Elk Mound girls basketball returns bulk of varsity starters as it looks to defend conference crown

By Cara L. Dempski

ELK MOUND — It is either luck or serendipity that the Elk Mound girls’ basketball team lost only two seniors to graduation this past May.

The team boasted five all-conference players, four all-region players, and the Dunn-St. Croix player of the year, Elizabeth Fasbender. They return three all-conference players including Fasbender and two all-region players.

The Mounders went 13-1 in the Dunn-St. Croix to nab their first conference championship in 16 seasons, and were 18-6 overall. Elk Mound’s 2015-16 season ended with a 57-51 loss to West Salem in the second round of Division 3 regional play.

Other teams in the Dunn-St. Croix say this year’s conference championship is Elk Mound’s to lose, and head coach Jordan Kongshaug seems confident the team will repeat last year’s accomplishment.

“Our goal is to keep working to improve every day, so that we are playing our best basketball in March,” Kongshaug stated.

Last year’s graduates, McKenna McVey and Sarah Winchester were notably good scorers, helping the team to its winning record with 13.2 and 8.3 points per game respectively. McVey was named to the first team all-conference, and Winchester to the second team.

Fasbender is playing her final year as a returning first team all-conference selection and the Dunn-St. Croix player of the year in 2015-16. She was also a third team all-region selection. The senior letter winner is a three-year starter that recorded 11.2 points per game over 24 games last season. Kongshaug said she is someone who can play anywhere on the court.

“She (Fasbender) is an excellent defender and consistent scorer,” he said.

Senior letter winner Kami King returns to the court for one final season with all-conference (second team) and all-region (honorable mention) honors under her belt. Kongshaug describes King as high-energy and a good defender.

Allie Weber, a junior and varsity letter holder, was presented honorable-mention honors for the Dunn-St. Croix in 2015-16. Weber averaged 6.3 points per game and is said to be an intelligent player that takes care of the ball.

Sophomore Morgan Radtke returns after having won a letter her freshman year. The six-foot center started in only a few games last season, but led the team in rebounds with an average of 6.3 per game. Like Radtke, letter winners Hannah Cedarblade and Megan Krall played in all 24 games last season.

Other letter winners, Ridley Radtke, Kaitlyn Baier, Madysen Borofka, Maddie Jenson, Crista Sweeney and Emily Winchester all gained varsity experience last season.

This year’s varsity newcomers are sophomore Ashley Gunderson-Morris, junior Alexis Schindler, and senior Gracie Peterson.

Kongshaug said this season’s team has potential to be very good defensively.

“We will pressure the basketball and look to push the tempo,” he said.

With that said, the Mounder coach believes the team needs to be more consistent with rebounding the basketball. Kongshaug said if the Elk Mound squad can limit itself to fewer than 12 turnovers per game and out-rebound opponents, it will be very successful.

While he is confident the Mounders will be at, or close, to the top of the D-SC again this season, Kongshaug sees several other teams that could challenge Elk Mound.

“Colfax and Durand will be very good,” he stated. “They are both well-coached, and they have experience returning. Boyceville will also be solid. They have solid post play.”

This is the second year teams will be playing two halves instead of four quarters. Kongshaug is pleased with the WIAA for allowing players to be on the court three halves each night because it allows players more opportunities to play.

This is Kongshaug’s seventh year coaching and he has an overall record of 89-53. His assistant coaches are Mike Schiszik, Mike Wettstein and Jon Chisholm.

The Mounders played a scrimmage at home on November 11 against Bloomer, Hudson and Loyal. They will open their regular season at home on November 17 against Fall Creek.

2016-17 Roster

Seniors: Kaitlyn Baier, Kami King, Megan Krall, Gracie Peterson, Riley Radtke, Elizabeth Fasbender.

Juniors: Madysen Borofka, Hannah Cedarblade, Maddie Jenson, Alexis Schindler, Crista Sweeney, Allie Weber, Emily Winchester.

Sophomores: Kayla Bridges, Ashley Gunderson-Morris, Victoria Fasbender, Alana Plaszcz, Brook Plaszcz, Morgan Radtke, Kaitlin Schiferl, Sydney Simpson, Mary Tamke.

Freshmen: Melanie Balts, Hailey Blaskowski, Sophie Cedarblade, Taya Schaefer.