This weekend: Events to watch in Duluth, Rochester area
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Want to get out and about this weekend for a little quality hoops action? There are two events of note, both staged by Breakdown Sports. The Lake Superior Classic features three girls games at Duluth East High School. The Guaranteed Rate Hoops Challenge features six girls games, with two apiece at Byron, Kasson-Mantorville and Rochester Mayo. Here’s a quick rundown on the match-ups and some of the top performers you can see.
LAKE SUPERIOR CLASSIC
At Duluth East
11:30 p.m. – Pine City vs Duluth Marshall
Duluth Marshall is led by Top 15 freshman Regan Juenemann Regan Juenemann 5'9" | CG Duluth Marshall | 2025 State MN (23 ppg) and one of the most dynamic young guards in the state, 8th grader Ava Meierotto (12 ppg). 8th grader Anna Saari just scored a career-high 30 points on Tuesday night for the young-but-talented Hilltoppers.
Pine City can be dominant at both ends of floor thanks to the Dragons’ Twin Towers, 6’1 junior post Kloey Lind Kloey Lind 6'1" | PF Pine City | 2023 State MN and 6’0 sophomore forward Karly Jusczak Karly Jusczak 6'1" | PF Pine City | 2024 State MN , who is a Top 50 player in the Class of 2024. They’re coming off a very strong performance at the Breakdown Granite City Classic last week.
1:15 p.m. – Andover vs Duluth-East
Andover features a balanced attack with four of the top sophomores in Minnesota according to Prep Girls Hoops: 6’2 forward Morgan Miller Morgan Miller 6'2" | PF Andover | 2024 State MN (ranked #17), 5’11 guard Piper Engelby Piper Engelby 5'11" | SG Andover | 2024 State MN (#18), 5’10 guard Emma Frost Emma Frost 5'11" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN (#30) and 5’10 small forward Anna Vaaler Anna Vaaler 5'10" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN (#46).
Duluth East is led by junior Ashlynne Guenther Ashlynne Guenther 5'11" | SF Duluth East | 2023 State MN , a versatile guard/small forward who can fill up the basket. She’s averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds per game and had a 33-point outing earlier this year against Hibbing.
2:45 p.m. – Proctor vs Mountain Iron-Buhl
MIB is sparked by perhaps the premier distance shooter in Minnesota, sophomore Jordan Zubich Jordan Zubich 5'11" | SG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN . Ranked #7 in the Class of 2024 and holding numerous Division 1 offers, she is averaging 26 points per game while shooting over 65 percent. Sage Ganyo Sage Ganyo 5'4" | CG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2023 State MN just scored her 1,000th point and the Rangers are ranked #1 in Class A.
Proctor is off to a hot start that saw the Rails win their first seven games of the season in spite of graduating a ton of talent. Big, strong senior forward Payton Rodberg Payton Rodberg 5'9" | CG Proctor | 2022 State MN is the engine that pulls the Proctor train.
GUARANTEED RATE HOOPS CHALLENGE
At Byron
11:30 – St. Croix Lutheran vs Goodhue
The Crusaders feature one of Minnesota’s five best sophomores in Laura Hauge Laura Hauge 5'9" | SG St. Croix Lutheran | 2024 State MN , a long-bomber who holds a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota. She’s joined in the St. Croix backcourt by junior guard Zoey Washington Zoey Washington 5'9" | CG St. Croix Lutheran | 2023 State MN , a transfer from Mahtomedi who will play D1 basketball at the University of St. Thomas. The Crusaders have won 9 of their first 10.
Goodhue is Goodhue, a well-oiled machine that comes at you in waves. They bring speed and quickness and a ton of high-level experience to this match-up. Senior Joslyn Carlson Joslyn Carlson 5'9" | SF Goodhue | 2022 State MN is a key piece for Goodhue, as is hard-working forward Tori Miller Tori Miller 5'10" | SF Goodhue | 2023 State MN , a junior who can be counted on to score. Sophomore guard Elisabeth Gadient Elisabeth Gadient 5'10" | CG Goodhue | 2024 State MN has emerged as a rising star. The Wildcats also have 9 wins in 10 tries.
2:30 p.m. – Caledonia vs Lake City
Caledonia is anchored by standout point guard Ava Privet Ava Privet 5'10" | CG Caledonia | 2023 State MN . The 5’10 junior is a Top 30 college prospect according to Prep Girls Hoops, and she is a ton of fun to watch with length, pace and plenty of range. She’s joined in the Caledonia backcourt by speedy junior guard Alexis Schroeder Alexis Schroeder 5'5" | CG Caledonia | 2023 State MN . Accomplished distance shooter Paige Klug Paige Klug 5'10" | SG Caledonia | 2023 State MN is a constant threat from the outside.
Lake City, too, has one of the state’s highest-rated guards in senior Natalie Bremer Natalie Bremer 5'11" | CG Lake City | 2022 State MN , who recently passed the 2,000-career points mark and has committed to Minnesota State-Mankato. Bremer is a do-it-all talent but the 9-2 Tigers have plenty more, too, including the likes of Jacey Majerus, Paige West, Ella Matzke Ella Matzke 5'7" | CG Lake City | 2024 State MN and Emily Gates.
At Kasson-Mantorville
11:00 a.m. – St. Paul Como Park vs Austin
Como Park can fly and their run-and-gun attack usually puts up a ton of points. The Cougars featuring a senior-laden lineup that’s led by Division 1 commit Kaylynn Asberry Kaylynn Asberry 5'5" | PG Como Park | 2022 State MN (St. Peter’s) and Top 20 prospect Ronnie Porter Ronnie Porter 5'2" | CG Como Park | 2022 State MN , two of the most talented small guards in the state. Junior guard Shania Van Nett Shania Van Nett 5'7" | CG Como Park | 2023 State MN is rounding into form after two ACL injuries.
Austin’s record speaks for itself as the Packers have reeled off 10 straight victories to start the season. They’re led by senior point guard Hope Dudycha Hope Dudycha 5'6" | CG Austin | 2022 State MN , a master tactician who is joined in the backcourt by her twin sister Emma. Big senior Reana Schmitt Reana Schmitt 6'0" | PF Austin | 2022 State MN gives Austin presence in the post while athletic juniors Olivia Walsh Olivia Walsh 5'10" | CG Austin | 2023 State MN and Cassidy Shute Cassidy Shute 5'8" | CG Austin | 2023 State MN bring speed and quickness.
3:45 p.m. – St. Peter vs Stewartville
St. Peter features two of the most exciting young players in Minnesota. The uber-athletic Rhyan Holmgren Rhyan Holmgren 5'9" | SG St. Peter | 2024 State MN is a Top 10 prospect and surefire Division 1 athlete. Freshman Annika Southworth Annika Southworth 5'8" | PG St. Peter | 2025 State MN is a high-IQ point guard. Sophomore post Abby Maloney Abby Maloney 6'1" | PF St. Peter | 2024 State MN and senior guard Josie Wiebusch Josie Wiebusch 5'8" | SG St. Peter | 2022 State MN are crucial pieces for the Saints who have won 10 out of 11 games.
Stewartville is very familiar to fans of girls basketball in Southeastern Minnesota. The Tigers are quick and athletic and they can come at you in waves. Stewartville is led by a pair of electric junior guards – Haylie Strum Haylie Strum 5'6" | CG Stewartville | 2023 State MN and Keeley Steele Keeley Steele 5'8" | CG Stewartville | 2023 State MN – and features two up-and-coming stars in 8th graders Audrey Shindelar and Jayci Rath Jayci Rath 6'1" | PF Stewartville | 2026 State MN .
At Rochester Mayo
11:00 a.m. – Minnehaha Academy vs Rochester Lourdes
Minnehaha Academy freshman point guard Addison Mack Addison Mack 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2025 State MN is already a 1,000-point scorer and one of the smartest floor generals in the class. Seniors Charita Lewis Charita Lewis 5'4" | CG Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State MN and Telia Graham Telia Graham 5'10" | SF Minnehaha | 2022 State MN and sophomore Aliyah Al-Hameed give the 7-1 Redhawks plenty of punch.
Veteran guard CJ Adamson CJ Adamson 5'9" | CG Rochester Lourdes | 2022 State MN leads the charge for 8-3 Lourdes. The Concordia-St. Paul commit has plenty of help, as well, with a strong trio of junior leaders. Guards Vivica Bretton Vivica Bretton 5'9" | SF Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN and Emily Bowron Emily Bowron 5'7" | SG Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN are both Top 50 prospects in the Class of 2023 and 6’3 post Ella Hopkins Ella Hopkins 6'3" | PF Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN is a force inside at both ends of the floor.
3:45 p.m. – Lakeville South vs Rochester Mayo
Lakeville South can flat out shoot the basketball. Senior Ally Schultz Ally Schultz 6'0" | CG Lakeville South | 2022 State MN is a Concordia-St. Paul commit who has long been one of the state’s top shooters. Top-10 sophomore Finley Ohnstad Finley Ohnstad 6'1" | SF Lakeville South | 2024 State MN is not far behind. Sophomore point guard Anna Goodman Anna Goodman 5'5" | PG Lakeville South | 2024 State MN is a player on the rise.
The home team is on a bit of a roll and is coming together nicely following mass graduations, including Drake freshman Anna Miller who is having a sensational season in Division 1 basketball. Mayo’s most dynamic player is junior guard Hannah Hanson Hannah Hanson 5'9" | CG Rochester Mayo | 2023 State MN , who just might be the most athletic player in the state. She had 11 steals in a recent outing.
Top photo: Ava Privet Ava Privet 5'10" | CG Caledonia | 2023 State MN of Caledonia and Natalie Bremer Natalie Bremer 5'11" | CG Lake City | 2022 State MN of Lake City will meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Byron.