Wolverines have a nice mix of talent

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. Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune

Three all-conference players return and they’re backed by young talent

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

CLARA CITY — The MACCRAY girls basketball team began last season losing their first three games, but closed strong, reeling off four straight victories and winning seven of their last eight regular-season games.

It’s something the Wolverines hope to build upon as they enter the 2021-22 season. There’s some experience to build upon. Head coach Shaun Condon’s squad has four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and an eighth-grader on the roster.

“We return a lot of talent to our team this year,” Condon said. “We bring back three all-conference players.”

The Wolverines were 10-7 last season and graduated seniors Kaisa Jaenisch and Alison Koenen. Everyone else is back, including leading scorer in Ella Bourne, one of the All-Camden Conference selections. The 5-foot-6 senior guard averaged 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game, shooting 32% from the field.

Also returning is Gabby Randt, who was second on the team in scoring at 9.6 ppg. Randt is a 5-11 senior forward who also averaged 8.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. She 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.