The Week That Was #11: Rewriting history... again

Scouting players is more art than science. Yes, there are certain objective criteria we look at – size, speed, skill, and so on – but sometimes you just feel it in your gut. That's exactly how it was the first time I saw [player_tooltip player_id='215986' first='Tresa' last='Baumgard'] play during the summer of 2020 when the now top 40 senior from Chisholm was an 8th grader competing in AAU with Playmakers North. Then as now, Tresa was big and strong and athletic, looking very much like a  woman among girls. I was struck immediately, first by her bright yellow fingernails and immediately thereafter by the ferociousness of how she played. Fast forward to today and Baumgard is officially the all-time leading rebounder in Minnesota girls basketball history. Her record-setting feat tops the news as we recap the Week That Was #11.   Tresa's story is the kind of thing that keeps me doing what I'm doing with Prep Girls Hoops. I live for those player development stories that go according to plan: see young prospect, write that young prospect is going to be great, exercise plenty of patience, watch it all unfold. In the years since first seeing Tresa play, we've seen her become a rebounding machine and one of the best players in Minnesota. This past week the Minnesota State-Moorhead commit reached 1,791 for her career, a new standard in the state.   While Baumgard's record is more than noteworthy, it was overshadowed by the ongoing excellence delivered by [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] and [player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein']. It seems we write every week about Greenway, from Providence Academy, and Oehrlein of Crosby-Ironton, the two premier prospects in Minnesota's Class of 2026. This week the two gems each topped 3,000 career points.   Playing on a wonky ankle, Tori became the fastest player in state history to reach 3,000, ironically setting the standard on Maddyn's home court. Oehrlein did it with a triple double of 37 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists. Three days later, Greenway hit 3,000 herself on Friday night against Maple Grove. One question being asked a lot lately is this: Can they reach the all-time career scoring mark set by Rebekah Dahlman of Braham a decade ago, a truly remarkable 5,060 points?   Some folks have questions about the Dahlman record. I wasn't around Minnesota girls basketball when it was established but years later the school had to provide detailed records to the Minnesota State High School League to prove that it was legitimate. The MSHSL said it was so 5,060 is the official standard. Since we know Dahlman didn't reach 3,000 until her junior year, it's hard to fathom how she could score another 2,000 in a season and a half.   Regardless, if they stay healthy both Oehrlein and Greenway are on pace to establish a new high-water mark. Oehrlein is averaging a remarkable 37.6 points per game. Greenway, against tougher competition, is at 33.4. With 70 or so games apiece left in their high school careers, both superstars have a shot. One thing is for sure: it's going to be a ton of fun watching them pursue greatness.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Rhyan-Holmgren-2000.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-849872" /></figure>   MORE MILESTONES   As if the phenomenal career achievements of Greenway, Baumgard and Oehrlein weren't enough, we also had not one, not two but three players reach 2,000 career points during week #11 including [player_tooltip player_id='178267' first='Rhyan' last='Holmgren'] of St. Peter (pictured above). Rhyan is a top 25 senior committed to Minnesota State-Mankato. Another Mankato commit, [player_tooltip player_id='396435' first='Addison' last='Hoof'] of Lester Prairie, also reached 2,000 for her career as did Butler University signee [player_tooltip player_id='322999' first='Jocelyn' last='Land'] of Holy Family.   There were also plenty of 1,000-point scorers over the past week.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Sydney-Klauer-1000.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-849876" /></figure>   2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='304894' first='Sidney' last='Klauer'] of East Ridge   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Savannah-Hedin-1000.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-849880" /></figure>   2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='339217' first='Savannah' last='Hedin'] of Stewartville (Jamestown)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-thumbnail"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Evyn-Eppinga-1000.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-849886" /></figure>   2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='339117' first='Evyn' last='Eppinga'] of Anoka   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Alyssa-Prophet-1000.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-849887" /></figure>   2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='595565' first='Alyssa' last='Prophet'] of Mesabi East   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Parker-Yaggie-1000.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-849888" /></figure>   2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='589274' first='Parker' last='Yaggie'] of Breckenridge   <figure class="wp-block-image size-thumbnail"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Sienna-Duininck-1000-individual.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-849892" /></figure>   2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='766677' first='Sienna' last='Duininck'] of Central Minnesota Christian   The other 1,000-point scorers included 2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='344357' first='Evie' last='Schmitz'] of St. Louis Park (Grand View) and 2024 forward [player_tooltip player_id='215970' first='Morgan' last='Miller'] of Andover (Clemson). Congratulations to all!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Wendy-Kohler-1000.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-849898" /></figure>   As they like to say on those late-night infomercials, ‘But wait, there's more!'   On Saturday night at the Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic in Alexandria, Cardinals coach Wendy Kohler coached her 1,000th game in a contest with Fargo Davies of North Dakota. Coach Kohler has now coached more and won more games (694) than any other female in Minnesota basketball history.   Meanwhile, Michigan commit [player_tooltip player_id='177728' first='Olivia' last='Olson'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's passed former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Grace Coughlin as the career assists leader for the Red Knights this week. Concordia-St. Paul commit [player_tooltip player_id='304920' first='Ava' last='Thompson'] of Rosemount also established her own assists milestone by reaching 300 with the Irish.   Some single-game achievements are also notable this week. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='520263' first='Bra'ja' last='Torry'] of Eastview set a single-game record for assists when she dished out 14 on Tuesday against Lakeville South. That's a great accomplishment when you think about all of the elite guards that have come through Eastview over the years.   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='178274' first='Amy' last='Thompson'] of Stillwater set a personal best and school record with 48 points for the Ponies in a win on Thursday against Forest Lake. The top 20 senior, who is committed to Division 1 South Florida, shot lights out going 11-for-14 from 2-point range, 7-of-13 from three and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. She followed that milestone performance on Saturday with a 44-point outburst against Rogers.   COMING UP   Ally McGinnis and I made a road trip over the weekend, starting with a terrific contest between Cambridge-Isanti and Monticello on Friday night followed by three good ones at the Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic in Alexandria on Saturday. We'll bring you stories on the top performers and some upperclassmen who raised their stock during week #11.   There are some very nice games on the docket this week including Byron at Stewartville on Monday night. That will be followed on Tuesday by two elite Lake Conference tilts with Minnetonka at St. Michael-Albertville and Hopkins at Eden Prairie. On Wednesday, Maple Grove at Andover should be interesting.

Scouting players is more art than science. Yes, there are certain objective criteria we look at – size, speed, skill, and so on – but sometimes you just feel it in your gut. That's exactly how it was the first time I saw Tresa Baumgard Tresa Baumgard 6'0" | PF Chisholm | 2024 State MN play during the summer of 2020 when the now top 40 senior from Chisholm was an 8th grader competing in AAU with Playmakers North. Then as now, Tresa was big and strong and athletic, looking very much like a woman among girls. I was struck immediately, first by her bright yellow fingernails and immediately thereafter by the ferociousness of how she played. Fast forward to today and Baumgard is officially the all-time leading rebounder in Minnesota girls basketball history. Her record-setting feat tops the news as we recap the Week That Was #11.