H: We’re halfway there
S: Mid-season review for hockey and basketball
Most winter sports are nearing or have already hit the halfway point in their season. Some teams have played their biggest games but others still have yet to play theirs. So, how have Park’s teams been doing, and who have been the stars on each team?
Park’s boys basketball team started their season with an opening night win over Armstrong-Cooper winning 100-85—this win started what was a four-game win streak to start the season. During this streak, they beat Holy Family 88-53, Park Center 90-67 and Minnehaha Academy 73-69. Their hot start ranked them in the top ten in the state for the first time in 25 years. Since Park has been 2-7 in their last nine games, they have lost to teams such as Wayzata, Washburn and Edina to make their overall record 6-7. The team’s top two players have been the senior twins Micah and Marley Curtis. Micah has averaged 24.1 points and 9.0 rebounds, leading the team in both categories, while Marley has averaged 21.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. Sophomore Matthew Johnson has also been a key contributor, putting up 11.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. Park still has much of the season left and has yet to play schools such as Chaska, Orono and Breck.
Park’s girls’ basketball team started their season on a high note, beating Robbinsdale Cooper 59-50—unfortunately, the team lost seven straight to teams like Park Center, Rochester Mayo and Edina. However, Park has been 3-7 in their last seven games, beating Apple Valley 66-52, Bloomington Jefferson 52-44 and Blake 53-44 to make their overall record 4-11. The top scorer for the team is 8th-grader Ella Ludwig who is averaging 8.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, right below her is freshman Lauryn Pohlman averaging 7.9 points and 2.7 rebounds, and senior Bella Miller averaging 5.9 points and 2.7 rebounds. Park still has a long season left to turn it around, but they will have to go through some good teams such as Chaska, Holy Angels and Orono to do so.
When you live in the state of hockey you want your school’s hockey team to be good. Park’s boys hockey team has been just that. Park started the season 5-1, with their only loss to Champlin Park who was undefeated at the time. During their hot start, Park beat Chaska 6-3 on opening night, Armstrong-Cooper 6-2 and Hopkins 8-1. Right after their hot start, Park hit a three-game skid where they lost to Blake, Edina and Minnetonka but have rebounded, winning five out of their last seven. Park’s point leader is Trey Janssen who has 31 points racking up 17 goals and 14 assists. Right behind him is fellow senior Brennen Hogan, who carries 28 points with 11 goals and 17 assists and junior Marty Hirte with 24 points consisting of 9 goals and 15 assists. Park’s regular season goes until Feb. 15 when they finish their season against Bloomington Jefferson. Before that, though, they still need to play some good teams like Waconia, Benilde-St. Margarets and Orono.
Park’s girls hockey team, combined with Hopkins, had a rough start to the year, going 0-4-1 in their first five games, starting with an opening night 4-1 loss to Simley. However, the girls have gone 10-4-2 since those first five games, beating Waconia 7-3 and 4-2, Visitation 6-1 twice and Minneapolis 4-1, making their season record 10-8-2. Hopkins-Park’s leading scorer has been Hopkin’s freshman Hazel Schenkelberg, who has 33 points on 24 goals and 9 assists. Behind her is Hopkins senior Lucy Johnson, who has posted 22 points with 9 goals and 13 assists and Park sophomore Ella Koethe with 19 points with 12 goals and 7 assists. The girl’s season runs through the end of January, and Hopkins-Park still needs to play three conference games: Buffalo twice and Wayzata.
As the second half of Park’s seasons get underway, all teams have much to play for, including conference standings, playoff positions and rivalries. Be sure to support fellow Park students, whether on the ice or on the court.
