Courneya breaks school record with nine 3-pointers

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Frazee Hornets are just two games away from punching their ticket to the state basketball tournament. Last week the Hornets improved to 23-4 overall after defeating Warroad by a score of 87-53 and East Grand Forks by a score of 77-68 on Saturday to advance to the semi-finals of the Section 8AA tournament.

Waiting in the wings for the third seeded Hornets is second seed Perham. The Hornets and Yellowjackets split their two game season series with Perham winning on Dec. 16 by a score of 83-75 and Frazee winning by a score of 80-74 on Feb. 6. 

The winner of Tuesday’s game at Concordia College in Moorhead will take on either top seeded Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton or fourth seeded Menahga on Friday night at Concordia College in Moorhead. Friday’s section finals will tip off at 8 p.m. 

Thursday

Katie Courneya had a game to remember on Thursday night as the junior broke Hailee Oswald’s school record of eight made 3-pointers in a game as she knocked down nine 3-pointers on just 11 shots as the third seeded Hornets defeated Warroad 87-53. Courneya went on to finish with 33 points on 11-15 shooting from the floor and a perfect 2-2 at the free throw line.

“These girls are playing such amazing and team basketball it makes it the most fun I’ve ever had in basketball. The unselfishness, the laughter, and all the smiles make this team one of the best in the state no doubt about that,” said head coach Trey Hensius. “Against Warroad we got to witness another record broken by Katie Courneya setting the record of nine made 3-pointers out of 11 shooting. The girl was absolutely on fire and couldn’t miss, as a team we recognized that and kept feeding the hot hand and it worked out.”

The Hornets had a solid game from the floor as they shot just under 57 percent, including an astounding 15-27 from behind the 3-point line. They also finished with 30 rebounds and 22 assists on just 33 made shots from the floor.

In addition to Courneya’s solid night, Brynn Larson scored 16 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists and seven steals, while Jayden Sonnenberg scored 14 points to go along with five rebounds, four steals and four assists.

Leslie Moore scored seven points, Analise Olson scored six, Ellie Trieglaff scored five, while the pair of Ruby Eckert and Aynslee Johannsen rounded out the scoring with three points apiece. 

Frazee vs. Warroad

POINTS: Jayden Sonnenberg 14, Brynn Larson 16, Analise Olson 6, Leslie Moore 7, Ellie Trieglaff 5, Katie Courneya 33, Ruby Eckert 3, Aynslee Johannsen 3

ASSISTS: Jayden Sonnenberg 4, Brynn Larson 7, Analise Olson 1, Ellie Trieglaff 2, Katie Courneya 4, Ruby Eckert 4

REBOUNDS: Jayden Sonnenberg 5, Brynn Larson 6, Analise Olson 3, Leslie Moore 1, Ellie Trieglaff 4, Katie Courneya 3, Ruby Eckert 5, Aynslee Johannsen 1, Caleigh Pausch 1, Harlee Stock 1

STEALS: Jayden Sonnenberg 4, Brynn Larson 7, Analise Olson 1, Katie Courneya 3, Ruby Eckert 1, Aynslee Johannsen 1

BLOCKS: 

Saturday

Just 2 1/2 weeks after falling to sixth seeded East Grand Forks by a score of 71-65, Frazee was able to get the best of the Green Wave and advance to the Section 8AA semi-finals with a 77-68 win on Saturday night. 

The win will set up a third match up between eighth ranked and second seeded Perham and the Hornets on Tuesday night at Concordia College in Moorhead for the right to advance to the section finals. The two teams split their regular season contests with Frazee picking up a win by a score of 80-74 in their most recent contest on Friday, Feb. 6. 

“The support and energy we had for the game filled the entire team with excitement, energy, hope and held the team with so much pride to feed them to another victory against a tough EGF team,” said head coach Trey Hensius. “Once again, this team was led by its senior group who controlled the game since the tip. This team is play some of the most amazing basketball it is just something everyone should watch one time. The excellent shooting, the aggressive defense, the unselfish passing, and the energy and fun they bring makes it impossible to stop watching.”

Frazee had a solid night from the field as they shot just under 53 percent from the floor and had 23 assists on 28 made shots. They also did their part at the free throw line down the stretch as the Hornets went 13-17 from the charity stripe. 

Brynn Larson went 13-18 from the floor and finished with 27 points to go along with five rebounds. Jayden Sonnenberg recorded a double-double with 22 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, while Leslie Moore also reached double figures with 10 points. Ellie Trieglaff scored nine points, Katie Courneya scored six and Analise Olson rounded out the scoring with three points. 

Hensius thanked the community who showed up in such a big way during the opening two rounds of the section tournament at home. 

“As a coach I want to thank everyone in the community who comes out and supports this team along with the help they all have done for these girls goes beyond recognition,” said Hensius. “We as a team are on a mission with one goal in mind, nothing is going to get in our way and we are ready for this next challenge ahead.”

Frazee vs. East Grand Forks

POINTS: Jayden Sonnenberg 22, Brynn Larson 27, Analise Olson 3, Leslie Moore 10, Ellie Trieglaff 9, Katie Courneya 6

ASSISTS: Jayen Sonnenberg 7, Brynn Larson 3, Analise Olson 1, Leslie Moore 5, Ellie Trieglaff 4, Katie Courneya 3

REBOUNDS: Jayden Sonnenberg 15, Brynn Larson 5, Analise Olson 5, Leslie Moore 1, Ellie Trieglaff 1, Katie Courneya 4, Ruby Eckert 2

STEALS: Jayden Sonnenberg 3, Brynn Larson 1, Ellie Trieglaff 2, Katie Courneya 5

BLOCKS: Ellie Trieglaff 1, Ruby Eckert 1