The Minnesota Boys’ State High School Basketball Tournament ended last night and thus effectively ended the season for me. Oh sure, I used to follow college and pro basketball – but, eh, been there, done that. Basketball Dan will provide an appropriate analysis of March Madness once it’s over. I didn’t feel an overwhelming urge to go to Hotlanta for the Final Four this year.
But, before I forget (see top), a look back to see what happened in the past some time ago before the current time and is now history (thus completing in the most redundant sentence of all time). I was amazed that Fergus Falls didn’t do better in the state tournament. After an undefeated season and edging out our Cards in the section final, the Otters lost in the first round. I watched a good part of the tournament, all 4 classes, and Alex could have competed against any team I watched, except for the big city exceptionals of De La Salle, Bloomington Kennedy, and Hopkins. In fact Hopkins would beat the Gophers – they were bigger and more athletic. [Insert photo: Likely 4 of the 5 starters for the 1965 Cardinal team, if there had been a Title IX then, and likely the student manager.]
Class AA (the 2nd smallest schools) produced two super star players who met in the final – we thought we had videoed the game, but the good ole Strib had the wrong game time, so we missed it. Those who did see it said it was one of the great games. NRHEG and Braham have about 220 students in their high schools. Rebecca Dahlman for Braham scored over 5,000 points in her career. Her grandfather is John Kundla, once coach for both the Minneapolis Lakers and the Minnesota Gophers; her oldest brother, Isaiah, was Mr. Basketball in Minnesota and played for Michigan state; another brother, Noah, played for Wofford and was the Southern Conference player of the year, and I believe led Wofford in the NCAA tournament twice. She is going to play for Vanderbilt next year. Carlie Wagner for NRHEG set the individual state tournament single game scoring record last year at 48 points, tied it again in the game preceding this one, then went for 50 in the championship game. She also has twin 8th-grade sisters who played considerably in the tournament. She’s only a junior but has committed to the Gophers. NRHEG beat Braham by one-point despite 30 second half points by Dahlman.
The best player in the state was Nia Coffey, a 6’2″ senior for Hopkins. She is the daughter of Richard Coffey, who played for the Gophers in the mid-80’s and once led the Big 10 in rebounding at 6’6″. She is another Maya Moore, the Lynx’s star, but 2 inches taller. She’s strong, fast, can dribble, can shoot the 3, and is so close to being able to do it has attempted to dunk in a game! The bad news is she’s going to Northwestern. I would have loved to have seen her play with Rachel Banham next – the Gophers would have really been tough!
But, back to our Cards. This posting features the staff photographer’s coverage of the section final against Fergus. And I think he got some really good ones. 🙂
[Macy’s mom and Kendall’s mom. And incidentally, congratulations to Julie for being named the section 8AAA assistant coach of the year – probably something to do with the JV’s 23 – 1 record. 🙂 ]
[Cheer, oh cheer for Alex . . .]
[Ken Ken is Kendall. Is this another Kohler?]
[The three in the foreground have a thankless job. Such as receiving verbal abuse from this reporter. Apologies, but it’s cheaper than therapy.]
[Amanda C warms-up with a tomahawk dunk.]
[And her lefty lay-up traditionally ends warm-up drills.]
[Sarah prepares herself as the greeter for the starting line-up. I’m not sure how one gets this job, but it requires memorizing several and various hand maneuvers.]
[Dani and Amanda C go to their “happy place” prior to the start of the game.]
[Sarah waits for Amanda.]
[Hi, Otter.]
[Here comes Dani.]
[Hand maneuver preparations commencement!]
[Left, right, up, down, reverse . . .]
[Karly’s next.]
[She greets Otter star Brianna Rasmusson. They will renew their up-close and personal relationship during the game.]
[Here comes Jess.]
[The ever popular hip check.]
[Boy, you’re really tall!]
[Here comes Kalli.]
[Finally we have someone close to their size!]
[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!]
[For it’s one, two, three, what are we fightin’ four? . . .]
[Now, if we can get a couple of their players in the penalty box, we’ll . . .]
[LET’S PLAY BASKETBALL!]
[Jump! (By the Pointer Sisters, my last MTV remembrance.]
[Jess considers her options . . . stocks or bonds?]
[If you pass to the right, the ball gets blurry.]
[I’m on ya, 34!]
[With their size, Otters over-the-top passing.]
[A Macy series – section finals experience!]
[Referee signals touchdown as Sarah prepares to pass for the 2-point conversion.]
[Amanda C displays her 80%+ free throw shooting form.]
[Jess asks, “Full-court press?”]
[Always have two on Rasmusson.]
[On your marks . . .]
[Get set . . .]
[Chaos!]
[Give me that ball!!]
[Please?]
[“Indiana” (for the supervisor!)]
[A fetching daughter and mother photo, nicely framed by the staff photographer! 😉 ]
[Rebound and go!!]
[Karly is the object of attention.]
[Ken Ken tags Big Big.]
[2018 Cardinal back court. It looks like she’s carbing up!]
[Dani under a Monke’s eye.]
[After a mid-season slump, Kalli finished strong at the free throw line.]
[Kalli shadows her close personal friend.]
[Kalli’s close personal friend shadows Jess.]
[Sarah employs her soccer goalie techniques.]
[Kalli’s shooting. I’m sure it was good.]
[Match up. Match up!]
[Trying to see how many hands can fit on a basketball. In the old days, we used to see how many people could fit in a Volkswagen? (Well, if you could find a VW in Alex.)]
[I’m sorry, I’m distracted. The supervisor is hollering at the TV as her Hoosiers are on.]
[What kind of nuts do you like on your Blizzards?]
[Macadamia, with marshmallow sauce.]
[Generally considered Ole Automatic at the line.]
[But first she has to have a ball.]
[Oh my, it’s a good thing I wore my Depends!]
[Amanda had a terrific game.]
[If I ever have to go into a dark alley at night, I’m bringing Betterman with me! 😉 ]
[Karly back on offense.]
[Karly and Ken Ken keep four eyes on Rasmusson.]
[Tacos or burgers?]
[Amanda’s shot went in – she probably should have got an “and one.” Pulled the Cards within one with less than 10 seconds to go.]
[Oh my, it’s a good thing I wore my Depends! (Yeah, I know I said that already, but I had to change anyway.)]
[We have the ball . . . we can win!]
[So it’s burgers?]
[We can do it!]
[When you give it a valiant try . . . but lose by one. 😦 ]
[Soooo close!]
[Thanks Emily.]
[Thanks Amanda.]
[Thanks Macy.]
[Thanks Sarah. How’d you get ahead of Dani?]
[Thanks Dani.]
[Thanks again Dani.]
[Thanks Karly.]
[Thanks Jess.]
[Thanks again Jess.]
[Thanks Jaylen.]
[Thanks Alyssa, or Anna. (Sorry, no number.)]
[Thanks Kalli.]
[Thanks again Kalli.]
[Thanks Amanda G.]
[Thanks Kendall.]
[Do you have homework?]
[Thanks Carly.]
[Thanks Halley.]
[Thanks Gretchen.]
[Thanks Cheyenne.]
[Thanks Dave.]
[Wait till next year!]
[Then I went out for a little 4-wheelin’.]
[Before the next snow storm hit.]
[Recalled our anniversary day.]
[Thought about how Cardinals have affected events of the last few weeks.]
[Thought about the upcoming spring sports season. (Strib photo.)]
[Stormed the Williams Arena floor, glad that the season is finally over. (Strib photo.)]
And delighted we did have something to celebrate today! The Gopher womens’ hockey are national champs for the 2nd year in a row and on a 49-game winning streak!
For as Garrison Keillor says, ” . . . where all the women are strong!” (Strib photo.) Thanks to the hockey team and the Lynx for providing some measure of athletic pride for our fair state!
alexandriacardinals 