TheCook County girls’ basketball team wasted no time in tipping off the 2009- 2010 season. On Monday, November 16 at midnight, the Vikings started their own “Midnight Madness” practice.
Head Coach T.J. Super and 17 girls started the season late Sunday night by moving some furniture in the gym, cooking up pizza and supplying some chips, and watching the movie Hoosiers
using a projector. Minutes before practice started at midnight, Coach Super pulled the girls into his room and showed his team the last ten minutes of their season-ending game last year against Bigfork, in which the Huskies made a shot with just four seconds remaining to end the Vikings’ season.
“We have very high expectations because the girls have really put in a lot of work this summer,” said Super. The Vikings played in four summer tournaments and participated in numerous other games and camps throughout the summer.
The Vikings finished 19-7 last season and narrowly missed out playing in the Section 7A championship game when they lost to Bigfork in the section semifinals. TheHuskies went on to finish fourth in the state tournament last season while the Vikings now have the state tournament in their sights for this season.
The Viking girls kicked off the basketball season on Monday, November 16 with a “Midnight Madness” version of basketball practice. Top: Basketball Coach T.J. Super shows off a defensive position. Above: Brea Boomer practices defense against Christina Nelson.
Cook County returns a wealth of talent with all five of last season’s starters coming back. Senior center Essa Jacobsen will be the Vikings’ main inside presence. Last season’s first team all-conference selection averaged 14.6 points and 14.4 rebounds per game as a junior. Fellow senior Christina Nelson gives the Vikings a versatile guard with scoring punch from the outside. Nelson was an honorable mention all-conference selection last season, averaging 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.5 assists per game.
Junior forward Brea Boomer was also an honorable mention all-conference player last season as she averaged 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and a whopping 3.8 steals per game as a sophomore. Her speed, strength, and athleticism create numerous mismatches for opponents when both Jacobsen and Nelson are also on the floor.
The Vikings backcourt also returns their two very young and talented guards, sophomore Ashley Deschampe and junior Ailee Larson. Their speed and aggressiveness give opponents fits on offense. Deschampe can fill up the basket in bunches as she proved last season against Babbitt when she scored 34 points.
Bekah Laky, who also started in a few games last season, returns for Cook County. Freshmen Taylor Ryden, Theresa Morrin, and Leah Utities will also be looked to for added depth for the Vikings.
The Vikings roster is rounded out by junior Jennifer Curtis, Sophomore Molly Zafft, and freshmen CeCe Schnobrich, Ali Iverson, Stephanie Fenstad-Lashinski, Deedra Mongan, Kara Ramey, and Kyley Ross.
The Vikings first game will be at Lakeview Christian Academy on December 1. Cook County doesn’t play at home until Tuesday, December 22, which is Parent’s Night for the Vikings.
Come cheer
on the Vikes!
Dec. 1 · 6:30 PM
AWAY vs. Lakeview Christian Academy
Dec. 8 · 6:30 PM
AWAY vs. Albrook
Dec. 15 · 6:30 PM
AWAY vs. Two Harbors
Dec. 18 · 4:45 PM
AWAY vs. Cromwell
Dec. 22 · 4:45 PM
HOME vs. Silver Bay
Dec. 28 – 30
Walker Holiday Tournament
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