Elk Mound girls are basketball team to beat this season, vie for D-SC three-peat
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THE ELK MOUND girls’ basketball team is preparing to defend its Dunn-St. Croix Conference championship. The Lady Mounders are looking for a three-peat in their final season as a member of the conference. Front row (Left to Right): Danika Dummer, Hailey Webb, Ellie Schiszik, Jaidynn Sarauer, Elli Beskow, Taylor Frinack, Teagan Mayer, and Abby Wolf. Middle row (Left to Right): Alexa Teegarden, Reegan Koser, Eva Roff, Shelby Shafer, Isabelle Ludwig, and Amii Moua. Back row: (Left to Right): Anna Heath, Allie Robel, Allie Roder, Claire Roff, Isabella Kongshaug, Loftyn Awe, Kendra Garnett, and Hailey Meyer. Not pictured is Chloe Wilkins. —photo submitted
by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
ELK MOUND — With the Elk Mound girls’ basketball team winning back-to-back conference championships with 14-0 records, it’s pretty safe to say every other team in the conference will be working hard to make sure there isn’t a third straight championship for the Mounders. Playing in their final season in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference, this will be a final chance to be a three-peat champion for the Mounders.
After ending their season with a 27-1 record, dropping the sectional final game to Baldwin-Woodville in a Division 3 matchup, the Mounders will have to replace second-team D-SC All Conference player Lydia Levra, honorable mention All Conference Carly Mohr, and Chloe Dummer through graduation. According to head coach Jordan Kongshaug, Levra, a three-year starter, was a great defender who shot the ball well and handled the basketball for the team. Mohr was a starter for the team and was an athletic post player. She was a very good defender and could guard in the post and the perimeter and had a nice year scoring around the basket. Dummer was an important post player off the bench who was a good rebounder and provided some toughness for the Mounders.
Elk Mound has plenty of experienced players back, however.
Ellie Schiszik was not only a first-team All Conference pick, she was the conference “Player of the Year” averaging 15 points per game. She is a shooting guard and will also play some point guard this season. She is an excellent defender who handles the ball well and is a major threat from the perimeter and is an extremely tough competitor and a good leader.
Allie Roder and Allie Robel were both named second-team All Conference and were both starters last year. Roder averaged 8.0 point per game (ppg) and is very athletic and does an excellent job of attacking the basket. Her length on defense causes problems for the opposing team. Robel averaged 10.5 ppg and is also extremely athletic and is very good on the ball defender and Kongshaug will look for her to score in transition. She also does a great job of finishing around the rim.
Other letter winners returning include Belle Kongshaug who is a threat from the outside and will be expected to stretch defenses with her shooting and be a solid defender. Hailey Meyer will be a strong post presence this year as she is an excellent screener and will be a threat around the basket. Other letter winners battling for playing time are Claire Ruff, Jaidynn Sarauer, Teagan Mayer, Loftyn Awe, Elli Beskow and Taylor Frinack.
Sophomore Kendra Garnett is a newcomer to the varsity and should be an outside shooting threat at the guard position.
Coach Kongshaug is the longest tenured coach in the conference as he begins his 15th year leading the Mounders with a 241-95 record. He believes his team strengths are they are very athletic and will be able to run the floor effectively and pressure the basketball on defense. His team is unselfish and they play well together. They are willing to do what it takes to be successful and they have a lot of experience. The team has played in big games and he hopes that experience will pay dividends this season.
Goals for the Mounders are to create more turnovers than they commit. If they can hold the other teams to under 40 points in a game they usually have a good shot to win. The team wants to be playing their best basketball at the end of the season.
Durand-Arkansaw and Colfax should be contenders to knock the Mounders off of the top of the conference.
According to Kongshaug, Durand-Arkansaw is very experienced and athletic. They get after it on the defensive end and play extremely hard and are always a tough team in the conference. Colfax should also be a strong team because they are well coached and are fundamentally strong and strong on defense.
The Lady Mounders were at Prescott last night to open the new season. They return home tomorrow (Thursday) to face Somerset.
2024-25 Roster
Seniors: Ellie Schiszik, Jaidynn Sarauer, Allie Roder, Teagan Mayer, Claire Roff, Hailey Meyer
Juniors: Allie Robel, Taylor Frinack, Belle Kongshaug, Loftyn Awe, Elli Beskow
Sophomores: Kendra Garnett, Abby Wolf, Amii Moua, Chloe Wilkins
Freshmen: Eva Roff, Shelby Shafer, Anna Heath, Danika Dummer, Isabelle Ludwig, Hailey Webb, Reegan Koser