PGH Minnesota Team Preview: Lake City
For our 7th team preview of the year, we head down Highway 61 south of Red Wing, to Lake City. We had a chance to chat with Lake City head coach Clay Olstad about his Tigers team this season and what…
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Continue ReadingFor our 7th team preview of the year, we head down Highway 61 south of Red Wing, to Lake City. We had a chance to chat with Lake City head coach Clay Olstad about his Tigers team this season and what some of their expectations are this season in the Hiawatha Valley Conference, in which they finished 2nd to Rochester Lourdes last season.
Players to Watch on the Lake City Tigers
Ava Wallerich, Guard, Senior
-Wallerich, a three-year starter will the key senior leader for the Tigers team this season. She an excellent pass-first guard, that led the Tigers in assists last season (6.2) and should be a significant factor in the Tigers backcourt.
Grace Bany, Forward/Center, Junior- Top 90 Prospect in PGH Minnesota Class of 2021 Rankings
-Bany, a two-year starter was an all-conference player last season for the Tigers. She has a knack for blocks, as last season she recorded 78 blocks on the season as she uses her 6’2 size to her advantage. Also a very competitive rebounder and great post player. Bany is also a solid volleyball player as well
Mya Shones, Forward, Sophomore- Top 40 Prospect in PGH Minnesota Class of 2022 Rankings
-Shones will be another key player alongside Grace Bany in the frontcourt. Another two-year starter that has also been all-conference the last two years for the Tigers. She is very strong in the post but also has a very consistent three-point shot that she utilizes as well.
Lilly Meincke, Point Guard, Sophomore- Top 50 Prospect in PGH Minnesota Class of 2022 Rankings
-Meincke was a player that made a big jump last season into the rankings. She will control the point again this season for the Tigers. Solid rebounder as a point guard and also good at finding her open teammates as she had 76 assists last season, which is a number I look to go up in her 2nd year starting for the Tigers.
Natalie Bremer, Guard, Sophomore- Top 70 Prospect in PGH Minnesota Class of 2022 Rankings
-This Lake City team is really deep in the 2022 class. Bremer was a solid all-conference guard for the Tigers last season and should be in the same role again this season. Bremer is strong on defense as she gathered 76 steals last season and also a strong scorer; she can shoot it from deep or drive to the bucket. I’d like to see Bremer’s rankings climb significantly this season.
Team Goals for Lake City
The biggest thing Coach Olstad told me is he wants to be “competitive in every single game this season”, which this batch of players he has, should be very competitive in the Hiawatha Valley Conference.
Conference Foes for Lake City
One thing that speaks differently about the Hiawatha Valley from other conferences I’ve covered, is the depth in the conference. “There is never an easy night to play against an opponent” Coach Ostlad told Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota. Aside from Lake City, look for Rochester Lourdes, Kasson-Mantorville and Stewartville all to be competitive in the Hiawatha Valley.
Biggest Improvement from Last Season for the Tigers
The defense will be key for the Tigers. “We have to be consistent every night with a strong defensive effort,” Coach Olstad told Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota in his final statement about his Lake City Tigers team.