Best of January

Top players, teams and coaches are chosen from among those who are in the Big Game or are Player or Coach of the Day. Through Thursday, January 24.

Players of the Month

1. Taylor Thunstedt, New London-Spicer, junior guard
2. Anders Broman, Lakeview Christian, senior forward
3. Reid Travis, DeLaSalle boys, junior forward

4. Andre Hollins, Minnesota Gopher men, sophomore guard
5. Tia Elbert, Tartan girls, junior guard
6. Rachel Banham, Minnesota Gopher women, sophomore guard
7. Jade Martin, Bloomington Kennedy girls, senior forward 
8. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota Gopher men, big forward-post
9. Tyus Jones, Apple Valley boys, junior guard
10. Ali Wilkinson, Mankato State women, junior forward

11. Rachel Hansen, Concordia (St. Paul) women,junior guard
12. Scottie Stone, Melrose boys, senior guard
13. J. P. Macura, Lakeville North, junior guard
14. Austin Hollins, Minnesota Gopher men, junior guard
15. Rodney Williams, Minnesota Gopher men, senior forward
16. Taylor Hall, Bethel men, senior forward
17. MC McGrory, Edina girls, senior guard

18. Nia Coffey, Hopkins girls, senior forward
19. Assem Marei, Mankato State, sophomore post

20. Maddie Guebert, Eastview girls, sophomore guard

21. Tyseanna Johnson, DeLaSalle girls, senior forward

22. Kenisha Bell, Bloomington Kennedy girls, junior guard, out with broken wrist

23. Anika Whiting, Concordia (St. Paul), sophomore forward
24. Cayla McMorris, Park Center girls, junior forward-post

25. Paige Waytashek, Centennial girls, senior forward

Teams of the Month

1. St. Thomas men. Now #1 in the nation in D2.
2. DeLaSalle boys. #1AAA and the best boys in MN after beating #1AAAA Park Center.
3. Mankato State men. #8 in D2.

4. Park Center boys. #1AAAA.
5 (tie). Concordia (St. Paul) women and Concordia (Moorhead) women.
7. Bloomington Kennedy girls. #1AAAA.
8. DeLaSalle girls

9. St. Cloud State women.
10. Apple Valley boys

11. Hopkins girls.
12 (tie). North Woods and Mountain Iron-Buhl girls. MIB is #1A but lost to North Woods, then defeated #2A Maranatha.
14. Minnesota Gopher men. 4 straight losses before beating Nebraska.
15. Melrose boys.

16. Eastview girls
17. Delano boys

18. Gustavus Adolphus women

19. UMD women
20. Edina girls

21. Byron boys
22. St. Benedict's women
23. Centennial girls.
24. St. Thomas women. 3 straight losses.

Coaches of the Month

1. John Tauer, St. Thomas men

2. Dave Thorson, DeLaSalle boys

3. Paul Fessler, Concordia (St. Paul) women
4. Jessica Rahman, Concordia (Moorhead) women
5. Matt Marganthaler, Mankato State men

6. Zach Goring, Apple Valley boys
7. Brian Cosgriff, Hopkins girls
8. Tubby Smith, Minnesota Gopher men
9. Rich Glas, Concordia (Moorhead) men

10. Quintin Johnson, Bloomington Kennedy girls

11. Ryan Dusha, Melrose boys
12. Melissa Guebert, Eastview girls
13. Mandy Pearson, St. Mary's women

14. Faith Johnson Patterson, DeLaSalle girls
15. Laurie Kelly, Gustavus women
16. Mike Durbin, St. Benedict's women
17. Greg Amundson, Centennial girls
18. Broderick Powell, Park Center boys
19. Terry Teachem, Delano boys
20. Kerry Linbo, Byron Bears boys

21. Emilee Thiesse, Mankato State women
22. Dave Montbriand, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa boys
23. Ashlee Zupancich, North Woods girls
24. Lori Fish, St. Cloud State women
25. Jeff Buffetta, Mountain Iron-Buhl girls

The Big Game

1. #5 Indiana 88 Minnesota Gopher men 81.
2. #5 Michigan 83 Minnesota Gopher men 75.
3. #8 Minnesota Gopher men 84 #11 Illinois 67 at Illinois, no less.
4. Concordia (Moorhead) men 54 #1 St. Thomas 52
5. DeLaSalle boys 74 Park Center 60. #1AAA vs. #1AAAA.
6. Centennial girls 79 Hopkins 70. #1AAAA takes its 1st loss.
7. Concordia (St. Paul) women 56 Wayne State 46. Wayne's 52-game home win streak busted.
8. Melrose boys 87 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrose 56, ending BBE's 50 game winning streak.
9. St. Thomas men 94 Augsburg 52. Battle of the unbeatens.
10. Mankato State women 80 Augustana 79. The last unbeaten in the Northern Sun falls.

11. #1A Mountain Iron-Buhl girls 65 #2A Maranatha 57.
12. Concordia (Moorhead) women 69 St. Thomas 62
13. Bloomington Kennedy girls 57 Eastview 49. #2AAAA vs. #3AAAA.
14. Apple Valley boys 80 Cooper 70. Tyus Jones vs. Rashad Vaughn.
15. St. Thomas women 65 Gustavus 43. Battle of the unbeatens
16. St. Benedict's 66 St. Thomas women 62.
17. St. Thomas men 90 Bethel 48. Breaking a 5-game Bethel win streak, at Bethel.
18. Minnesota Gopher women 83 Ohio State 74.
19. North Woods girls 52 #1A Mountain Iron-Buhl 50.
20. Hopkins girls 90 DeLaSalle 64.

21. Minnesota Gopher men 84 Nebraska 65
22. St. Cloud State women 69 Mankato State women 65
23. #2AAA DeLaSalle girls 54 #1AA Providence 46
24. Hamline women 66 St. Thomas 56.
25 (tie). Gustavus women 86 St. Mary's 66.
      Gustavus women 66 Macalester 56.
      St. Thomas women 75 Carleton 64. Set up battle of the unbeatens the next week.