Tony's Takes: Top performers of Week 10

We saw some special individual moments this past week, highlighted by [player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein'] passing the all-time Minnesota girls high school scoring record. It's the type of achievement that doesn't happen without years of consistency, toughness, and a lot of unseen work. My colleague Grant McGinnis breaks that moment down in detail in his Week 10 contribution and it's well worth the read.   Beyond that historic mark, Week 10 was filled with strong individual performances and some big wins across the state. From players stepping into bigger roles to teams stringing together meaningful wins, the level of play continues to rise as we move deeper into the season. Take a ride with me as I walk through some of the standout individual and team accomplishments that made Week 10 one to remember.   Sauk Centre   Since their last loss on Jan. 6, the Mainstreeters have flipped the switch, ripping off five straight wins. That run was capped by a 70–61 road win over St. Cloud Cathedral in a game where the three-ball was falling from everywhere. Both teams combined for 24 makes from deep, with Sauk Centre knocking down 14 and Cathedral answering with nine of their own.   Senior guard Nya Thieschafer led the charge with 16 points, burying three triples in the first half to set the tone. Inside, 6'2 forward [player_tooltip player_id='947971' first='Elly' last='Herickhoff'] (Southwest Minnesota State) owned the paint. At one point in the second half, she put on a full-blown block party, swatting at least five shots. The engine behind it all was sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='834489' first='Paige' last='Determan'], with junior [player_tooltip player_id='764204' first='Kahlen' last='Suelflow'] alongside her. Determan's effort shows up everywhere. She takes charges, hits the floor, and pressures the ball nonstop. Suelflow pushes pace, handles it on a string, and can hurt you from deep. Thursday's matchup with Royalton was postponed, but that's one we'll be circling as we hit the meat and potatoes of the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='786398' first='Zaida' last='Jenkins'] - 2028 guard - Benilde-St. Margaret's   Jenkins was in complete control against New Prague last week and wasted no time making her presence felt, scoring 8 of her team's first 10 points to set the tone early. Her lightning-quick first step consistently got her downhill, and once Zaida turned the corner, the defense was in trouble. She didn't just score it either. Jenkins created offense with her defense, turning pressure into runouts and easy chances for herself and her teammates. When New Prague tried to sag off, she made them pay by knocking down threes in rhythm. The 25th-rated prospect in the 2028 class plays the game the right way and brings it on both ends every possession. Even when the ball isn't going in, her impact shows up through energy, effort, and toughness. She helped the Red Knights to a 3–0 week and continues to be a tough cover teams have to plan for.   [player_tooltip player_id='595199' first='Maya' last='Kilian'] - 2027 forward - New Prague (NDSU)   You wouldn't know it by the final score, but Kilian was a force to be reckoned with early against Benilde-St. Margaret's, keeping New Prague within striking distance for much of the first half. She scored 8 points in the opening 11 minutes, knocking down two threes and adding a smooth grab-and-go drive that started with one of her nine rebounds in that stretch. Her impact went well beyond scoring. She made pinpoint passes in transition, protected the rim with a couple of monster blocks, and competed on every possession. The North Dakota State University commit showed a complete game on both ends of the floor. Kilian finished with a team-high 19 points in what turned into a lopsided loss to the Red Knights, but she left no doubt why she's a high-level Division I player. Her motor, skill, and presence stood out the entire night.   [player_tooltip player_id='948888' first='Mallory' last='McBeth'] - 2028 guard - Wayzata   The top 20 prospect in the 2028 class rose to the moment last Friday, helping Wayzata knock off the defending state champs and top-ranked Hopkins in a statement win. The 5'10 guard set the tone right away, scoring the Trojans' first four points with sharp footwork and a tough left-handed finish over [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker']. She stayed within herself all night, letting the Royals' pressure work against them. Time after time she slipped behind the defense for clean looks at the rim. Nothing was forced, and the game never looked too fast for her. When the final horn sounded, she had 16 points in a 61–52 win, Wayzata's third straight regular season victory. The result pushed the Trojans past Hopkins and into the top spot in the latest Class 4A rankings. This was a mature, high-level performance on a big stage.

We saw some special individual moments this past week, highlighted by Tori Oehrlein Tori Oehrlein 5'11" | CG Crosby-Ironton | 2026 State #56 Nation MN passing the all-time Minnesota girls high school scoring record. It's the type of achievement that doesn't happen without years of consistency, toughness, and a lot of unseen work. My colleague Grant McGinnis breaks that moment down in detail in his Week 10 contribution and it's well worth the read.