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The Osakis girls basketball team is coming off of a successful 2021-22 season where it went 21-4 and won the Prairie Conference title.
Seniors Mara VanNyhuis, Alexis Johanson, Tessa Stanek and Hayleigh Niehoff, have graduated and were strong pillars on that team. But the Silverstreaks do still have some of those pieces from last season, including seniors Kiley Kranz and Madi Collins as well as junior Carlee Muenzhuber.
“I think we will have a hard-working team that is versatile,” head coach Pat Kalpin said. “There are a number of girls that can handle the ball and play multiple positions. The athleticism of this group should allow us to play fast and really defend well. We have a good group of girls that can score multiple ways which should also be a strength of ours.”
Kranz was an all-conference honorable mention last season as a junior and led the team in field goal percentage at 52.1 percent while averaging 5.3 points per game.
Kalpin is excited about a batch of varsity newcomers including juniors Hailey Walker, Maggie Dirkes, Madeline Anderson, and Dari Meyer, sophomores Taylor Dirkes and Greta Faber, along with freshmen Bella Weisser and Kaelyn Walker.
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“We are excited about the potential of this team this year,” Kalpin said. “We will go through some growing pains throughout the season, but in the end, we are confident that this team and group of athletes will be a hard-working team. This is a competitive team that will have a chance to win many games this season if they all learn and understand what their role on the team is. Our early season goal is to simply get the girls playing so we can evaluate. We like to look at how hard the girls are working, what are strengths and weaknesses potentially could be, and build off of the strengths and weaknesses. Learning what these girls are capable of is valuable toward the success of the team.”
The Silverstreaks beat Rush City in the first round of the Section 6AA playoffs, but lost a 48-43 game to Kimball Area in the next round. Kalpin expects Kimball Area, along with Sauk Centre and Albany to some other better teams in the section.
Kalpin highlighted Browerville-Eagle Valley and Swanville as some of the top teams in the conference.
Kalpin said the team is aiming toward establishing a rotation and growing in rebounding.
“We are not a big team, so rebounding will have to improve, and defending in the paint will have to be a point of emphasis,” he said. “If we can control those areas of the game, then the opportunities to win games will increase for us.”
2022-23 Osakis girls basketball
HEAD COACH - Pat Kalpin, 25th season, 422-211
ROSTER - SENIORS- Kiley Kranz, Madi Collins, JUNIORS - Kaiya Sandaker, Maggie Dirkes,
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Carlee Muenzhuber, Hailey Walker, Dariana Meyer, Madeline Anderson, Kiana Kendall; SOPHOMORES - Stephy Marthaler, Harley Tulio, Charity Buchanan, Taylor Dirkes, Greta Faber FRESHMEN - Bella Weisser, Kaelyn Walker , Leila Sanford , Maddi Bouldin
SCHEDULE (subject to change) -
Nov. 29 at Paynesville Area, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 1 vs Royalton, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 8 at Upsala, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Holdingford, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 16 at LPGE, 7:15 p.m,.
Dec. 20 at Pierz, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 22 Vs Eden Valley-Watkins, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 5 at Foley, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Browerville-Eagle Valley, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs Swanville, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 16 vs Little Falls, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Sauk Centre, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 vs Upsala, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 24 vs Melrose, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 26 vs Morris Area, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 27 vs LPGE, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 31 vs Staples-Motley, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 2 vs West Central Area, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 3 at Barnesville, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 at Kimball 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 9 vs Browerville-Eagle Valley, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 10 vs Menagha, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Minnewaska Area, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 at Swanville, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 21 vs Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 23 at Pillager, 7:15 p.m.
March 2-7 Section Tournament
