At long last, the Fergus Falls girls’ basketball team that had been together for the last . . . 25, 30 years? . . . has finally graduated.  Though the Cards gave them many sterling battles over those years, it was the Otters going to state ever since our last Trumm sisters team.  Oh, we pulled for Fergus at state – the last two years I think most of us around here thought they would win state, but they never quite pulled it off.  So, a new era begins in the Central Lakes Conference – and we could tell Kohler was really into it!  Maybe Tuesday, December 16, marked the beginning of another Cardinal run?  😉

[We’ll begin with Kohler, the younger – Kendall (3) – who along with running mate, Macy (11 – shooting the jumper in photo 2), are already experienced varsity performers even as sophomores.  I’ll try to remember to feature all of the players throughout the year in the warm-up section.]

[Hey, did any of you guys notice the Flavor-of-the-Day at Culver’s when you were driving into town?  Cardinal captains at the center court “meet and greet” are seniors Brooke Heggie (45), Cheyenne Hendrickson (55), and Anna Lee (23).]

[Known to have been the legal guardians for several record-setting Cardinals over the years!]

[I believe the orchestra came in with an undefeated record.]

[The pre-anthem routine; The Competition, the principal, and the Cardinal Connection in the background.]

[Hugs all around.]

[Group hug.]

[Let’s play hockey!]

[Kendall charges up on ‘D.’]

[Kohler, the coach, shouting instructions from the bench – usually something to the effect of I don’t want to see daylight between you and your opponent!]

[Carly Dropik (33) adheres to that request.]

[Kendall shoots; Kelby Olson-Roedel (13), sophomore forward, knows a rebound is not forthcoming.]

[Macy and Carly drop back on ‘D.’  I really like this photo, if I do say so myself.  Probably something to do with finally getting a good shot into the bright lights of the scorer’s table in the background.]

[It’s up and it’s . . .]

[Sophomores Kayla Feldhake (43) and Kiyana Miller (21) are two players I’m going to enjoy watching over the next three years.]

[Macy setting up the offense.]

[Hey, another good shot into the lights of the scorer’s table!  🙂  ]

[Kendall launches a ‘3.’]

[The coaches’ daughters match-up – young Ms. Strand, the Otters point guard, is only a freshman and a player to be reckoned with.]

[Carly and Kendall brace for the onrushing Otters; Otter coach Strand in a crouch.]

[Kiyana appears to be a very good athlete.  We’ll see if she can develop into a scoring threat – nice shooting form here.]

[Carly will not be a stat sheet stuffer, but the other teams will like it when she is not on the court and in their face.]

[Reaching the “it’s all over” stage.]

[Macy had another great all-around game.]

[Sarah Frederick (5), sophomore point guard for the JV team, gets some varsity time.  The JV and 9th-grade teams have been rolling so far!  🙂  ]

[The team was delighted when captain Anna made a couple of freebies at the end!]

[This one was the Cardinals all the way from the beginning, our best all around game.]

[And Brooke got her 1,000th point in the game.  (Photo pilfered from the Voice of Alexandria Facebook page.)]

Hooray for most things!  ~  George Carlin

Up next: A hale and farewell to The Voice!