SHOTS from the Hip

Fans in attendance saw two of the most explosive offensive players in the area last Friday in Prescott’s Jordan Malmlov and Osceola’s Brayden Bradyway. Malmov scored a career high 41 points and Bradway also turned in his best performance as a prep player scoring 35 points in Friday’s regional semifinal. Look for these two to light up the scoreboard next season.

Prescott alumnus Sammy Braunlich qualified for the indoor WIAC meet in the 800 meter, running an indoor personal record of 2:34. Additionally, Braunlich contributed to the UW-River Falls distance medley at the conference meet running the 400 meter leg. Braunlich is a 2020 graduate of Prescott High School. Another former Prescott thinclad, Megan Gilles is running for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. A sophomore and a 2020 Prescott alumnus, Gilles finished 18th at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference meet in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.50. Gilles also ran in the 4×400 meter relay placing sixth place overall. Both Gilles and Braunlich had very successful track and field careers at Prescott High School and both advanced to the WIAA State Track Meet during their prep careers.

Speaking of alumni, congratulations to Isabella Lenz on being named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference Freshman of the Year. Lenz played in all 29 games for Michigan Tech this season and helped the Huskies finish with an overall record of 18-11. Lenz is the fifth Michigan Tech player to win the award since 1989. A 2021 Prescott alumnus, Lenz is Prescott basketball’s all-time leading scorer.

Congratulations to junior Katrina Budworth on being named First Team All-Conference and for being chosen as the Middle Border Conference Player of the Year. Sophomore Lila Posthuma was also named to the first team, junior Izzy Matzek was voted Second Team All Conference and senior guard Brynley Goehring was named Honorable Mention. For the boys, Dallas Wallin and Jordan Malmlov were named to the First Team with Malmlov being named Conference Player of the Year. Senior Aiden Russell and junior Brandon Stuart were named Honorable Mention. Middle Border Boys Coach of the Year went to Scott Benoy of Baldwin-Woodville whose team finished second in the Middle Border Conference and has advanced to the Sectional Semi-Final this Thursday against Northwestern. Baldwin-Woodville has an overall record of 19-5. Although winless in conference play, Holly Spoo of St. Croix Central was named Conference Coach of the Year. The Panthers finished with an overall record of 4-21.

Hats off the former Prescott Mayor Mike Hunter for bringing Major League pitcher and River Falls High School alumnus JP Feyereisen to Prescott High School to discuss proper arm care with Prescott athletes. Hunter has been volunteering his time in helping prospective Cardinals get their arms ready for the fast-approaching season.

The Prescott CAB Company Banquet will be held on Friday, April 1 at the Old Ptacek’s Event Center. Former Minnesota Twin and two-time World Series Champion Al Newman is the featured speaker. The affable Newman was a fan favorite during his playing days with the Twins. Doors open at 5:30 for an event that will include silent auction items, 50-50 drawings, and raffle prizes. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds being used to improve Prescott ball fields. Go to www.cabcompany.org for more information.

The Prescott boys and girls track teams begin practice this week. Head Boys Coach Carl Calabrese and Head Girls Coach Emily Calabrese expect about 80 athletes out this spring, among the largest number of participants in history. The 2021 Division III State Runner Up Prescott Cardinal softball team under the tutelage of Nick Johnson will start its season on March 7. The Cardinal baseball team starts its season on March 21, and Head Coach Jay Bartsch and Assistant Coach Scott Hamilton open their spring golf practices on Monday, March 28.

Peter Brookshaw slammed his second home run of the season on Saturday against #22 ranked Long Beach State. And despite missing two games due to an illness, the 2018 Prescott alumnus is now hitting .368 heading into this week and leads the Bison in several offensive categories. North Dakota State travels to Florida this coming Saturday for a week’s worth of spring break games against Maine, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, and Fairfield.

The St. Croix Falls girls basketball team has advanced to the WIAA State Tournament for the first time in school history with a 74-54 victory over Altoona in Saturday’s sectional championship. Additionally, the Menomonie girls basketball team will be making its first trip to the Resch Center in Green Bay. The Prescott girls basketball team can take some solace in knowing they beat two teams that qualified for the 2022 State Tournament.

From the Department of Natural Resources: The DNR reminds anglers that the remaining 2022 ice shanty removal deadlines are fast approaching. Permanent ice shanties, or those not removed daily, must be removed from all state waters by March 15. Here are the upcoming remaining deadlines: Inland waters south of Highway 64 by the first Sunday following March 1; Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior and inland waters north of Highway 64 by the first Sunday following March 12; and Wisconsin – Michigan boundary waters by March 15. Owners having difficulties removing their shanty should seek help from their local fishing club, vendors and other anglers. Anglers can continue to use portable ice shanties after these dates, so long as they are removed from the ice when they are not actively in use and at the end of each day.

Headshaker of the week. At the conclusion of a regular season basketball game late last month between Bigfoot and East Troy High School, the referees needed a police escort from school property due to behavior and threats from East Troy fans directed at game officials and Big Foot School staff. Unbelievable. It’s everywhere folks. When will this despicable behavior end? It’s a headshaker.

By Cripe Olson