Cards are primed for another run

Willmar guard Sammy Christoffer is fouled on a shot attempt by Sauk Rapids senior forward Abby Froiland during a Central Lakes Conference game March 12, 2021, from Willmar High School. Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune file photo

Willmar plans to be a conference and section contender

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — The Willmar girls basketball team has been in the upper echelon of the Central Lakes Conference and the section du jour.

In the 10 seasons that Dustin Carlson has been head coach. Carlson believes 202122 will be no different.

“Expectations are high in our gym to have a very successful season with the amount of experience and talent returning,” said Carlson, who had a 155-91 record at Willmar. “Having a senior-led team should provide us with poise in bigger games this season.

The Cardinals return three starters from a squad that went 15-5 last season, including 12-3 in the conference. One of the key losses is a big one. Mackenzie Jones, an all-stater and Willmar’s leading scorer and rebounder, is now playing for Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall.

But lots of talent and experience remains.

Leading the way are Jaida Reiman, Sammy Christoffer and Ella Shinn.

Reiman is a 5-foot-8 senior guard/wing who earned all-conference honors last season. She was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game and also averaged 5.2 rebounds.

Christoffer is a 5-6 senior guard who also was on the All-CLC team. She averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game.

Shinn is a 5-9 senior wing/post who averaged 7.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. She was an honorable mention to the all-conference team.

Another player to watch is Ellary Lange. The 5-7 senior guard was an all-conference honorable-mention who averaged 5.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Carlson wasn’t sure who the fifth starter would be in the preseason. He just knew it was going to be competitive.

“We have a crew of girls looking to earn the fifth starting spot to the bottom of our varsity rotation,” Carlson said. “This should make practices competitive and make us a deeper team than we were last season.”

Something new for Willmar will be its section.

The Cards are moving from Section 5AAA to Section 8AAA. In the preseason, it looks like Alexandria will be the team to beat in 8AAA.

“We are looking forward to having a couple of our conference rivals as our toughest section competition,” Carlson said.

Willmar's Jaida Reiman (31) tries to put up a shot in the lane while Big Lake's Caela Tighe goes for a block during the first half of a Section 5AAA semifinal game on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at the Big Red Gym at Willmar High School.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune