From the driveway to the court

By ANDY ROGERS

Journal Sports Editor

WABASSO -- Back in grade school, the All-Journal Area's Girls Basketball Player of the Year Jessica VanLoy took her first shot against some of her toughest opponents.

In second grade her two older brothers taught her the game of basketball. In her family's driveway behind the house, Jessica tried to keep up with her older brothers Tommy and Andrew. Playing basketball in the driveway became somewhat of a family ritual.

"Every night we'd try and have a game," Jessica said. "Even in the winter time."

Andrew, who plays basketball for Bethany College in Mankato, prepared her for crowds at basketball games.

"He told me to get used to everybody yelling at you because that's what you have to go through," Jessica said.

Jessica received advice only a brother could give.

"They told me to play hard, never give up, and when things get tough, just try and get out of them," Jessica said.

Tommy, who is still in high school, has played basketball for Wabasso, but was out this year.

Andrew and Tom try to make as many of their sister's games as possible. Tom comes to all the home games he can, and Andrew comes when they're in New Ulm or Mankato.

They still get together when they can to play basketball.

"Once in a while when they come home, we go out back and shoot around," Jessica said.

She's had other major influences on the road to one of the most successful seasons a Wabasso player has ever had. Wabasso senior Tara Trost and All-Journal Girls Basketball Team member served as a mentor to her and her team, and Jessica gives her a lot of credit.

"Our team was really young this year," Jessica said. "We had really good leadership by Tara, and we just put it all together in the end.

"Tara has been on varsity since ninth grade. She kinda knows the ropes, and she helped everybody with their problems and whatever they needed on the court."

If you need any indication how much Trost helped her teammates on the court, all you need to know is she led the Tomahawk Conference in assists.

Jessica led the the Tomahawk Conference in score with a 17.5 per-game average. She also led the conference in field goal percentage with 58.5 percent. She averaged 6.6 rebounds per game and grabbed 3.5 steals per game. She not only led the Tomahawk Conference in scoring, but she was third in scoring overall in southwestern Minnesota behind Marshall's Shannon Bolden and Brittany Evert of Lincoln High. She even broke a team record scoring 37 points in a game against Cedar Mountain.

She was the girl that the Rabbits looked to in crunch time, which is quite a responsibility for just a sophomore.

With two years left, things are looking up for her and the Wabasso Rabbits.

"In the next couple years we're going to have a really good team, so I hope we have a chance to make it to State," Jessica said. "I think we have a really good chance to do that."

Wabasso made a successful run this year. The Rabbits won their subsection championship by defeating Lincoln High, but lost to state-bound Fulda in sections.

Jessica has a number of goals yet to accomplish in her career.

"I've always wanted to dunk it," Jessica said. "But I don't know if that's ever going to happen."

Besides basketball, Jessica plays volleyball, which she also started this year, and fast-pitch softball. She loves fast-pitch just as much as basketball.

"It's a lot of fun," Jessica said. "It's hard to say which is my favorite -- it's between fast-pitch and basketball."

She likes being able to play with her friends and "just having fun out there." And she has plenty more to go.

The All-Journal Team

JESSICA MERSETH, Minnesota Valley Lutheran -- Last year's All-Journal Player of the Year had another strong season. The highly decorated junior led MVL, scoring 15.2 points per game in the Tomahawk Conference. She led MVL in rebounding with 7.9 per game. She was double and triple teamed most of the year and she is one of the toughest players in the area to stop. As a junior, she topped out at 1,232 career point, which is 208 points shy from New Ulm city scoring mark with one year to play. She is a three-time All-Conference member and the successful team's MVP. She's been named twice to the All-State honorable mention team. She came up big in key games and led her team to the subsection finals.

LEAH MORGAN, Minnesota Valley Lutheran -- In her fourth year on varsity and third year starting, Morgan helped her team reach the undefeated mark in the Tomahawk Conference. She did a great job controlling the game and breaking the press for the Chargers. She was second in the conference with 5.5 assists per game. In MVL girls career stats, she ranks ninth all-time with 407 rebounds, second with 406 assists and sixth with 230 steals. She's one on the top point guards in the area.

TIFFANY DRILL, New Ulm Public -- The team's MVP and led the team with 7.3 points per game average and 6.8 rebounds per game. She works hard in practice and shows up every day to play. She was a positive role model on and off the court and she didn't let the team down.

KRISTIN BERANEK, New Ulm Cathedral -- Beranek had another successful season for the Greyhounds. She averaged 12.3 points per game. She finishes her career with a school record in three-point shooting percentage with 31 percent. She was a unanimous pick for Tomahawk All-Conference. She's also been named to the academic All-Conference team for two years.

JACQUELINE SCHULTZ, Springfield -- The three-year starter played a key part in Springfield's run at state this year. She was a unanimous Tomahawk All-Conference pick. She led the team with 120 assists and 71 steals. She had a high game of 28 points and 11 assists. She sees the floor well and has great court vision. She's also a member of the outstate/metro All-Star team and the team's MVP. She also carries a 3.7 GPA.

TARYN RUNCK, Springfield -- Runck was the scoring leader for the highly successful Springfield Tigers. She averaged 14 points per game and 6.2 rebounds. She doubled her rebounding and scoring averages from a year ago. She had a high game of 24 points and 14 rebounds in a key game against Minnesota Valley Lutheran. She has excellent moves from the post, and she's also able to step out and make the 15-footer.

BRITTANY FESER, Springfield -- Three-year starter's work ethic and determination made her one of the hardest workers in the area.Defense is her strongest point. She led the Tigers with 120 steals. She is also two-time defensive player of the year for the Tigers and always guarded the opponent's best perimeter player. She averaged 10 points a game and she grabbed 102 rebounds. She is playing in the Orth Foundation game in Bird Island April 5. She also caries a 4.0 GPA.

STEPHANIE TODD, McLeod West -- Todd is a two-time All-Conference selection. She led her team with 12.3 points per game and was third in the Tomahawk conference averaging 8.1 rebounds per game. She's an excellent free-throw shooter, making 69.5 percent of her shots in the conference.

ASHLEY MATHIOWETZ, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's -- Mathiowetz's fourth year as a starter was a successful one as she scored her 1,000th point. She average 13.1 points per game and 5.5 rebounds. In her second year on the All-Conference list and third on the All-Journal, she was named team MVP for the second year in a row. She is one of the most successful basketball player in St. Mary's history. She's third on the charts with 1,032 career points and fifth in assists and steal totals.

KRYSTAL KERKHOFF, Cedar Mountain -- Kerkhoff had an extremely successful senior year with Cedar Mountain. She was a unanimous Tomahawk All-Conference pick. She was a menace behind the three-point and free-throw line. She made 53 three-pointers and made 74 percent of her free throws. She led Cedar Mountain in points per game, rebounds and assists. She averaged 15.5 points per game, seven rebounds and three assists.

ASHLEY BUSCH, GFW -- As the lone returning starter from last year's squad, she was GFW's leading scorer averaging 12.4 points per game. Just a sophomore, she has many more opportunities for success in the future.

JENNY BJORKLUND, Sibley East -- The junior two-year starter led the team with 18.6 points per game. She averaged nine rebounds per game and 3.3 blocks. She often had to face defenses designed to stop her and she was still able to score.

TARA TROST, Wabasso -- Trost led the Tomahawk Conference in total assists with 104 and averaging 6.5 per game. Trost was fourth overall in steals finishing with 69 total with an average of 3.4 per game. Trost was also a leader in free-throw percentage, hitting 70 percent. She was the leader on the floor for the successful Wabasso Rabbits. She was one of the biggest reasons for the 20-7 seasons.

CHALSEY TRUEBENBACH, Nicollet -- Four-year starter Truebenbach contributed a lot to Nicollet's success. She scored when needed and she was a top notch defender. She has the most complete game on Nicollet's squad.