Montevideo can make some memories

Montevideo’s Tenley Epema (14) launches a 3-pointer during a West Central Conference game against BOLD on Jan. 29 at Montevideo High School. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

Led by NDSU recruit Avery Koenen, Thunder Hawks are serious contenders

BY TOM ELLIOTT West Central Tribune

MONTEVIDEO — The Montevideo girls basketball team has the ingredients to what could be a memorable season.

The Thunder Hawks are experienced, talented and skilled. They are coming off a 14-5 season that included a second-place finish in the West Central Conference with a 7-3 record. And, they have a bigtime athlete in Avery Koenen.

The 6-foot-3 junior was a member of the West Central Tribune’s All-Area team last spring. She has since committed to North Dakota State to continue her basketball career after her senior season in 2022-23. She came into this season with 1,064 career points after averaging 22 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a sophomore. Along the way, Koenen earned West Central Conference MVP honors. She’s also a top volleyball player and track athlete.

Montevideo’s Avery Koenen hits a basket over the defense during a West Central Conference game against Minnewaska on Monday, March 8, 2021 from Montevideo High School.

Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune

And she has some talent around her.

Kassey Pauling (5-8, f) and Keely Foley (5-5, g) are the two seniors on the Thunder Hawks. The junior class includes Tenley Epema (5-9, g), Taylor Viessman (5-7, g) and Annie Marquardt (5-6, g). Ninth-grader Teagan Epema (5-4, g) also is expected to be a key contributor for head coach Anthony Jackson.

And so far, it’s all working. Montevideo is off to a 3-0 start. The Thunder Hawks opened with a 66-46 victory over a very good MACCRAY team, then won 77-44 at Central Minnesota Christian in Prinsburg, another good Class A program.

Montevideo then beat Dawson-Boyd 67-20. The Thunder Hawks’ next three games should tell whether they are a top-10 Class AA team.

They play BOLD on Dec. 10 and New London-Spicer on Dec. 16 with both games in Montevideo, then play Dec. 17 at Minnewaska. BOLD’s a Section 2A and West Central Conference contender and NLS is likely one of the top Class AA teams in the state.

Montevideo’s Avery Koenen hits a basket over the defense during a West Central Conference game against Minnewaska on Monday, March 8, 2021 from Montevideo High School.

Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune