Karlen and Carr climb aboard Pony Express at Sweet 16

The move had been rumored for months; on Saturday it was confirmed – big 2020 post Liza Karlen is now a member of the Stillwater Ponies. Karlen made her debut Saturday at the Pacesetter Sweet 16 at the College of St. Benedict, joining her AAU teammate Sara Scalia and talented 2021 prospect Alexis Pratt in the Ponies lineup. As an added bonus, #17-ranked sophomore Gionna Carr was also on the floor for Stillwater having moved back home from Hill-Murray. With those two changes, Stillwater is definitely a program to be reckoned with. “It felt really good to be out there with the girls for the first time,” said Karlen, a 6’2 power forward currently rated #6 in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2020 rankings. “I haven’t been playing with them all summer. We have scrimmaged against each but it was great to get out on the floor in a game and kind of see what my role will be on the team and see how I work with the other girls. I was happy with what I saw and I’m looking forward to the season.” Karlen and the Ponies kind of tippy-toed their way through the first quarter against Pelican Rapids – yes, they play quarters at the Sweet 16 – before they got rolling in the second. Stillwater was up 10 at the half before cruising to a 55-33 win. Later in the day the Ponies knocked off Erin Lamb and the Stewartville Tigers by a score of 72-42. Not all about basketball There were plenty of smiling faces in the Stillwater camp. Even the usually stone-faced Scalia was beaming. The premier point guard in the 2019 class has carried the mail for Stillwater the past few seasons so the prospect of having some big-time assistance is exciting. Having Carr on board as yet another option is an added bonus. “Liza is a bigger girl which is something we needed,” Scalia said. “I think it will be a lot easier to run four out, one in with her posting up. I think it will open things up more for me. If they double team me, Liza will be open. ‘G’ (Carr) obviously gives us a lot of speed. She pushes the ball and she drives and kicks to the open person so that will help us a lot.” Scalia averaged nearly 27 points per game last winter to lead Stillwater to a record of 17-11. Pratt averaged 18. Meanwhile, Karlen was 21 and 11 at St. Paul Central, but half her schedule was in the very weak St. Paul City Conference. Karlen is the latest talented player to depart St. Paul for better competition – about 30 elite players did the same last season – and it has been a decade now since Central dominated girls basketball in the state. Ironically, the coach of those great Minutemen squads was Willie Taylor, who is now coaching at Stillwater. “Basketball had a role in the move but it wasn’t all about basketball,” said Karlen, who will also swim for Stillwater and run track. “My family was already looking to move. It was originally going to be when I graduated but basketball pushed it up two years. After last year at Central I realized that basketball is way too long of a season to not be entirely happy with the team or the style you are playing.” Stillwater was particularly attractive because Karlen and Scalia were AAU teammates with North Tartan the past two seasons. “It makes a big difference,” Scalia said of their familiarity. “We have a great connection on and off the court. When we make eye contact we know what to do.” One of the most interesting implications of these transfers is how it could impact the Suburban East Conference where Roseville had been considered the pre-season favorite. The Raiders lost just one senior from a state tournament team and the matchups are intriguing. Guard Kaylee Nelson was more effective against Scalia last season than any other defender. Karlen and 6’3 sophomore Tamia Ugass of the Raiders did battle in St. Paul in previous years. The Raiders add talented sophomore Rae’janae Meadows to the varsity lineup, which could help contain the speed of Carr and Pratt. “Obviously both teams are probably really looking forward to playing each other. It will be a really good matchup,” Scalia said. “There is a lot of history and it’s definitely a rivalry.”   SATURDAY’S RESULTS - Round of 16 <ul> <li>Wayzata 67 Lac qui Parle Valley 27</li> <li>Waseca 64 Maranatha 55</li> <li>Stillwater 55 Pelican Rapids 33</li> <li>Stewartville 61 Grand Rapids 44</li> <li>Hopkins 67 Holy Family 41</li> <li>New Ulm 50 Minneota 48</li> <li>Prior Lake 59 Eden Valley-Watkins 51</li> <li>Minnehaha Academy 56 Willmar 47</li> </ul> QUARTERFINALS <ul> <li>Wayzata 70 Waseca 32</li> <li>Stillwater 72 Stewartville 42</li> <li>Hopkins 68 New Ulm 36</li> <li>Minnehaha Academy 56 Prior Lake 49</li> </ul> Top photo: Sara Scalia has been the face of Stillwater Basketball for a long time. She'll have some help during her senior season from junior Liza Karlen. (photo courtesy of Mike Peden-TSB Television)