The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team held its season-ending banquet last Monday.  The Lakers, coached by Sidney Schiffler, announced the postseason awards and honors while celebrating the Lakers’ great season from 2022-23.

The Lakers finished 12-13 overall this winter and were also 6-6 in the WCC to place fourth of eight teams.  Minnewaska Area was seeded third in its half of Section 3AA, but the Lakers were upset by sixth-seeded West Central Area in the playoff opener, 74-59.

•  Sophomore Megan Thorfinnson, who led the Lakers in scoring this year, was named the Lakers’ Most Valuable Player this year.  

Senior Brooke Kolstoe earned the Offensive MVP honor, while sophomore Sydney Dahl was named the Defensive MVP for the 2022-23 season.

Thorfinnson had a team-high 290 points, averaging 11.6 points per game over 25 games, while Dahl had 247 points this season and averaged 9.9 points per game and Kolstoe had 244 points, averaging 9.8 points per game.

Thorfinnson also led the team with 38 assists and 54 steals, was second on the team with 31 blocks and fourth with 66 rebounds, while Dahl led the Lakers with 168 rebounds and 45 blocks, was second with 29 assists and third with 43 steals, and Kolstoe was second on the team with 142 rebounds and 46 steals.

Earning the Hustle Award this winter was freshman Lauryn Ankeny, while senior Olivia Bleick was named the winner of the Laker Award and junior Avery Fier won the Most Improved honor.

•  For the JV team, Lauryn Ankeny won the MVP Award and was also named the winner of the Defensive MVP Award, while Alia Randt was selected for the Offensive MVP honor.

In addition, Carly Jergenson was named the winner of the Hustle Award, Kendall Danielson won the Laker Award and Amber Peabody was selected the winner of the Most Improved honor.

•  The Minnewaska girls basketball team had three players earn All-WCC this winter.  Sophomores Megan Thorfinnson and Sydney Dahl earned All-Conference for the Lakers this season, while senior Brooke Kolstoe was named to the honorable mention team.

•  Montevideo won this year’s conference title with a perfect 12-0 league mark, followed by BOLD (9-3), Sauk Centre (8-4), Minnewaska (6-6), WCA (4-8), Morris Area-CA (3-9) and Melrose (0-12).  Benson did not play a full conference schedule this year because of a lack of players.

Helping out coach Schiffler this season were assistant coaches Emily Roering, Makenzie Larsen, Josh Greene, Linda Mills and Gabe Eisenbacher.

•  Minnewaska Area will graduate four seniors from this year’s team — Olivia Bleick, Mikalyn Andreas, Brooke Kolstoe and Leslie Murken.

The full 2022-23 girls basketball varsity roster this winter at Minnewaska Area High School includes seniors Mikalyn Andreas, Olivia Bleick, Brooke Kolstoe and Leslie Murken; juniors Jenna Drewes and Avery Fier; sophomores Sydney Dahl, Emily Peabody, Lauren Stryhn, Addyson Kath and Megan Thorfinnson; and ninth-graders Lauryn Ankeny, Kendall Danielson, Olivia Danielson, Jayda Kolstoe and Alia Randt.

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!