D14 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wolverines have a nice mix of talent Three all-conference players return and they’re backed by young talent BY TOM ELLIOTT
Condon said. “We bring back three all-conference players.” CLARA CITY — The The Wolverines were MACCRAY girls basketball 10-7 last season and gradteam began last season uated seniors Kaisa Jaelosing their first three games, but closed strong, nisch and Alison Koenen. Everyone else is back, reeling off four straight including leading scorer victories and winning in Ella Bourne, one of the seven of their last eight All-Camden Conference regular-season games. selections. The 5-foot-6 It’s something the senior guard averaged Wolverines hope to build 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, upon as they enter the 2.8 assists and 3.8 steals 2021-22 season. per game, shooting 32% There’s some experience from the field. to build upon. Head coach Also returning is Gabby Shaun Condon’s squad Randt, who was second has four seniors, four on the team in scoring at juniors, two sophomores 9.6 ppg. Randt is a 5-11 and an eighth-grader on senior forward who also the roster. averaged 8.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.3 steals and “We return a lot of talent to our team this year,” 1.2 blocks per game. She West Central Tribune
has been starting since eighth grade and also was all-conference, Condon said. Elsie Sumner, a 5-10 senior forward, and Brynn Lozinski, a 5-8 senior forward, also are back after being contributors as juniors. Sumner played in all 17 games and averaged 4.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Lozinski averaged 1.4 ppg. Junior guard Sydney Thein (5.9 ppg) also is a returning all-conference player. Sophomore guard Ella Kienitz is a player to watch, as is Brielle Janssen. She’s a 5-11 forward who is an eighth grader. “We also have some younger girls coming up
who will have a big impact on the floor,” Condon said. “They are quick and should bring us some much-needed depth off the bench.” Janssen has been a factor as the Wolverines have gotten off to a 3-2 start. MACCRAY already has wins over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (50-43), Heron Lake-Okabena/ Fulda (66-44) and Benson (40-20). The Wolverines have lost to Montevideo (66-46) and Hancock (6424). Condon enters his fifth year as MACCRAY’s coach, coming into the season with a 41-54 record. His assistants are Bryce Olson and Dana Johnson.
Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune
Left: MACCRAY center Gabby Randt takes it to the basket after a turnover during a Camden Conference game against Dawson-Boyd on Feb. 4, 2021 from MACCRAY High School.
RCW hopes experience pays off
Jaguars return all five starters from a 3-15 team BY TOM ELLIOTT West Central Tribune
RENVILLE — Greg Hagen’s first season as Renville County West’s girls basketball coach saw the Jaguars post a 3-15 record. There was an early 49-40 win over Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, then back-to-back victories over Dawson-Boyd, 69-25 and 46-32. There were some close calls, including a 60-51 loss to MACCRAY, a 48-42 loss to Canby and a 32-20 loss to KMS. The experience was vital for RCW, which returns all five starters. “(We had) no key losses as we had no seniors last season,” Hagen said. The Jaguars will have four this year, including Hannah Pharr, Holly
Bratsch, Jennifer Bratsch and Addyson Tanner. Also back is sophomore Rachel Jakel. “Hannah Pharr is the player to watch,” Hagen said of the 6-foot-2 post player. “(She’s a) good shot blocker (and) runs the court well. “(She’s) just tapping her potential offensively. Her performance will be a major factor in our success.” Pharr averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks per game last season. Jakel was the second-leading scorer at 9 ppg. She also averaged 6 rpg and 2 steals per game. Holly Bratsch averaged 8 ppg and 3 rpg and Tanner averaged 8 ppg and 3 rpg. Jennifer Bratsch averaged 3 ppg and 4 rpg. Hagen and assistant
coach Brad Veglahn also have one junior, six sophomores and two ninth-graders on the varsity roster. The junior is Melody Filzen, who is 5-9. Sophomores include Litzy Martinez-Hinojos, Hannah Savig, Laila Ridler, Emily Lippert, Rachel Jakel and Breana Winzenburg. The ninth-graders are Johanna Braun and Avery Roxberg. Roxberg is listed as being 6-2 on the roster. RCW opened with a 53-32 loss at Westbrook-Walnut Grove. The Wolverines’ early schedule includes games at Red Rock Central and Dawson-Boyd and then Dec. 9 at Renville against MACCRAY in the home-openPatrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune er. The fourth game of the week is against Heron Left: MACCRAY center Gabby Randt takes it to the basket after a turnover during a Camden Conference game against Dawson-Boyd on Feb. 4, 2021 from Lake-Okabena/Fulda on Dec. 10 in Renville. MACCRAY High School.
