Minot’s Johnson tops the list

FARGO — Minot’s Holly Johnson had a standout season for the Majettes, averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds per game.

The 5-foot-11 senior forward, who is committed to play basketball at North Dakota State, earned a spot on the North Dakota Class A all-state girls basketball first team, which is selected by members of the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association

Johnson is joined on the first team by Fargo Shanley senior Rachel Weir, Grand Forks Red River junior Ellie Ripplinger, Fargo North junior Kira Larson and Williston senior Dani Clarke.

Johnson was North Dakota Miss Basketball, North Dakota Class A Senior Athlete of the Year, North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year and Western Dakota Association Senior Athlete of the Year.

But what might be most remarkable about Johnson is that she played her senior season on a broken foot.

“Holly is a competitor,” Minot head coach Todd Magnuson said. “She loves the game of basketball and there was no way she was going to sit out her senior year.”

Johnson broke the fourth metatarsal bone in her right foot during the state volleyball tournament and missed the first three games of the basketball season.

She helped the Majettes to a fifth-place finish at state and was named to the all-state tournament team. Johnson, who finished her career with 1,260 points, was an all-WDA team selection and was named to the all-West Region tournament team.

Weir, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, averaged 18 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game for the Deacons, who finished the season 19-6.

Weir also was a runner up for Miss Basketball and is committed to playing basketball at the University of Mary.

Larson averaged 15.7 points and 12.3 rebounds for the Spartans. The 6-foot-3 junior center is committed to play NCAA Division I volleyball at Nebraska and was named to the all-EDC team.

Ripplinger, an all-EDC, 5-foot-5 junior guard, paced the Roughriders by averaging 16.5 points.

Clarke, an all-WDA, 5-foot-9 senior who is committed to play basketball at the University of Mary, averaged 19.5 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Coyotes.

Erin Krogh and Lexi Lennon of West Fargo, A.J. Jacobs and Hannah Larson of Bismarck Century, Sarah Schafer of Devils Lake, Naomi Rust of Bismarck, and Mic Longtin of Mandan were named to the second team.

Second team:

Krogh, a 5-foot-11 senior, averaged 9.8 points and shot 46.3 percent from the field, including 48.6 percent from beyond the arc. She was named to the all-EDC and all-state tournament teams.

Lennon, an all-EDC 5-foot-8 junior guard, averaged 12.2 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Packers. She averaged 18 points during the state tournament and was an all-state tournament team selection.

Jacobs, a 5-foot-11 senior, averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Patriots who finished the season 22-3. She hit two key 3-pointers in the final two minutes of Century’s 63-60 win over West Fargo in the state championship game.

Hannah Larson, a 6-foot junior forward, averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds for Century. She averaged 17.7 points during the state tournament and received tournament MVP honors.

Rust, a 6-foot senior forward, led the Demons to a 17-8 season averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds. She was an all-state tournament team selection.

Longtin, a 5-foot-2 senior guard, was all-state tournament team selection and averaged 14 points for the Braves.

Schafer, a 5-foot-9 senior forward, averaged 16.5 points for Devils Lake and was an All-EDC team selection.

Tags: high school, sports, basketball