Iron-Buhl: Located in Mountain Iron, which bumps up against Virginia, the town is about 70 miles northwest of Duluth up on the Iron Range. Coach Jeff Buffetta, who also coaches the Rangers’ boy’s team, is in his 25th season.
162 – Underwood: Located about 15 minutes drive east of Fergus Falls, I’m told that the tiny town is situated in the resort country of Otter Tail County. (Sounds like we need to plan a visit!) The Rockets are led by coach Brian Hovland, who is in his 18th season.
177 – Minneota: Situated about 15 minutes northwest of Marshall in southwest Minnesota, the Vikings are in their first year under new head coach Al Panka. He follows Chad Johnston, who won three state championships in 21 seasons and now coaches boys basketball and football.
182 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa: Belgrade, population 740, is situated about 50 miles west of St. Cloud in Stearns County. The Jaguars have made a name for themselves in recent State Tournaments. BBE is led by coach Kristina Anderson, who is in her 11th season.
187 – BOLD: Bird Island-Olivia High School is located in the town of Olivia in Renville County. That’s about 100 miles west of Minneapolis on Highway 212. Warriors head coach Brian Kingery in is his 14th year running the show.
191 – Hayfield: The largest of the Class A participants, Hayfield is located in Dodge County, about 30 miles southwest of Rochester. Also known as the Vikings. Hayfield is coached by Kasey Krekling, who has held the position for seven seasons.