The Week That Was #13: Down the home stretch
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A few weeks back in this space we began our speculation about who was going to make the Minnesota Ms. Basketball award first cut list. The award goes to the top senior in the state, and is more of a…
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Continue ReadingA few weeks back in this space we began our speculation about who was going to make the Minnesota Ms. Basketball award first cut list. The award goes to the top senior in the state, and is more of a career accolade than a single-season accomplishment. This past week the first cut list was released by the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association. As usual, most of the big names were included, there were a few mild surprises, and of course some omissions of note. As we recap a little of this and a little of that from the past seven days, let’s begin with some speculation about Ms. Basketball from the Week That Was #13.
THE MISS BASKETBALL 30
Here are the 30 players who made the official list:
- Kendall Barnes Kendall Barnes 5'7" | CG Roseville | 2024 State MN , Roseville (UW-Milwaukee)
- Natalie Beaver Natalie Beaver 5'11" | PF Hayfield | 2024 State MN , Hayfield (Luther)
- Gabby Betton Gabby Betton 5'9" | CG Lakeville North | 2024 State MN , Lakeville North (Loyola Maryland)
- Ja’Kahla Craft Ja’Kahla Craft 5'9" | CG STMA | 2024 State MN , St. Michael-Albertville (Seton Hall)
- Daviney Dreckman Daviney Dreckman 5'8" | CG New Ulm | 2024 State MN , New Ulm (Jamestown)
- Marisa Frost Marisa Frost 5'8" | PG Centennial | 2024 State MN , Centennial (North Dakota State)
- Elisabeth Gadient Elisabeth Gadient 5'10" | CG Goodhue | 2024 State MN , Goodhue (MSU-Mankato)
- Kylan Gerads Kylan Gerads 5'11" | SF Albany | 2024 State MN , Albany (St. Cloud State)
- Laura Hauge Laura Hauge 5'9" | SG St. Croix Lutheran | 2024 State MN , St. Croix Lutheran (St. Thomas)
- Grace Hennen, Minneota
- Kadence Hesse Kadence Hesse 5'10" | PG Sleepy Eye | 2024 State MN , Sleepy Eye (Southwest Minnesota State)
- Angel Hill Angel Hill 5'8" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2024 State MN , Minnehaha Academy
- Rhyan Holmgren Rhyan Holmgren 5'9" | SG St. Peter | 2024 State MN , St. Peter (MSU-Mankato)
- Karly Jusczak Karly Jusczak 6'1" | PF Pine City | 2024 State MN , Pine City (Idaho)
- Rachel Kottke Rachel Kottke 5'8" | CG Buffalo Lake-H-S | 2024 State MN , Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (St. Cloud State)
- Jocelyn Land Jocelyn Land 6'0" | PF Holy Family | 2024 State MN , Holy Family (Butler)
- Elizabeth Lukken Elizabeth Lukken 5'9" | CG Underwood | 2024 State MN , Underwood
- Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN , Hopkins (Florida)
- Tori McKinney Tori McKinney 6'1" | CG Minnetonka | 2024 State MN , Minnetonka (Minnesota)
- Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN , Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Michigan)
- Alexis Rose Alexis Rose 5'10" | CG Becker | 2024 State MN , Becker (Sioux Falls)
- Alyssa Sand Alyssa Sand 6'2" | PF Albany | 2024 State MN , Albany (St. Thomas)
- Hali Savela Hali Savela 5'8" | CG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN , Mountain Iron-Buhl (North Carolina)
- Claire Stern Claire Stern 6'0" | SF Maple Grove | 2024 State MN , Maple Grove (North Dakota State)
- Willow Thiel Willow Thiel 5'11" | PF Perham | 2024 State MN , Perham (UM-Crookston)
- Taylor Tool Taylor Tool 6'1" | PF Delano | 2024 State MN , Delano (Northern State)
- Kristen Watson Kristen Watson 5'6" | CG Hayfield | 2024 State MN , Hayfield
- Trinity Wilson Trinity Wilson 6'3" | PF Lakeville North | 2024 State MN , Lakeville North (Vanderbilt)
- Misti Zempel Misti Zempel 5'10" | PF Hancock | 2024 State MN , Hancock (Mayville State)
- Jordan Zubich Jordan Zubich 5'11" | SG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN , Mountain Iron-Buhl (North Carolina)
As is always the case, there are some omissions from the list that jump out. Sometimes it is because the coach didn’t nominate the player, or isn’t a member of the coaches association. Other times the committee has deemed that a player is not worthy of being on the list. The three glaring omissions in our mind are Lakeville South’s Finley Ohnstad Finley Ohnstad 6'1" | SF Lakeville South | 2024 State MN , Amy Thompson Amy Thompson 5'10" | SG Stillwater | 2024 State MN of Stillwater, and Tresa Baumgard Tresa Baumgard 6'0" | PF Chisholm | 2024 State MN of Chisholm. Committed to Kansas State, Ohnstad is a top 10 prospect in the class and the all-time leading scorer at her school. Thompson is a South Florida commit who has been an outstanding performer since before high school. Just this week she had another 47-point game against East Ridge.
The committee always seeks to have rural representation among the 30 players selected, and this year is no different with half a dozen representatives from small Class A schools. The one Class A standout who should have made the cut is Baumgard. The MSU-Moorhead signee is a highly accomplished player ranked among the top 35 in the class, a standout performer who has rewritten the Chisholm record book.
Others who probably deserved consideration would have to include unsigned guard Somah Kamara Somah Kamara 5'8" | CG Cooper | 2024 State MN of Cooper, who just set a school record for most points in a single game with 43 against St. Paul Como Park. She’s top 20 in the state in scoring (23 ppg) and top 10 in steals (5 per game). Drew Buslee Drew Buslee 5'9" | PG Eagan | 2024 State MN of Eagan (Sioux Falls) would have been a good choice along with Kylie Waytashek Kylie Waytashek 6'2" | PF Royalton | 2024 State MN of Royalton (Valparaiso), Ava Miller Ava Miller 6'2" | PF Rochester Mayo | 2024 State MN of Rochester Mayo (South Carolina-Upstate) and Macy Birkholz Macy Birkholz 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2024 State MN of Mankato East (MSU-Mankato).
So who’s going to win? To me it’s a three-horse race. There’s no question that Zubich will draw votes. The North Carolina commit has had an incredible career, leading Mountain Iron-Buhl to the Class A state title last spring and breaking records left and right. The last small-school winners of Ms. Basketball were Kacie Borowicz of Roseau in 2019 and Carlie Wagner of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva in 2014. Eight of the last 10 winners have been from big Class 4A schools in the Twin Cities Metro.
Entering the season, Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN of Benilde-St. Margaret’s had to be the odds-on favorite. The Michigan commit has done it all for the Red Knights, leading BSM to the Class 3A state championship last season. A veteran of Team USA, and now a McDonald’s All-American, Olson is one of the best players we’ve seen in recent years. This year, however, she missed a month of action with a broken bone in her hand.
In our minds, the current favorite is Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN of Hopkins. She, too, is a McDonald’s All-American and is committed to the University of Florida. Coming into the season there were question marks surrounding the Royals with the graduation of long-time stars Taylor Woodson (Michigan) and Nunu Agara (Stanford). It was clear the burden of Hopkins’ success was going to fall on the shoulders of McGill. What we’ve seen from Liv this season has been truly remarkable. She has answered every question, doing all things possible to spark Hopkins to a perfect record against Minnesota opponents and putting the Royals in the driver’s seat for the Class 4A state title.
Who knows what the committee will do in the end. All three of these kids are winners.
WACONIA IS ON THE WAY BACK UP
Waconia has a great history in girls basketball led by long-time coach Carl Pierson, who passed away last month after a lengthy battle with cancer. The program has turned out a spate of fine college players, but current coach Dusty Neibauer has been patiently building back to that level over the past couple of seasons. After going 6-21 last year, and starting this season off by losing 10 of their first 11 games, the Wildcats are back on track. Waconia has won 10 of its last 15, including two victories apiece over Orono and New Prague. One of the key reasons for that is the play of senior guard Ashley Bryfczynski Ashley Bryfczynski 5'8" | SG Waconia | 2024 State MN , who has been shooting the ball at a high level. Ashley had 8 threes in a game against Bloomington Jefferson and has made 79 on the season.
Senior Gabby Lauwagie and junior Faith Turner have done good work, too, but it is the sophomore group, all of whom play AAU for Legacy Hoops and are starters at Waconia, that has coach Neibauer excited about the future. Addison Bryfczynski Addison Bryfczynski 5'9" | SF Waconia | 2026 State MN is one of the toughest competitors around, a forward who can push the pace, score at the rim, and rebounds like crazy. She’s a +34 on the year. Audrey Brown is an athletic guard who also rebounds and scores at a high clip. She has shown great improvement of late. And Emma Hanson Emma Hanson 5'9" Waconia | 2026 State MN is a defensive dynamo with a big motor. She’s a remarkable +67 on the year.
Section 2AAAA is tough with Minnetonka, Chaska, and Eden Prairie all in the mix, but Waconia is clearly trending in the right direction again.
MILESTONES IN WEEK #13
Maggie Westling Maggie Westling 6'0" | PF Milaca | 2024 State MN of Milaca topped 2,000 career points on Friday night in a win over Mora. The 6-footer, who missed substantial time with an ACL injury, had set the school career record (1,774) earlier this season. She’s also closing in on 1,500 career rebounds.
Jordan Ode Jordan Ode 5'11" | CG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN of Maple Grove became the Crimson’s all-time scoring leader surpassing the 1,386 points scored by Jordyn Lamker, who now plays D1 ball at St. Thomas. Ode is the #2-rated junior in Minnesota and has committed to Michigan State.
Finley Ohnstad Finley Ohnstad 6'1" | SF Lakeville South | 2024 State MN of Lakeville South became the Cougars’ all-time scoring leader surpassing the old record of 1,607 set in 2017 by Jade Geif, who went on to play at Navy. Finley, who is having an excellent senior season, is a top 10-rated prospect committed to Kansas State.
Ella Kuhlman Ella Kuhlman 5'8" | PG North Branch | 2025 State MN of North Branch became the Vikings’ career scoring leader on Friday night against Princeton, surpassing the 1,633 points standard set by Kelly Johnson. Ella is a top 40 junior. Also notable in the game was a 30-point performance by Ella’s teammate Kayla Diedrich Kayla Diedrich 6'1" | SF North Branch | 2024 State MN .
1,000-POINT SCORERS
Junior Zahara Bishop Zahara Bishop 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN of Benilde-St. Margaret’s (banner photo)
Junior Ajiem Agwa Ajiem Agwa 5'8" | PG Austin | 2025 State MN of Austin
Sophomore Lily Hubin Lily Hubin 5'9" | SG Buffalo Lake | 2026 State MN of Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
Senior Alexis Rose Alexis Rose 5'10" | CG Becker | 2024 State MN of Becker (Sioux Falls)
Senior Kayla Christy Kayla Christy 6'0" | PF Elk River | 2024 State MN of Elk River
Senior Brooklyn Fischer of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
Junior Kirsten Koopal of Lyle-Pacelli in Austin
OTHER MILESTONES OF NOTE
Senior Kadence Hesse Kadence Hesse 5'10" | PG Sleepy Eye | 2024 State MN of Sleepy Eye achieved two more milestones this past week as she is in the home stretch of an outstanding high school career. The Southwest Minnesota State commit recorded her 500th career assist and 500th steal.
Senior Lexie McBroom of Legacy Christian Academy recorded her 500th career rebound.
Sophomore Haylie Wolbeck Haylie Wolbeck 5'9" | PG Royalton | 2026 MN of Royalton broke the school record for most steals in a season previously held by Emily Fussy, who had 105. Haylie is up to 120 and counting.
Sophomore Kate Holmquist Kate Holmquist 5'7" | PG Maple Grove | 2026 State MN of Maple Grove broke the school record for most three-pointers in a game when she put up 10 against Robbinsdale Armstrong on Friday night. In the past two games, the 11th-rated 2026 prospect in the state went 15-for-20 from beyond the arc.
Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN of Providence Academy tied her season high for points in a game with 49 last week in a win over Alexandria. The top-ranked player in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2026 has bettered 40 points eight times this winter.