Recap: A Winning formula at MYAS Girls Grade State Championships
- Wally Langfellow
- Mar 2, 2022
- 3 min read
A 16 hour day began bright and early for Osseo High School girls basketball coach Doug Erlien and his players on Saturday. No, it wasn’t in preparation for a key playoff game or travel to some far-flung city in a bordering state for a non-conference game. It was to set up the Osseo High School gyms and concession stand for a girls traveling basketball tournament that would attract hundreds of players and literally thousands of spectators over the next two days.
It’s day one of the two day MYAS Girls Grade State Basketball Championships and Erlien and his army of volunteers, including most of Osseo’s players, are cooking hot dogs, pizzas, and popcorn along with running scoreboards and generally keeping things running. It’s the one fundraiser they do all year long, and it’s worth it. Two years ago as a host for this same tournament they brought in nearly 30-thousand dollars for their program.
Apple Valley vs Forest Lake at Osseo HS/ Photo by Matt Krohn
“It’s great for us” says Erlien as he looks on to the main gym floor where three games were going at the same time. “As a nonprofit, especially in our building where our kids don’t all come from well off families, to be able to get them things for our program and be able to provide them opportunities that they might not have otherwise. It’s great.”
And while the fundraising part is key, Erlien says so is the experience of being part of the weekend. “Our girls get a chance to come out and just watch these little fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders. So it’s kind of fun for them to watch…. to sit back and reflect and give back to the game that has given them so much,” he said.
And the food? The donuts, the hot dogs, the pizza. How big a deal is that to this tournament? “Our concession stands are buzzing from the time that we open them up in the morning till the time we go home at night, so it’s amazing.”
On the court
While every team has aspirations of winning a state title many come to the Grade State Championships for other reasons, like playing in competitive games, improving on previous efforts both team-wise and individually and of course, to have fun. Such was the case for Chad Johnson’s 7th grade Champlin Park team that entered State with a lopsided 6-and-19 record on the season, but posted an impressive 30-14 opening game win over Mounds View.
Champlin Park vs Mounds View at Osseo HS/ photo by Matt Krohn
After losing in the second round to top seeded Big Lake the Rebels won a consolation bracket game over Coon Rapids to get them to the finals of that bracket where they lost to Woodbury 23-22 on a buzzer beater.
“Woodbury tied the game with about 15 seconds left” said Johnson. “We got in the double bonus ourselves making one free throw for the lead. Woodbury inbounded the ball ran up the left side of the court and threw up a running shot that hit nothing but net giving Woodbury the lead as the buzzer sounded.”
Disappointing, of course. But Johnson put a positive spin on the overall experience. “The energy they played with was the best all year. They really had fun together this weekend.”
Ending on a high note
While Johnson’s Champlin Park squad finished with a heartbreaking loss, Chris Serristslev’s 7th grade Forest Lake girls ended with a win. After taking their opener over Apple Valley 25-20, the Rangers lost a 26-24 nailbiter in round two to Chaska. That pushed Forest Lake into the consolation bracket where they lost to Woodbury before knocking off Coon Rapids with a convincing 35-16 victory to end the season with a win.
“The girls had a lot of fun and they played hard.” said Serristslev. “The tournament setup was perfect, teams were evenly matched and there weren’t any long gaps between the games. Great way to end our season.” So will they be back next year as 8th graders? Serristslev left no doubt “absolutely” he said. “I’m proud of how our girls represented Forest Lake during the state tournament.”
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