GIRLS BASKETBALL
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021 | D11
Experienced Bluejays hope to make a run
Central Minnesota Christian returns four starters, including Coco Duininck and Milly Mulder BY TOM ELLIOTT
among the conference’s best. “Molly brings athletiPRINSBURG — Four cism and relentless enerstarters are back from a gy to the court,” Mulder very good Central Minsaid. “She’ll be an offennesota Christian team that battled for the Cam- sive threat and a strong defensive presence in the den Conference North Division title last season. paint, averaging almost two blocks a game last Included is Coco season.” Duininck, a three-time Duininck, 5-foot-6, led all-conference senior the way with 23.3 points, guard who also was the 4.6 assists, 5.0 steals and conference’s MVP the 4.7 rebounds per game past two seasons. last season. Mulder, “Coco is a threat on 5-11, averaged 10 points, both ends of the court,” head coach Mike Mulder 2 assists, 2 steals and 7 rebounds per game. said. “She has the abilThose four helped ity to create offensive the Bluejays go 10-6 in opportunities. “Defensively, she uses the Camden North just her quickness and antic- behind MACCRAY (10-5) and Lac qui Parle Valley ipates well, leading to (11-4). CMCS was 11-8 transition scoring.” overall, averaging 56.4 Add in all-conference post player Molly Mulder points per game and surrendering 47.7 ppg. and fellow senior forSupporting team ward Maaike Duininck, members include seniors as well as sophomore post Lauren Taatjes, and Emma Roiseland and Reegan Swart and junior the Bluejays feel they Natasha Erickson. have what it takes to be West Central Tribune
Photos by Patrick Bemadeau / West Central Tribune
Dawson-Boyd forward Laney Bartunek handles the ball during a Camden Conference game against MACCRAY on Feb. 4, 2021 from MACCRAY High School.
Blackjacks bank on new coach, sophomore class With three starters back, Dawson-Boyd aims for improvement
BY TOM ELLIOTT
Jenna Williamson is Rachael Lund, who was West Central Tribune DAWSON — The Daw- an All-Camden Conferson-Boyd girls basketball ence honorable-mention last season before graduteam has a new coach, ating. Rachel Hakanson. “Our returning startShe takes over for Jusers are players to watch, tin Wager. given their experience Hakanson inherits and hard work ethic,” a team that went 1-18 Hakanson said. “We last season, but shows have a bigger sophopromise. There are three return- more class coming up that have shown great ing starters: Laney Barpotential and given more tunek, Kate Dahl and experience, along with Chelsie Husby. strengthening their skill Bartunek is a 5-footset, will be fun to watch 9 forward and the lone senior on the squad. Dahl as well.” There are seven sophois a 5-9 junior center and mores on the roster. They Husby is a 5-7 junior include forwards Rachel guard. The other junior on the Jorgens, Carmen Willsey roster is 5-5 forward Sara and Ayiana Hastad, centers Hayley Anderson and Larson. The key loss for Hakan- Ella Wolner and guard Allison Estling. son and assistant coach Anderson and Wolner
are 5-11. The Blackjack are off to an 0-2 start, having lost to Benson 55-28 and Montevideo 67-20. Their season-opener is Dec. 7 against Renville County West. Their last win was Jan. 25, 2021 against Ortonville, 35-29. Since then, they’ve lost 17 straight. Dawson-Boyd aims for its first winning seasons since 2014-15. “The girls are eager to learn and have positive attitudes, which is encouraging for a new coach,” Hakanson said. Hakanson is a physical therapist for Johnson Memorial Health Services in Dawson. She’s originally from Dawson and played basketball at St. Catherine University in St. Paul.
Also expected to contribute are Carrie Mulder, CC Roiseland and Avery Duininck. The hope is that someone will step up to replace the play of Nyssa Vogel, whom the coach described as a “feisty, 3-point-shooting guard.” Besides the always tough Camden, the challenge will be the schedule. “We have a tough schedule this year,” said Mulder, who has a 45-25 record in four seasons as head coach. “The Camden Conference is competitive with many talented teams and our non-conference games will be against top-level talent.” Included in Mulder’s praise are Mayer Lutheran, Montevideo and teams in the Wildcard tournament. The Wildcard Tournament in New London features the host NLS Wildcats, as well as Willmar and Redwood Valley. CMCS will play two of those teams Dec. 27-28.
West Central Tribune file photo
Central Minnesota Christian guard Coco Duininck works around a screen during a Camden Conference game against Lac qui Parle Valley on Feb. 12, 2021 from Central Minnesota Christian School in Prinsburg.
