Community Christian School eyes a CAL tournament title

BY MICHAEL LYNE | West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — After a successful 2021-22 campaign that saw two losses, the Community Christian Eagles girls basketball team will look to secure the Christian Athletic League tournament title this season after finishing as the runners-up last season to the Rochester Defenders.

A strong nucleus returns virtually intact for the Eagles, led by senior Sophia Bollig, in a year when they finished second in the Christian Athletic League tournament.

As the Eagles push for the CAL title, they return their entire roster from 2021-22 and added one player in freshman guard/post Grace Strom.

“We are eagerly looking for a chance at redemption and a championship title this year in March,” CCS head coach Kaela Heer said. “We are changing our game up a bit to get the energy moving early in the game and set the team up for success.”

CCS Eagles sophomore Gabbie Bollig drives toward the basket during a game against the Victory Christian Knights on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at Community Christian School.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

The only senior on the Eagles, veteran post Sophia Bollig, will lead the redemption tour. She is 41 points away from reaching 2,000 career varsity points.

Bollig scored a team-high 440 points with a 52.6 shooting percentage in 2021-22. She also tallied 341 rebounds, 103 steals, 27 blocked shots and 21 assists in 22 games.

“Sophia Bollig is a consistent scorer for our team. We can count on her for 15-plus points a game as well as 10-plus rebounds combined a game,” Heer said. “Add Hope Reid, her opposite post, and they are pretty much unstoppable in the paint.”

Community Christian School junior Sophie Bollig (33) goes for a post against Maplewood Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Willmar.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

Reid, a freshman listed at 6-foott-2inches, trailed Bollig with 305 points on 43.9 shooting percentage last season. She also recorded 235 rebounds, 59 blocks, 35 steals and 21 assists in 22 games.

The Eagles have a five-person freshman class that will look to help bolster them in their 2022-23 campaign, where CCS already holds a 1-0 overall record.

CCS dominated Victory Christian en route to a 56-22 victory on Nov. 18.

Sophia’s sister, Gabbie Bollig, led the Eagles with 15 points.

“We are dependent on every player on our roster. Each player is a key part to our success — on the court and in practice,” Heer said. “Whether they see the court in games or majority that time in practice, they help push our team to their full potential.”