SPORTS WRAP

OHS hoops vs. the champs

            As the dust settles on the high school basketball season and gyms go quiet – except for when spring teams are forced inside by the weather – there are some nuggets to look ahead to for Owatonna’s schedule next season.

            Girls coach Pat Webb says, “We’re going to play Providence Academy next season. We’re gonna head up there and play.” While Ms. Basketball finalist Maddyn Greenway graduates this year, her younger sister, Beckett, will be a sophomore. “She’s pretty good too,” said Webb.

            The Lions won their fifth straight Class AA state championship this winter. “Actually, they reached out to us last year and our schedule was full, and they reached out again. They play a lot of Class AAAA schools and want competitive teams. I’m excited about it,” Webb told Owatonna Live.

            The Huskies went 18-9 and limited teams to 44 points per game, best in the state in Class AAAA. Providence Academy (28-4) scored 95 points per game. Their two Minnesota losses were to AAAA schools.

            OHS has section opponents Lakeville South, Farmington and New Prague on next winter’s schedule.

Boys Showcases

            Owatonna boys coach Josh Williams says, “We upped our schedule. We’re playing more metro teams. Next year we’re playing Lakeville North in a non-conference game. We’re playing Hastings again.”

            The Huskies (16-12) scored a 73-72 section quarterfinal win at Lakeville North, whose new head coach is OHS grade Mike Nolan.

            “We’re doing three kinds of invite events. Breakdown is a big organization that puts on a lot of one-day events throughout the course of the season. We’re doing one in Duluth (vs. Duluth East). We’re doing one up in Delano. We’re going to play Chanhassen.”

            Duluth East is coached by former Owatonna assistant Rhett McDonald.

            OHS will also go to La Crosse, Wisconsin for the Midwest Players Classic in January to face a team from the Madison area. “Our non-conference schedule got beefed up quite a bit,” said Williams.

            Red Wing High School moving to the Hiawatha Valley League opened up a couple of dates.

OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play

Tuesday, April 7:
OHS baseball vs. Northfield (season opener), 5 p.m.