BBE will be more experienced and healthy for a promising 2022-23 season

BY MICHAEL LYNE | West Central Tribune

BELGRADE — With an experienced varsity group of seven girls returning from last season, five of them being seniors, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa girls basketball will look to build on its 18-10 overall record from the 2021-22 season that was plagued with injuries.

BBE Jaguars is led by returning all-stater Abby Berge, who missed a chunk of last season with a leg fracture, as well as all-conference selection Tiyana Schwinghammer.

Not only are the Jaguars returning five seniors, they also return four starters. All four are seniors and players to watch in guards Berge, Harley Roering and Schwinghammer and post Allison Dingmann.

“The Jaguars are healthy, had a great summer, and are looking to have a more consistent 2022-23 season. The team will be led by a strong core of seniors,” BBE head coach Kristina Anderson said. “This team will use their length and quickness to create chaos on defense and look to play an uptempo type of transition offense.”

Berge, despite missing 10 games of the 2021-22 season due to a leg fracture, was a member of the AllState, All-Central Minnesota Conference and West Central Tribune All-Area First Team squads after averaging 23.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 2.8 assists per game. Schwinghammer was also part of the All-CMC team, leading the Jaguars with 290 points, 160 rebounds, 73 steals and 30 blocks in 2021-22.

Berge and Schwinghammer will lead the healthy Jaguars in hopes of a stronger 2022-23 campaign.

BBE was ranked in the top-10 for the majority of the 2021-22 season and reached the Section 5A-West finals.

“This team has unfinished business from last season and will be hungry to prove they can contend to be at the top of the conference and section,” said Anderson, who’s at the helm of the Jaguars program for an 11th season. “The balance of gritty defense and uptempo offense should make this team fun to watch. We are hoping our strength of schedule will prepare us for the end of the season, where we need to be playing our best.”

BBE junior Allison Dingmann (13) puts up a shot in the paint while Minneota’s McKenzie Tolk puts her hands up to defend during the first half of a non-conference game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at Belgrade.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune