Injuries were a big part of the story on Saturday
In this article:
It’s almost always the first question we ask in pre-game conversation with high school coaches: “Is your team healthy?” The query seldom draws a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. By the last weekend in January, injuries can play such a…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt’s almost always the first question we ask in pre-game conversation with high school coaches: “Is your team healthy?” The query seldom draws a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. By the last weekend in January, injuries can play such a key role in whether or not a team is ready to make a push down the stretch run, or if they are barely holding their team together with bailing twine and duct tape.
That was certainly the case on Saturday at the Breakdown Community Clash at St. Michael-Albertville, where current injuries and players returning from a recent stint on the sidelines played a crucial role. From the first game of the day at 10:30 in the morning to the final tip off at 8 o’clock at night, injuries played a pivotal role in how things played out. Here’s what we saw.
St. Croix Lutheran 60 Fridley 53
The first pre-game conversation of the day was with coach Drew Reiter of Fridley. “Is your team healthy,” we asked the Tigers’ bench boss? “Unfortunately not,” came the reply. “We’re missing Daeserae Williamson. She has been so good for us.” Williamson is a big post player, a veteran presence in the paint who could have been a difference-maker. That would be true against any opponent. It was even more poignant against St. Croix Lutheran and top 20 sophomore Callie Oakland Callie Oakland 6'0" | PF St. Croix Lutheran | 2026 State MN . The 6-foot Crusaders power forward is having a very solid season, currently averaging 15.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game. That’s impressive. Saturday was no different for Callie. She dominated the paint on both ends of the floor, grabbing 14 points and 13 boards, plus a whopping 7 blocks.
It wasn’t until we were well into the game when we noticed that Fridley junior Mya Karsten Mya Karsten 5'6" | PG Fridley | 2025 State MN was nowhere to be found. The talented guard has been a key piece for Reiter since she was in the 8th grade. It wasn’t until the game concluded that we learned Karsten has been out with her second ACL injury. Somehow that news had escaped us.
In the end, the fact that Williamson was out and Oakland was feeling much better after a week-long battle with flu-like symptoms had a big role in how the game played out. So, too, did the return of St. Croix Lutheran point guard Amaya Penn Amaya Penn 5'6" | PG St. Croix Lutheran | 2026 State MN , who was sidelined throughout December. She returned earlier this month and Penn’s presence has been pivotal for the Crusaders as they have found their groove at just the right time winning 9 of their past 10 games.
Amaya had a very strong performance as the game’s leading scorer. She attacked the basket and finished at the rim with ease, often earning herself trips to the free throw line. She also knocked down four shots from beyond the arc. Penn finished the contest with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Amaya’s presence has been transformational for SCL.
Wayzata 54 Andover 49
Injuries may be important but so are player absences due to other unforeseen circumstances. When Wayzata rolled onto the floor Saturday for its encounter with Andover we observed the Trojans in warm-ups and a different question arose: Where’s Katie Kelzenberg Katie Kelzenberg 6'2" | PF Wayzata | 2025 State MN ? The return of the 2025 post has been a huge factor this season for Wayzata. Kelzenberg had set basketball aside for the past two seasons to focus on her high-level aspirations on the volleyball court. On Saturday, Katie was at a nationally relevant volleyball event. Her absence was huge.
With Kelzenberg gone, the Trojans not only missed her average of over 9 ppg, but they had to use more bodies to guard Huskies forward Morgan Miller Morgan Miller 6'2" | PF Andover | 2024 State MN , a big-time performer who has committed to play at Clemson University next season. Wayzata was able to hold Miller to just 6 points, but with more players on her it opened up scoring opportunities for senior guards Emma Frost Emma Frost 5'11" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN and Anna Vaaler Anna Vaaler 5'10" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN of the Huskies. They finished with 15 points apiece.
At the midway point of the second half, the game was getting quite physical and tempers on both teams were flaring. Andover went on a big run to close the 9-point gap they had at halftime. The teams stayed toe-to-toe right up until the last couple minutes, when the Trojans made some key baskets and squeaked by with a 5-point win. Andover has to be considered a top 10 team in Class 4A, don’t they?
Minnetonka 73 Providence Academy 48
The Skippers of Minnetonka are ranked #1 at the moment in Class 4A. Coach Brian Cosgriff’s team has been very good all season. On Saturday, the Skippers were darn near perfect. As a result, so is their record. One of the key reasons is a healthy Tori McKinney Tori McKinney 6'1" | CG Minnetonka | 2024 State MN , who missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Her return to the lineup has been crucial for the Skippers’ success this season.
McKinney’s impact was on full display at the Community Clash as the University of Minnesota commit put on a defensive clinic against Providence Academy standout (and her AAU teammate) Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN . That was a big difference maker in Minnetonka’s impressive victory.
From start to finish Tori did it all – scoring, grabbing crucial rebounds and making key passes, as well as impeding one of the top scorers in the state. And while Greenway still finished the contest with 23 points, McKinney’s efforts had been vital in forcing Providence out of its comfort zone. On most nights, Maddyn can bully her way to the basket to score, often earning herself trips to the free throw line in the process. But with McKinney’s immense length, lateral speed, and impeccable ability to defend without fouling, the Skippers were able to make it very difficult for the Lions to score.
In addition to the defensive clinic, Tori and her teammates Aaliyah Crump Aaliyah Crump 6'1" | SF Minnetonka | 2025 State MN and Lanelle Wright Lanelle Wright 5'8" | PG Minnetonka | 2026 State MN were firing on all cylinders on the offensive end. The big three combined for 66 of Minnetonka’s 73 points.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s 76 St. Michael-Albertville 73
The impact of injuries played out again in the final game of the day when Benilde-St. Margaret’s roared back from a 6-point halftime deficit to defeat the defending Class 4A champs STMA on their home floor. One of the key reasons was the outstanding play of McDonald’s All American Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN of the Red Knights. She missed the entire month of December with broken bones in her hand, but has returned with a vengeance. That was obvious on Saturday.
From the jump, Olson came out hot, shooting 5-for-7 from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the opening minutes. By the halfway mark of the first period, Olivia had 16 of Benilde’s 21 points. In the second half, Olson continued her scoring streak by attacking the rim and earning trips to the line. In the end, she finished the contest with 35 points. Since her January 4th return, Olson’s efforts have ignited the Red Knights to an 8-game win streak. They have to be the favorites to repeat as Class 3A state champions.
Meanwhile on the other side of the ball, the surprise presence of Ja’Kahla Craft Ja’Kahla Craft 5'9" | CG STMA | 2024 State MN in the lineup for STMA was a huge boost for coach Kent Hamre’s Knights. Craft suffered a gruesome finger injury on January 8th and her absence had a profound impact on what STMA was able to do. Before Craft’s injury the Knights held a perfect 12-0 record. After Saturday, STMA is 15-4.
It came as a surprise when St. Michael-Albertville took to the court against BSM to see Craft back in the starting lineup with a large splint on her right hand, less than three weeks after her injury. The Knights’ standout made her presence felt pretty much immediately. Like Olson, Craft also opened her evening by hitting shots from deep, going 2-of-3 from beyond the arc in the opening minutes. And while scoring was slow for STMA in the beginning, Craft had 7 of her team’s 12 points. By the end of the half Ja’Kahla had scored 16. Both teams made big runs in the second period, but Olson’s ability to get to the line time and time again helped propel the Red Knights to a 13-point victory.
PGH scout Ally McGinnis also contributed to this story.