Girls basketball: Cardinals blow by Rocori, Kohler named one of Minnesota's John Wooden Legacy Award honorees

Hadley Thul 2- DSC_7073.JPG — Alexandria's Hadley Thul puts up a baseline jumper during a game against the St. Cloud Crush on Dec. 9, 2022. Thul had a game-high 20 points in the Cardinals' 75-37 win. Thul had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Alexandria's 79-55 win over Rocori on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

By Sam Stuve

February 15, 2023 at 12:17 PM

The Alexandria girls basketball team moved to 12-0 in conference play (19-4 overall) with a 79-55 win at home over Rocori (6-17, 3-4 Central Lakes Conference) on Tuesday.

Alexandria was paced on offense by Hadley Thul, who had a double-double, 22 points, and 10 rebounds. She also had four assists, three steals, and six deflections.

Allie Haabala came close to having a double-double as well, as she finished with 13 points and seven assists.

Chloe Scholl also had a strong night with 11 points and six rebounds.

Camree Miller finished the night with five points and four deflections, while Kaia Emter had three steals and three points.

Rounding out the scoring for Alexandria, MaCee Linow had eight points, while Kete Hennessy had seven, McKinley Hoelscher had six, and Lauren Beyer had four.

Alexandria is back on its home floor on Thursday against Hutchinson (8-15).

In a tweet on Monday, the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association announced that Alexandria girls head coach Wendy Kohler is one of two National High School Basketball Coaches Association 2023 John Wooden Legacy Award honorees for the state of Minnesota, along with Annandale boys head coach Don "Skip" Dolan.

Alexandria head coach Wendy Kohler cuts down the net in Detroit Lakes after guiding the Cardinals to their 10th state tournament appearance in program history with a win over Bemidji on March 5, 2020. Kohler earned her 600th win over Sartell on Feb. 22, 2019, in a 59-37 win over Sartell-St. Stephen. She was the Minnesota girls coaches honoree for the 2023 NHSBCA 2023 John Wooden Legacy Award

The MBCA and the MGBCA are proud to announce Don "Skip" Dolan- Annandale and Wendy Kohler-Alexandria as the Minnesota Boys and Girls Coaches NHSBCA 2023 John Wooden Legacy Award honorees.
— MN BB Coaches Assoc (@MN_BCA) February 14, 2023

The association also tweeted that the award is given, "In recognition for being an educator and achieving excellence on the floor, in the classroom and in the community that embody the characteristics and legacy of Coach John Wooden."

The NHSBCA John Wooden Legacy Award is presented to a High School Coach - In recognition for being an educator and achieving excellence on the floor, in the
classroom and in the community that embody the characteristics and legacy of Coach John Wooden.
— MN BB Coaches Assoc (@MN_BCA) February 14, 2023

Kohler has 670 wins ( according to Matt Pederson ) as the Alexandria girls head coach (37 years) and has helped lead the Alexandria girls basketball program to a state title in 1997, 10 state tournament berths, and a total of 12 conference titles. She won the Breaking Barriers Award in 2013. She's also a member of the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall Of Fame and the Minnesota Coaches Association Hall of Fame.