State’s basketball scoring at record totals

By Jim Carrington

Pioneer Sports Editor

      Minnesota’s high school basketball players are scoring at record totals these days, eclipsing marks that were once thought unreachable.

      The late Lefty Ranweiler, sports editor of the Willmar Tribune, created the 1,000 Point Club in the early 1960s to honor cagers who had reached the 1,000 point mark during their careers.

      That club grew slowly through the years, adding a few more players each year.

      But the advent of the three point shot, coupled with constantly increasing schedules, have made that figure almost common place, especially in small schools where talented shooters often begin their varsity careers at the eighth or ninth grade level.

      Schedules have gone from 18 games in the 60s and 70s to 26 where, coupled with post season play, top players can hit 600-750 points a year.

      While the 1,000 Point Club is no longer in existence, it might well be replaced by a 2,000 Point Club should someone have the initiative to form one.

      For close to 40 boys have surpassed that mark and more than 40 girls are over that figure with this year’s final totals not yet complete.

      The all time boys leader continues to be Chisholm’s Joel McDonald, the fourth of coach Bob McDonald’s four boys, who ended his historic career with 3,292. He is presently coaching at Hibbing.

      Next is Tartan’s Jake Sullivan at 3,103. He is playing at Iowa State.

      Only two others are over 2,500. One is the legendary Norm Grow of Foley, a graduate of the 1958 Falcons, who held the state record for more than 20 years before McDonald snapped it.

      The other is Mitch Ohnstad of Faribault who graduated in 1996 with 2,805 points.

      The growing list includes a number of northern stars.

      Bagley’s Dan Fischer is sixth with 2,470. Ex-Gopher Sam Jacobson of Cottage Grove is seventh and Rick Rickert of Duluth East eighth with 2,364.

      In 15th is Randy Holthusen of Red Lake with 2,246. McDonald’s older brother Tom is 17th at 2,221 and David LaCoe of Chisholm 23rd with 2,187.

      Grand Rapids’ Eric Webb, now a freshman at Furman, is 26th with 2,116 with other early Iron Range legends, Stan Krebs of Eveleth and Mike Vesel of Tower-Soudan also over the 2,000 point mark.

      In the girls ranks, Roseau’s Megan Taylor is the all-time leader with 3,300 with Janet Karvonen of New York Mills second at 3,129 and Susan King of Richfield Holy Angels third at 3,037.

      Area stars dot the ranks. Krissy Super of BGMR is fourth at 2,804 and Kelly Roysland of Fosston, now at Minnesota, fifth with 2,771.

      Rhonda Birch of Wadena is 10th, while Brenda Slyt of Fisher-Climax tied for 14th this year at 2,358. She is headed to NDSU.

      Another Climax product, Stacey Vettern, is 19th at 2,229 with Janice Woods of Fosston next at 2,200 and Amanda Gehrke of Cass Lake 21 at 2,198.

      Also on the list are Judy McDonald, the third McDonald family member, Liz Holz of Alvarado and Karli Gross of Coleraine.

      Two who joined the list this winter, figure to bolt well up the list before graduating.

      They are juniors Kayla Bagaason of Fosston (2,180) and Kiehra Kimbrough of BGMR (2,013).

      Kimbrough broke Karvonen’s single season scoring mark this season with 875, topping the former record of 840.