LQPV hopes to keep the string going

Lac qui Parle Valley’s Hunter Conn takes an outside shot during tje Section 3A-North title game against Central Minnesota Christian on March 24, 2021 from the Lac qui Parle Valley High School West Central Tribune file photo

Eagles return three starters from 17-4 squad that won Camden North

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

MADISON — It was a season to remember for the Lac qui Parle Valley boys basketball team, culminating with a Camden Conference North Division co-championship, a long run in the state Class A rankings, and a 15-game winning streak to start the year.

The Eagles advanced to the 3A-North Sub-Section championship, concluding with a 17-4 record. LQPV hopes it can pick up where it left off.

Three starters return, though the Eagles must replace three key contributors from last season’s squad: Maverick Conn, Evan Hegland and Mykey Elias.

Conn was a West Central Tribune All-Area selection who already is getting key minutes as a freshman this season at the University of Minnesota-Morris. A 6-foot-4 guard/forward, he averaged 18.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.8 steals per game.

But LQPV’s coaching staff is optimistic about the three returning starters and four others who figure to be heavy contributors this season.

Returning to the starting lineup are Kaiden Allpress, Hunter Conn and Landon Schirm.

Allpress is a 6-foot guard who was an honorable-mention on the All-Camden Conference team. Conn is a 6-5 senior forward who also earned honorable-mention all-conference honors. Schirm is a 5-0 senior guard who was an All-Camden pick.

“We bring back three starters who were major contributors to our season last year,” LQPV head coach Barry Besonen said. “Replacing our graduates and developing our bench will be keys to our season.”

New players to watch include Will Giese, Blake Wollschlager, T.J. Mitchell and Kaden Molden.

Giese is a 5-8 senior guard. Wollschlager is a 6-3 senior center. Mitchell is a 6-5 sophomore forward. Molden is a 6-4 sophomore center.

It means LQPV will have decent size for a Class A team.

Besonen is in his 10th year as LQPV’s coach. He has a career 116-115 record and is coming off a four-year string of successful seasons. The Eagles were 19-9 in 2019-20, 18-11 in ‘18-19 and 13-13 in ‘17-18.

If everything comes together, LQPV believes it’ll be able to keep the string going.