Five Takeaways: Eveleth-Gilbert at Mounds Park Academy
ST. PAUL– We were in attendance for the non-conference battle between the Eveleth-Gilbert Golden Bears (12-11) of the Iron Range Conference and the Mounds Park Panthers (8-9). This was a game that I wanted to attend for an 11 AM…
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Continue ReadingST. PAUL– We were in attendance for the non-conference battle between the Eveleth-Gilbert Golden Bears (12-11) of the Iron Range Conference and the Mounds Park Panthers (8-9). This was a game that I wanted to attend for an 11 AM tipoff as it would be the second IMAC team I’ve watched this year and also my second from the Iron Range Conference, which is a tough feat despite the proximity of where I live. Here are my five takeaways from my morning matchup in St. Paul.
The Youth and Raw Talent of Mounds Park Academy
Being my first rodeo watching both of these teams, it wasn’t a matchup I attended to scout out a certain player. I got my program and was in total shock at how young the Panthers are and how much they rely on those young players. Their lineup consists of Norah Pederson (2024)-averaging 7.5 ppg as an 8th grader, Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (2022)-Top scorer for the Panthers this season at just over 10+ per game, and Audrey Jakway (2023)-second leading scorer on the Panthers. Of course with this being said, this year may look a little rough on the Panthers with all that youth in their starting lineup, but looking ahead for the future, head coach Dan Haase has to like what he has planned for the future of this Mounds Park program.
Two Senior Leaders Went to Work for the Golden Bears
Lauren Latvaaho (2020) and Payton Dosan (2020) were the icing on the cake for the Golden Bears. Latvaaho brings the all-around game, and Dosan is the motor that gets this team up and down the floor. Latvaaho has a good mid-range shot, and Dosan has no fear of going to the bucket and it showed when late in the game she took a hard hit after motoring to the bucket for the Golden Bears.
The Young Panthers Needed Their Senior
Chloe McCluskey (2020) was one of the only key seniors to go to bat for the Panthers. McCluskey didn’t have the best jumper I’ve ever seen, but her determination was something I enjoyed watching. A player who I would consider a runner, she chipped in 10 key points in the game that Mounds Park Academy did put up a fight till the end of the game. Her quick reflexes she used when she got the ball was what stood out to me on Saturday morning as I like players that intiiate immmediately doing something with the basketball instead of giving the defense a chance to get their feet set.
Eveleth-Gilbert MVP
That award goes to Morgan Marks (2023) who was a tremendous catch and shooter from outside and finished her morning with 13 points in the Golden Bears victory. Being near the MPA section in the gym, I could feel the cringe the Panthers fans would get every time she wasn’t defended from the corner and would knock down one of her multiple three-pointers. Marks may be a young player to watch in the future of this Iron Range Conference as she does have a good looking jumper and even as a young freshman has the potential to drive to the bucket as well.
Mounds Park Academy MVP
A player we’ve never talked about here on Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota is a name we will remember for MPA. Audrey Jakway (2023) scored a double in her 14 points 11 rebound effort against the Golden Bears of Eveleth-Gilbert. Jakway stood out as one of the most athletic players MPA has on their roster. She was a fighter for rebounds in both halves and cashed in on many second-chance points. Her skill set is raw, but guess what she has three more years to develop in what I think will be a good forward in the IMAC conference.
Mounds Park Academy (8-9) will play tomorrow against Liberty Classical (10-8) of the EMAC Conference in White Bear Lake.
Eveleth-Gilbert (12-12) will get a little time off and play one of the top teams of the Iron Range Conference Virginia (14-8) next Monday at home. Virginia consists of Rian Aune (2022) who is a guard who’s averaged over 13 ppg and forward Lexiss Trygg (2021) who is averaging a double-double this season at over 13 ppg and 11.5 rebounds per game.