January 5

[‘Tis that time of year when the snow crunches and squeaks under your feet; when your coat crackles like a potato chip bag . . . ]

[Always nice to get to AAHS a little early to catch a bit of the JV games. Because as fans we’re always wondering about the future.  We’re only about a third into the current season – but what’s going to happen next year?  We’re graduating about 423 seniors off this year’s team!  Who’s going to take their places?  Oh, the angst!  The three in this photo will certainly have roles:  Ella Grove (51), freshman; Taylor Partington (5), junior; and Kaye Paschke (45), sophomore.]

[And Matie Wirtjes (21), junior, as we’re hosting the Detroit Lakes Lakers . . . ]

[And to play for Kohler, you have to hit the floor, with some degree of regularity . . . ]

[Nikki Botzet (3), junior, will play as will Flora Kvale (11), junior.]

[Francesca Palmer (43), junior]

[Callie Craig (33), sophomore; Alison Amundson (23), junior; Larissa Lamb (53), freshman; and Kennedy Quinn (1), sophomore]

[Kaye and Ella on the Cardinal press.]

[High screen and roll . . . ]

[Nikki is a high a activity player which fits into the scheme.]

[Kennedy?]

[Kaye dribbles, a necessary function of the sport.]

[Then feeds Emily Aker (31), junior.]

[I took this shot early before the board was cleared of individual stats.]

[Alison perfectly executes the key to Cardinal basketball – the steal followed by a drive to the hoop.]

[And score!]

[Callie on the free throw line; Addison Rodel (13), sophomore, back on D.]

[And another nice win.  I think we’ll be OK in the future.]

[The varsity takes the floor for the pre-game niceties with the opposition.]

[Hey, is your Zorbaz as good as our Zorbaz?]

[Kendall Kohler (3) and Macy Hatlestad (11) work on their ‘3’s’ from the corner.]

[The Dynamic Duo.]

[And it’s nice to see other players getting more comfortable with the ‘3’.]

[Kiyana Miller (21) fires one up here.  Lauren Stockmoe (33) also in the photo, and everyone mentioned so far are seniors.]

[And whom amongst us doesn’t like a high school band?  They brought “all of them” along so it was a big sound.  I’m a homer, but I think they’re very good.]

[The team merrily takes the court . . . ]

[Because Kelby Olson-Rodel (13) has just reminded them of the Shannon Fish quote, “If you are going to take it to the bank, then you better cash it in.”]

[And we’re off!  Once again, Kayla Feldhake (43) is giving away a few inches to her opposing center.]

[I think it went thataway?  Emma Ziegler (1) on the chase.]

[Kelby’s pressure defense is interrupted by a passing fan.]

[Kelby and Macy annoy the Lakers.]

[OMG, they may complete a pass?]

[Or maybe they didn’t – the Cards on the attack.]

[Macy checks for cutters . . . ]

[Eventually Kayla got fouled.  As a team I believe we made our first 12 free throws in the game.]

[Macy inbounds under our basket; Kelby screens for Kayla.]

[Kiyana banks one in . . .]

[And one.]

[The pre-game instructions were likely, “Take the mystery out of this early.”  Half way through the first half the Lakers had one point, as the Card defense doesn’t let you breathe.  I don’t recall the Lakers ever having a clean look at the basket.]

[The defense readies to close the trap.  Junior Emma Schmidt (25) joins the fray.]

[Kayla screens for Macy.]

[And then Macy drives the base line through traffic.  We figure Macy probably hits the floor a dozen times a game.  She should get a floor wax named after her!]

[Emma had a nice game.  At an athletic 5’11”, she provides defensive length.]

[Emma Z and Kendall ready a double team.  Abby Schramel (43) for the Lakers is a player.]

[Zig also provides length at the top of the defense.]

[You can hear want Kohler wants all during the game, including with a whistle that is an envy for many.]

[I believe the ball is up there somewhere?]

[Macy, ole automatic at the free throw line.]

[And it’s also rare if Kendall misses one.]

[We come in waves, like line changes in hockey.]

[Looks like a squeeze play between Kiyana and Kendall.]

[At the half, the situation is well in hand.]

[Fellow class of ’65 super fan . . . ]

[And also a super star athlete herself as the world’s greatest musky fisherwoman!]

[I think it’s too cold for a Blizzard tonight?]

[Kendall’s back on the line.]

[Since we had the big lead, the Lakers occasionally we able to get off some decent shots – they made a couple ‘3’s’ from this spot.]

[This kind of lets you know the only thing in doubt is the final score.]

[And we discovered a famous alum in the stands.  Lauren Trumm is sitting just to the left of Kohler’s head. And it’s interesting that our last two 1,000-point scorers are just on either side of Kohler, with Macy just to the right.  Well, Amanda Christianson may have been in there too.]

[Nice to have the Trumms back in the stands!]

[Mostly JV getting ready for some varsity PT.]

[Ms. Grove led the JV in scoring earlier gets a chance to get in the varsity scorebook as well.]

[A big win against a section rival.  On the next night (Friday), the Cards traveled to Brainerd to take on the other undefeated team in the conference and came away with a 74-62 victory.  We’re on a nice roll now.]

When Austin Peay University had a player named Fly Williams, the students would chant, “The Fly is open! Let’s go Peay!”

Up Next:  Even more basketball.