If it’s basketball you want, then this Saturday the Prescott High School gymnasium is the place to be. Of the seven Minnesota schools participating, five are ranked in the state of Minnesota. Lake City, Mahtomedi, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Minneapolis North, and Totino Grace are all ranked in the top 10 of their respective divisions. Among the Wisconsin schools, six of the seven schools are ranked among Wisconsin’s best. La Crosse Aquinas, Prescott, La Crosse Central, Onalaska, Pewaukee, and Middleton are all ranked in the top 10 in their respective divisions Speaking of state rankings, it is interesting to note that 10 of the top 20 teams ranked in Division 4 and 5 are private schools. What about competitive balance?

Head coach of Minneapolis North is Ricky Davis. The former Iowa Hawkeye star was the 21st pick of the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of 1998 NBA draft. Davis played 14 seasons in the NBA for the Hornets, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers. Davis averaged 13.5 points per game during his professional career.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s Head Coach Damian Johnson played four years at the University of Minnesota. A defensive standout, Johnson is among the Gophers’ career leaders in rebounds and steals. A Louisiana native, Johnson played professionally in the NBA Development League for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat for two seasons. Johnson then played professionally in Australia for three years and helped two teams, the Mount Gambier Pioneers for two years, and then the Bendigo Braves win three Australian League titles.

Bella Lenz and the Michigan Tech Huskies won their 12th straight with a 69-56 victory over Northern Michigan. Lenz finished with 14 points and five assists as Michigan Tech improved to 14-3 overall, and 6-1 in conference play. Prescott basketball’s all time leading scorer is averaging 13.4 points per game.

Prescott senior wrestler Ben Olson enters the week as the #4 ranked wrestler in Division 2 by Wisconsin Grappler at 106 pounds. Olson has an overall record of 19-4 for the Cardinals this season. In the team rankings, Middle Border Conference powers Baldwin-Woodville and Amery are ranked #5 and #6 respectively.

Haylee Yaeger and the UW-Stout Blue Devils upset 13th ranked UW-Whitewater on Saturday by a score of 72-65 to remain atop the conference standings. Yaeger finished with a season-high 17 points and seven rebounds in the crucial victory. The Blue Devils travel to UW-Eau Claire this Wednesday in a battle for first place.

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR will be hosting a Free Fishing Weekend Jan. 21-22 to share the fun and excitement of winter fishing. No fishing license or trout and salmon stamps are required.

Anglers can fish state waters where there is an open season. All other fishing regulations apply, such as limits on the number and size of fish you can keep and any seasons when you must release certain fish species. As a reminder, anglers cannot fish spring trout ponds during the Winter Free Fishing Weekend.

Prescott alumnus Dylan Malmlov is the President of the Virginia Tech Club Baseball Team. Malmlov, a 2020 Prescott graduate, was a member of the 2021 Hokie team that won the National Club Baseball Championship.

The 39th Annual Cumberland Baseball Clinic will be held at Nezzy’s Sports Bar in Cumberland, Wis. Two time NCAA Division III Coach of the Year Jon Vodenlich of national power UW-Whitewater will be the featured speaker. Also appearing with St. Mary’s University Head Coach Nick Weineke. The clinic is hosted by National Baseball Coaches Hall of Famer Mark Fuller.

Much to the chagrin of some local Cardinal basketball rooters, I have to give a shout out to the Osceola student cheering section during last Thursday’s game in Osceola. Throughout the game the raucous hometown teens erupted each time one of their own hit a three-point shot, blocked a shot, or made a steal. Their unbridled enthusiasm and youthful exuberance made for an incredible game night atmosphere. I am quite sure it was greatly appreciated by the Osceola players. From my vantage point there was little if any negative cat-calling, just a throng of animated high school kids energetically cheering on their classmates. Well done.

Headshaker of the week. Recently several area basketball coaches shared a similar story. The vast majority, if not all of us, carry our cell phones with us everywhere we go that certainly includes head coaches and their assistants. One thing I have yet to see is a coach answer their phone or check their messages during a game. Coaches may check their phone at halftime but most will wait to check their phone well after the conclusion of the game. However, it does not stop fans from texting or calling coaches while the game is going on. A handful of coaches have said that after games they check their phones. Many remarked they had received messages about the game offering coaching advice as the game was going on. Sending text messages to a coach on the bench during a game? That’s a headshaker.