CHAMPIONS
CHAMP
WINNIN WINNING STATE STATE-
The Albany Huskies boys basketball program was far from unfamiliar with the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament entering the 2022-23 season.
However, the Huskies’ previous appearances were all limited to singular seasons of state-qualifying success, epitomizing the difficulty of making it to the state tournament in the first place.
That makes what Albany has accomplished in its last three seasons all the more impressive, as the Huskies have created the first state streak in program history, winning two Class AA championships in the process.
“Their approach has never changed since they came into the program,” said Cory Schlagel, head coach. “They’ve been a model of consistency, of a really good work ethic on and off the court and in the classroom. They’re a very highly motivated crew that knows how to go about their business, and because of how they do that, they’re rewarded for it.”
When Albany knocked off Minnehaha Academy in the state championship March 25, 2023, it was a monumental accomplishment — the first time
hungrier to sustain their winning ways.
“It was more of a motivation on what I knew I could do and achieve, and that there’s always room to improve,” said Zeke Austin, senior guard. “Winning that gave us a lot of confidence. That’s another part, the confi dence our team had. We knew what we could do if we played our game.”
That historic 32-1 campaign was followed up by another outstanding season, as the Huskies continued to do the right things in and out of practice and play excellent team basketball. Winning 22 games in a row from Jan. 5, 2024, to March 5, 2024, Albany won the Section 6AA championship and advanced to state, officially creating the program’s first streak of state appearances.
Albany started its tournament strong, rallying back from 13 points down at one point to defeat Jackson County Central 87-66 and advance to the state semifinals. Even with that positive momentum and a wealth of confidence in themselves, the Huskies could not sustain that run, falling to the Lake City Tigers 69-59 March 22, 2024.
That was a major wakeup call for Albany, who prided itself in its ability to find ways to win but struggled to stay afloat against a Tigers team that had caught fire at the right time.
“We felt like nothing good was happening that game,” said Sam Hondl, senior forward. “None of us were shooting well. That taught us we needed to keep playing through that. We couldn’t get caught up in how we were playing. We needed to keep our composure throughout the
Benefiting the Huskies in their state hopes this season was experience.
Austin, Hondl and senior guard Elliott Burnett were central pieces of each of the team’s past two state tournament appearances, while key playmakers like senior guard Bennett Hylla; senior forwards Ethan Meyer and Lucas Goebel; junior guards Braeden Justin, Brady Rueter and Ashton Olson; junior forward Griffin Lange; and junior center Jake Buttweiler were all on the varsity roster last year.
“This past run we just had, that helped a ton,” Austin said. “Four of our five starters have played AAU ball and travel teams together. That made us click even more. That connection and experience has a big part in winning.”
Prepared to reverse their fortunes from the previous year but not looking too far ahead and showing too much bravado, the Huskies brought a high level of intensity and preparation to each game this winter, trudging through a tough schedule one contest at a time.
Whether it was eventual Class A champion Dawson-Boyd in the Granite City Classic Dec. 28, 2024 or teams at the bottom of the Granite Ridge Conference, Albany made sure to bring a
“It’s a good mixture of guys that have dedicated themselves to being the best version of themselves as basketball players,” Schlagel said. … “It’s a unique group in terms of their ability to compete at a high level and (their) want to compete at a high level.”
Schlagel said a characteristic of this team is they not only want high-level competitiveness, but are willing to do the “dirty work” to get to that point.
Rarely during this improbable 32-0 season — the first undefeated campaign in Minnesota State High School League boys basketball since 2012 — did the Huskies trail. Still, when they found themselves with work to do on the scoreboard, they always rallied back with a steel-minded approach.
When Caledonia clawed back from a 25-5 deficit to tie the Class
AA semifinals bout at 50, and when Waseca took the lead multiple times in the second half of the championship game, the Huskies always had the final answer.
“These guys don’t panic,” Schlagel said. “Even when we got behind a possession, we flipped the script pretty quickly. I wasn’t worried about being in a close game because I trust these guys. They know what I’m saying, and, a lot of times, I let them feel things out and let them play. We’ve been around each other for so long, and we just do what we do.”
It is that familiarity with one another and years of carving out a path of success together that makes this latest championship journey all the more memorable.
“It means a lot just to go out with a bang and end on a win, and it means even more when I get to do it with the guys I did it with,” Austin said.
(ABOVE) Albany senior forward Sam Hondl fully extends to grab a loose ball before it heads out of bounds in the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament semifinals against Caledonia March 21 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Hondl and the Huskies have qualified for state in each of the last three seasons, the first time Albany has ever sustained a streak of state appearances.
(LEFT) Albany senior guard Elliott Burnett flexes in celebration after scoring a basket while being fouled at the Minnesota State
School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament quarterfinals against Pelican Rapids March 18 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Burnett has helped the Huskies raise the Class AA first-place trophy twice.
PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON
STATE CHAMPION CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT
After
Besides winning state, what was your favorite moment of the season?
What are three words you would use to describe this team?
What is the best advice you’ve received during your basketball career?
1. Just having fun with my teammates and being able to have a good last season with them.
2. Determined, dedicated and relentless.
3. You can only control two things, and that is your effort and your mindset.
1. Abe hitting a 3-pointer for our 100th point.
2. Special, determined and reliable.
3. You’ll make the next one. — Coach Johnson
1. Hanging out with teammates in the hotel.
2. Strong, family and jokesters.
3. Use your feet.
— Steve and Darla Rueter
1. Dropping 25 points against Sauk Centre.
2. Relentless, focused and prepared.
3. Focus on the next shot; don’t be looking at the past.
ON THE COVER THE
1. The Rush City game, when we hit 100 points. The atmosphere in there was electric.
2. Special, fun and exciting.
3. Work hard, and don’t compare yourself to anyone. Just keep working.
1. The locker room after the section championship.
2. Hardworking, relentless and prepared.
3. Confidence is key.
State champion spotlight continued on page 4B
Huskies
Colton Bauer, Jake Buttweiler, Jaxson
Parents: Neil and Amanda Austin
Parents: Robert and Courtney Justin
Parents: Scott and Sara Hondl
Parents: Mark and Katie Olson
Parents: Nate and Meg Hylla
Parents: Steve and Darla Rueter
Besides winning state, what was your favorite moment of the season?
What are three words you would use to describe this team?
1. Going out to eat with the whole team.
2. Passionate, funny and talented.
3. Nobody is perfect. Even NBA players miss shots, so keep shooting.
1. Being in the game and playing with my brother.
2. Hardworking, exciting and enjoyable.
3. Always hustle and outwork everyone on the court, no matter what.
What is the best advice you’ve received during your basketball career?
1. The game against Rush City, when, at the end of the game, all of the non-starters’ shots were falling, especially Abe, hitting two 3-pointers to pass 100 points.
2. Very, very good.
3. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
1. When
2. Determined, skilled and athletic.
3. Play with confidence.
Parents: Jim and Lisa Meyer
1. All of the practices together.
2. Relentless, determined and hardworking.
3. Always be prepared because you never know when an opportunity will come up.
1. The team dinners.
2. Hardworking, determined and awesome.
3. Try your best.
1. The offensive possession against Minnehaha Academy, where we got all of the rebounds and then Zeke finally hit the 3-pointer for us.
2. The greatest ever.
3. Use the backboard.
1. Celebrating in the locker room with the boys.
2. Locked, determined and relentless.
3. To not worry about the last play; just focus on the next.
1. Dumping water on Coach Schlagel after winning the section championship.
2. Relentless, teammates and hustle.
3. Your effort and hard work will pay off.
1. Getting to play every day with and against our seniors. Watching them compete at the highest level day in and day out was an unforgettable experience for me.
2. Relentless, enjoyable and rewarding.
3. Coach Schlagel always told us to stay relentless. It’s a 36-minute game of offense, defense and special teams. He made sure we knew there were going to be ups and downs, but no matter what, you’ve got to keep working your butt off.
1. Abe Kalthoff hitting a 3-pointer in a varsity game to put us over 100 points.
2. Focused, hardworking and motivated.
3. Get in the weight room.
1. Getting my first varsity points.
2. Awesome, hardworking and dedicated.
3. Practice how you play.
The 2024-25 Albany High School boys basketball team is led by head coach Cory Schlagel and assistant coaches Jacob Boone, Grant Johnson and Joel Bauer. Team managers are Abbey Barrow, Cam Bauer and Patrick Newman.
Parents: Jon and Lori Habben
Parents: Dave and Teri Kalthoff
Parents: Danny and Jill Terwey
Parents: Joel and Danielle Bauer
Parents: Ray and Rosangela Van Heel
Parents: Scott and Sara Hondl
Parents: Josh and Kim Lange
Parents: Steve and Barb Buttweiler
Parents: Neil and Amanda Austin
Parents: Jeff and Karleen Goebel
Parents: Jason and Sara Burnett
Abe Kalthoff hit two 3-pointers in a row to get us to 100 points against Rush City March 6.
FAMILY CONNECTIONS
ROOTED DEEP IN STATE RUNS
Austins,
Bauers have ties to 1997 Huskies squad
BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER
Not many people know the sense of accomplishment and euphoria that comes with winning a section tournament and advancing to state.
However, when the eventual state champion Albany Huskies basked in their third consecutive Section 6AA title March 14 at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, they had a close admirer who understood just how impactful that achievement was.
Joel Bauer, one of the team’s assistant coaches, also qualified for the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament, doing so as a Huskie himself in 1997.
“It wouldn’t have taken a blue ribbon to have that appreciation and respect for all of those kids because you realize it isn’t the blue ribbon that’s what made the joys,” Joel said.
could have ever played, and you went out on a win. You’ll remember that for a long time.”
Working together as a team was exactly how Joel and the 1996-97 Huskies made a run and became the first Albany team since 1981 to qualify for state. Comprised of many seniors who had previously come close to reaching state but had never gotten through the threshold, that Huskies team, coached by Bruce Holmseth, featured many players who understood their roles and meshed on the court as a unit.
One of those players, point guard Neil Austin, is the father of current Huskies Zeke and Jaxson Austin.
“We had a very good senior group, which was similar to this team (2025 Huskies),” Neil said. “We had a group of guys that played basketball together through the years from a young age, and having the key pieces from underclassmen that filled in the gaps that
The 1996-97 Huskies won their quarterfinals game against Glencoe-Silver Lake at a familiar setting — Halenbeck Hall — before going up against Caledonia, another interesting parallel that team shares with this year’s group of Huskies. Caledonia came out on top in the first state meeting between the programs on its way to an undefeated state championship that year.
When Albany played Caledonia again in the semifinals March 21, the teams had more in common than a small blip in the state history books. Coaching the Warriors this time around was Neil’s brother-in-law, Brad King, and playing for Caledonia were Zeke and Jaxson’s cousins, Grant King, Mason King and Reid Klug.
“It’s just cool that, even though it’s a competition, they still have that tie to each other,” said Amanda Austin, Neil’s wife. “That runs a little bit deeper than if you’re just playing a friend. It was cool to see. … I mean, how often does that ever happen?”
Family connections are rooted beyond the Austins and their fun run-in with their Caledonia kin, as through returning to the Huskies as an assistant
his son, Colton, a sophomore on the team, and his daughter, Cam, a team manager.
“The first person I got to hug after they won (state) was my dad,” Cam said. “Even though I wasn’t on the court and didn’t have as much heart poured into it, it was fun to celebrate with him, and we got to watch our brother and the boys — who we’ve really gotten to get close with over the last couple of months — win a state championship and earn what they’ve worked for.”
(BELOW) Albany manager Cam Bauer shows her support for the Huskies during the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament March 22 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Bauer has enjoyed bonding with family members as a member of the Huskies, as she is the
Being in this position was a best-of-both-worlds situation for Joel, who previously served as Albany’s C squad coach during the 2006-07 campaign and the JV coach from 2007 to 2011, along with some volunteer time afterward. Coaching basketball has allowed him to give back to the community that gave him so many opportunities as a studentathlete. So, when an assistant coaching position opened up before this winter season, he jumped at the chance.
“I love the athletic programs in the school,” Joel said. “They
were such a big part of my life growing up that anytime I can be a part of helping them in any way, I will do it.”
That decision was a fruitful one for Joel, who got to witness the program he played for claim its second state championship in three seasons, a destination he never got to experience as a player. Still, even as the 1997 and 2025 state championship runs are vastly different in that facet and many others, they are connected by the essence of Purple Pride and the importance of dreaming big.
“Living in such a small town, everyone knows Dad, and everyone watched him play in high school,” Cam said. “Even if Dad didn’t want to share it (his state experience) with us, someone was going to. Hearing about the impact he made on this town when he went to state definitely made everyone in our family want to experience the same thing.”
MICHEALSON
(LEFT) Albany assistant coach Joel Bauer (right) applauds the Huskies boys basketball team on their Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament win alongside manager Patrick Newman March 22 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Bauer himself played in a state tournament for Albany, doing so in 1997.
older sister to sophomore center Colton Bauer and the daughter of assistant coach Joel Bauer.
PHOTO BY EVAN MICHEALSON
(ABOVE)Albany sophomore center Colton Bauer goes to high-five junior guard Braeden Justin in the closing moments of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament championship March 22 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Bauer is the son of former Huskie and assistant coach Joel Bauer and the brother of manager Cam Bauer.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
(LEFT) Amanda Austin (from left), Zeke Austin, Jaxson Austin and Neil Austin share a moment as a family following the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament March 22 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Neil was a member of the 1996-97 Huskies that qualified for state.
New year, same success.
The Huskies hosted one of the top teams in Class AA, Min-
Academy, and did not disappoint their home crowd, pulling away for their second straight victory over a state qualifier.
Albany dominated from a defensive standpoint, limiting the talented Redhawks to a 29.1% field-goal percentage while turning 15 Minnehaha Academy giveaways into 16 points.
Pierz’s eight and scored 55 points in the first half alone.
Albany left little doubt as to the result of a rematch against the Foley Falcons, scoring 36 of the game’s first 41 points in a convincing win.
The Huskies scored 1.39 points per possession and relinquished under 20 points in both halves.
Albany’s ability to adapt and learn from previous games was on full display in its second game against Pequot Lakes, this time holding a lead from the first to last minute in a 36-point triumph.
Physicality paid dividends for the Huskies, who outscored the Patriots 38-12 in the paint and outrebounded them 42-20.
The Huskies closed out the regular season with a conference championship in hand, defeating Milaca once again to enter the section playoff s with a perfect 25-0 record.
The 1-2 punch of
Facing their second Class AAA opponent of the season, the Huskies built up momentum over the course of their game against the Rocori Spartans, tallying 48 points in the second half to pull away from their area foe.
It was a blemish-free performance for Albany, who only committed seven turnovers while forcing 17 on the defensive end.
Albany faced one of its toughest tests of the winter season when it squared off against the Sauk Centre Streeters in a road Section 6AA matchup.
Even as they struggled to make shots, the Huskies found points in other ways, outscoring the Streeters 17-0 in transition and 10-0 on second-chance points.
Braeden Justin was huge for the Huskies, making six 3-pointers on eight attempts.
Shooting nearly 70% from 2-point range while limiting Eden Valley-Watkins to only 11 field goals for the entire game, the Huskies made quick work of the Eagles to earn win No. 14.
Albany dominated the boards, grabbing 52 rebounds (including 20 offensively) to EVW’s 20.
A long-standing area rivalry went the way of the Huskies for a second time, with Albany doubling up the Dutchmen 34-17 in the first half before building its lead to 41 by game’s end.
The Huskies got Melrose in foul trouble, drawing 17 infractions and burying 17 of 24 free throws.
What happens when you pit the top two scoring defenses in Class AA against each other? An instant classic.
Trailing for much of the second half, the Huskies were led by their seniors, who combined for 57 of the team’s 63 points to help Albany stay undefeated in conference play.
For the second straight game, the Huskies held their opponent to exactly 26 points, keeping the Little Falls Flyers off the scoreboard with stout defense.
Albany was opportunistic on this night, scoring 33 points off Little Falls’ 24 turnovers.
The Huskies earned a season sweep of the Pioneers in formulaic fashion: suffocating defense and efficient offense.
Outside of Hondl’s 28 points, no Huskie finished with a double-digit point total; the team shared the rock admirably to the tune of 16 assists.
gained control early, outpacing the Blackjacks 41-21 in the first half to earn a statement neutral-court win.
That streak was no
The
the Huskies shot over 55% from the field.
for Albany’s hopes of staying
over 40 points in both halves — including over 50 points in the paint — to best their section opponents.
After back-to-back arduous, hard-fought wins, the Huskies went back into cruise control, taking the
of a conference
away with
and
Hondl’s return to the court was a triumphant one, as the
the
The senior forward led Albany with 18 points, with 10 players scoring points in the all-around performance.
The Huskies’ No. 1-ranked defense in Class AA put together its magnum opus against Osakis, allowing only 11 first-half points and a season-low 25 points overall. Albany allowed only 0.41 points per possession, taking the ball away 22 times and scoring 29 points off those turnovers. It also added 26 points in transition.
Austin and Hondl combined for 48 points, while the defense turned the Wolves over 25 times.
The Huskies demonstrated just why they were the No. 1 seed in the tournament, breaking the 100-point mark against Rush City in the first round. It was a full group effort, as 14 players got on the board for Albany.
Nothing was going to stand in the way between the Huskies and a third straight section title, as Albany cruised past Spectrum to advance to the state tournament.
The Huskies piled up 24 assists, sharing the basketball to make it to the next step
The Huskies
of Albany’s five starters ended the game in double figures.
Caledonia’s length and toughness made life difficult for the Huskies, who needed a 9-4
Waseca’s pure speed and aggressive defense forced 23 Albany turnovers, but the Huskies made the right
Less than a week after eclipsing 100 points, the Huskies nearly did it again, catching fire at the right time to dispatch a strong Holdingford squad.
The trio of Austin, Hondl and Ethan Meyer teamed up to compile 83 points.
While the shooting presence of the Crusaders allowed them to stay close to the Huskies early, 25-point outings from Zeke Austin and Hondl were enough for Albany to build a cushion eventually. Like many of their previous games,
No conference team was able to take a game off the Huskies, and their second matchup against Little Falls Flyers exemplified why.
The Flyers mustered only 10 points in the first half, with Albany pulling ahead by 28 points by halftime on their way to a drama-free victory.
The Huskies had a tough task ahead when they entered the Holdingford High School gym, as they were playing a Huskers team that were winners of 19 consecutive games.
match
undefeated.
Huskies tallied
Huskies surged past
Milaca Wolves in another excellent conference showing.
nehaha
Two eventual state champions ran into each other in the second day of Granite City Classic action, with Class AA’s Albany and Class A’s Dawson-Boyd doing battle on the hardwood at St. John’s University.
Huskies
reins
The Huskies stayed busy winning during the holiday break, muscling past Maranatha Christian Academy at the Granite City Classic at St. John’s
Right
March
the
to the Class AA All-Tournament Team.
All three Huskies made a big impact during the team’s state run. Here’s a peek into the trio’s tournament success.
