The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Senior Madison Johnson is the top returning scorer.
It wasn't the future that Carrington's basketball programs and school administration would have preferred to face. But, now that they're here, it's time to make the best of it.
For the first time since the 1963 season, there will be three divisions of basketball in North Dakota instead of two, and the Cardinals have moved from among the higher enrollment Class B schools into one of the smaller programs in the new Division A.
Coach Andy Braaten will embark on what is officially a quarter century on the Cardinal bench, beginning his 25th year with a 434-143 record. Last year's team finished at 18-6 in their final season in Class B, placing third at the Region 3 Tournament with a 50-40 victory over Kidder County.
"We plan on improving daily, and playing our best basketball late in the year," Braaten said. "We'll have a nice mixture of athleticism and basketball skills, and will continue to be dedicated as we head into a different division."
Gone are the familiar league foes of Barnes County North, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier, Ellendale, Griggs/Midkota, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion and Oakes, not to mention M-P-B, Linton-HMB and the other former District 6 contenders.
In their place are former Class A fixture Devils Lake, always-tough Grafton and Thompson, along with Four Winds-Minnewaukan and Hillsboro/Central Valley.
Braaten noted that with the drop in overall numbers for the program following the move, depth on the junior varsity squad could be a challenge to establish.
"Developing consistent defense will be the key," he said. "We're a bit undersized, so rebounding and good post defense will need to be a focus for us."
The top returning scorers are 5'8" senior guard Madison Johnson (12.3 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.5 steals, 43 3-pointers) and junior forward Edyn Hoornaert (9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 steals, 73% free throws). Both players have many years of experience under their belts, and will be counted on to provide leadership for the Cards at the start of the Division A era.
"Madison will lead us out front. She continues to improve on both ends last year, and works hard at the game," said Braaten.
Five-foot-six senior Kacie Rexin (8.1 ppg, 33 3-pointers, 39% 3 pt. percentage, top FT shooter at 88%) is the team's go-to-player from the perimeter, a clutch foul line performer, and her hustle can help provide a spark defensively as well.
At the other forward spots are 5'9" senior Olivia Threadgold (5.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), another solid shooter who can play both inside and outside and provide a post presence, and 5'8" junior Isabel Wendel (5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, team-high 66 steals) can be counted on to do most anything on the floor when asked.
"Kacie and Olivia can hit from the arc, and will look to improve defensively," he said.
The coach also noted that Hoornaert and Wendel are two-year returning starters, and play well together.
Braaten's trademark strong rotation off the bench includes juniors Kaydence VanRay (3.3 ppg) at forward and Kenadie Pazdernik (2.1 ppg) at guard. Also in the coach's plans are junior guard Brynn Smith (1.3 ppg), who saw some action on the floor towards the end of last season.
The remainder of the roster is largely untested at the varsity level. Sophomores Lauren Hendrickson and Sienna Topp will help lead the Cardinal junior varsity team, and freshman Harper Kollman and eighth grader Marah Johnson are also dressing with the "A" squad for this season.
The veteran coach will have two new assistant coaches this winter. Maara Nelson, a former CHS player and VCSU graduate, will helm the JV squad, and David Johnson is the "C" squad coach.
Within Region 2 of Division A, Braaten picks the Devils Lake Firebirds as the team to beat, followed by Thompson, Grafton, FW-M and HCV.
The Region 2 Tournament will be held February 19, 20 and 22, 2024, at Mayville State University, and the state tournament qualifier on Saturday, February 24, also at MSU.
The inaugural Division A State Girls' Basketball Tournament is slated for Thursday-Saturday, February 29-March 2, 2024, at the Minot State University Dome.
