You know, there does seem to be something discouraging about finishing fourth in state. I hope the emphasis now is in building up the jubilant emotions about having such a successful season! Fourth in state! Think of the pride this will provide as the people observe the trophy. Wouldn't our MACA program like to be in this position?
Well, Minnewaska showed real command in playing our Tigers in 2024-25. I won't cite the most significant details of that. But hey, we all have to be happy about an area team that does so well. Lake Minnewaska is basically down the road from us in Morris.
What a wild ride the Laker fans had through the 2025 state tournament! I understand what it's like to be emotionally invested in this. I wrote about many Morris teams that had the good fortune to climb far. Toward the end, the standards set by certain parents and school administrators for judging my coverage had gotten so high, I withdrew from some of that. I took on the work of the company custodian and van driver!
As much as I absolutely loved the experience of high-level tournament success, the party was over for me. That's OK, I accepted reality, and I never dreamt the door would open in the future, thanks to tech, for diving into high school sports journalism again. But here I am! And I am no longer encumbered by the expectation to cover a whole raft of teams all the time with no inconsistencies or mistakes.
Today as you see right here, I can write about whatever I want. In the style that I want. It is my No. 1 calling in life. So congratulations to the 2024-25 Minnewaska Area girls basketball team on the "wild ride" they took us through!
The problem with finishing fourth in state is that you've lost your last two games. Maybe a team can take this in stride. But again I'm speculating. I think there has to be kind of a downbeat unspoken air about it. Well I hope I'm wrong.
Redhawks 61, Lakers 42
The Lakers completed their historic campaign on Saturday in the Twin Cities of course. The Lakers were on the short end of the 61-42 score at the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia-St. Paul. I can remember when UMM played the "Comets" of Concordia quite often. 'Waska fell to Minnehaha Academy in the state third place game.
The other girls team that I've been writing about - Alexandria - had the good fortune of winning their third place game. I realize this morning that I probably should have been writing about West Central Area too. In my newspaper days, I could be judged harshly on such criteria. Today? Not at all. I do strive to be fair and forthright in my writing.
It has always meant a lot for me to stay close to area high school sports. How could we deal with the Minnesota winter without this?
Wow! Take a look at the final Minnewaska Area record of 28-5! Awesome talent. I will miss typing many of these names. The Lakers' coach is Nick Danielson who obviously deserves a tip of the hat.
'Waska had the No. 5 seed in state. Minnehaha owned No. 3. The final Minnehaha Academy record is 22-10.
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| Minnehaha "Redhawks" |
The Lakers had trouble trying to control Addison Mack. Mack poured in 32 points. She was also a thorn in the Lakers' side with four steals and three assists. She has committed to University of Maryland. Isn't that where Brenda Frese coaches?
Mack and the Lakers' Sydney Dahl are on the Class AA All-Tournament Team.
There were signs Minnewaska was headed in the wrong direction at halftime: trailing 36-25. The Redhawks cruised in the second half to outscore the Lakers 25-17.
Dahl scores 17
Let's acknowledge all the 'Waska point scorers starting with Dahl who scored 17 points. Olivia Danielson was No. 2 on the list with 11. Then we see Megan Thorfinnson 6, Jayda Kolstoe 5 and Addy Kath 3. Dahl, Thorfinnson and Kolstoe each made a 3-pointer.
Danielson led in rebounds with eight followed by Kath with six. We see five Lakers each with one assist: Kath, Danielson, Dahl, Thorfinnson and Kolstoe. Thorfinnson topped steals with four followed by Lauren Ankeny and Danielson each with three. Kath and Dahl each blocked two shots.
I will remind you that my blogging has been on two sites: "I Love Morris" and "Morris of Course." My review of the section championship game is on "Morris of Course" which I generally consider to be my secondary site. Here is the link to that March 7 post. The score was 53-38! What an awesome group.
I hope that a few Minnewaska people have become aware of my writing.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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