Dec. 1--McKenna Hofschild breaks loose for 63 points

McKenna Hofschild stole the show at the Breakdown Girls Tip Off at Hopkins on Saturday, Dec. 1. It was just one of 17 games, but it was a record breaker. Hofschild scored a girls state record of 63 points on 12 2-pointers, 5 3-pointers and 24-of-31 FT. The 24 FT tied the 2nd most every by a girl in a single game. She also scored her 2,000th career point somewhere along the way. After the game, the Prior Lake girls were celebrating as if they had won the game. (The Star Tribune's report that she made 25-of-35 FT is in error.)

Say, what? As if? Yup. They lost to Park Center in a wild 99-95 slugfest that featured 91 total FT attempts for both teams. They made just 57 (63 percent). Park Center was led by Adalia McKenzie, the #1 rated player among the 2021s, and T'Naye Griffin, each with 30 points.

Hopkins clobbers Eastview

Hopkins vs. Eastview is always the “big game,” but not today. Not only did Hofschild steal the show, but the Royals clobbered the Lightning 75-48. Eastview stayed close for about 10 minutes but you knew it wasn’t going to be their day. With a couple of chances to take the lead, they missed 3 straight FT. That is not Eastview basketball. Paige Bueckers led the Royals with 25 seemingly effortless points. Amaya Battle’s 14 points and Dlayla Chakolis’ 13 entailed a little more effort. Lauren Glas’ 18 points for Eastview entailed a massive effort against Hopkins’ relentless, tight, pressing defense. 

Sauk Centre’s 33-game winning streak ends

In the best game of the day, Sauk Centre’s defending, unbeaten state Class AA champions lost for the 1^sttime since the state final on March 18, 2017 (Roseau 75 Sauk 64) and it took an OT to do it. Stewartville outscored Sauk 8-4 in OT to win 71-67. Tori Peschel scored a 2+1 to send it into OT.

Sauk is going to be very good. Peschel is a superb all-around player and scored 12 today. 6-footers Julia Dammann, McKenna Westby and Michaela Dammann combined for 31 points. All are sophomores and juniors. But Stewartville won the game despite foul trouble for their top scorer Erin Lamb, who was held to 6 points, and the absence due to injury of guard Hailey Lewis. The other Tiger guards—Lily Welch, Kailee Malone, Maia Peterson and Olivia Quam—combined for 57 points. These are both teams that can contend for a Class AA state title.

Some other winners

Alexandria did a little bit of everything in beating injury-depleted DeLaSalle 59-40. Ella Grove did most of the scoring with 20 points.

Forest Lake came from behind to beat Centennial 57-52. Centennial is playing without 6-4 senior post and Wisconsin recruit Sara Stapleton, who is expected back in 5 to 6 weeks with a meniscus issue.

St. Michael-Albertville was all over Lakeville North 74-53 though Lauren Jensen scored 24 for the Panthers with Lindsay Whalen watching. 

Waseca edged Simley 62-56, coming from behind after Simley point guard Ravyn Miles went down with an apparent knee injury.

Best of the Best

Well, the best of the best were/are all guards but there's gotta be one big, so here is my 4-out all-stars. These are all considered to be Player of the Day, well, except for Bueckers, who is really the Player of the Day.

Big--Patience Williams, 6-2, junior, Benilde-St. Margaret's, 12 points as Benilde manhandled Marshall 49-39.

Point Guard--McKenna Hofschild, 5-3, senior, Prior Lake, 63 points

Shooting Guard--Paige Bueckers, 6-0, junior, Hopkins, 25 points

Shooting Guard--Lauren Jensen, 5-10, junior, Lakeville North, 24 points

Shooting Guard--Sara Scalia, 5-9, senior, Stillwater, 24 points, as the Ponies romped over Lakeville Sout 66-40

Second Team

Big--Abigail Groeneweg, 5-11, senior, Forest Lake, 14 points, as the Rangers defeated Centennial 57-52. She's listed as a 5-10 guard/forward, but for Forest Lake she is a 4/5. She is also a volleyball player and that is what she will be doing in college.

Point Guard--Aiana Whitfield, 5-8, senior, Benilde, scored 27 in the win over Marshall.

Shooting Guard--Frankie Vascellero, 5-10, sophomore, Holy Angels, 23 points, as Holy Angels defeated Robbinsdale Cooper 74-66.

Shooting Guard--Adeline Kent, 5-7, freshman, Becker, scored 22 points as her team defeated Kennedy 56-42.

Shooting Guard--Lily Welch, 5-9, junior, Stewartville, scored 22 points in their OT win over Sauk Centre.

Third Team

Big--Julia Damman, 5-11, junior Sauk Centre, 19 points.

Point Guard--Alyssa Peterson, 5-7, senior, Menahga, 20 points in the Braves ridiculously easy 53-23  win over Hayfield.

Shooting Guard--Lariah Washington, 5-9, senior, St. Cloud Apollo, 23 points as her team lost to an athletic Hill-Murray bunch 64-45.

Shooting Guard--Elaina Jones, 5-10, senior, DeLaSalle, scored 24 of her team's 49 points.

Shooting Guard--Tess Johnson, St. Michael-Albertville, 5-8, 8th grader. Rae Johnson's little sister is a very accomplished scorer as an 8th grader. She scored 17 in the Knights' easy win over Lakeville North.