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The 2022-2023 girls’ basketball season was one for the record books at Perham as the Yellowjackets won the Section 8AA championship, claimed their second consecutive Heart O’ Lakes Conference title, went undefeated in conference play and qualified for just the second state tournament in team history (1991). Their 27 wins set a school record for most wins in a year and their 262 made 3’s as a team is the ninth highest total in Minnesota Girls Basketball history. That’s a tough act to follow, but with 3 returning starters and several returning letter winners, Head Coach T.J. Super, now in his 17th season, has reason to be optimistic.
Losing All-Conference players Mya Morris, Olivia Pilgrim and Oliva Rosenthal (Honorable Mention), along with Lily Aakre has created some holes.
The Yellowjackets will be led by returning starters Willow Thiel (SR, Post, All-State, HOL MVP) and Kennedy Pilgrim (SR, Forward, All-Conference Honorable Mention). Kaia Anderson (SO, Guard, All-Conference Honorable Mention), Cora Grismer (JR, Guard), Ryleigh Mickelson (SR, Guard), Cate Diggins (JR, Post), Greta Raser (JR, Forward) and Kaia Starzl (SR, Guard) will be in the varsity mix.
“We have a lot of expectations this year,” noted Coach Super. “We graduated some great seniors, but we played 10 girls last year and will look to fill those losses with really good players. Some of our younger girls are ready to take that next step and consistency will be a key. Willow Thiel is the best, most dominant player in the section. She’s the focal point of every opponent and how we play around her is very important. We also graduated a lot of 3-point shooting so hopefully girls have put in the shots so we can continue to have that as one of our strengths. Overall, if we defend like we can and win the rebounding battle, we’ll be a tough team to beat. If we don’t do those things, in our section, there are a lot of teams that could beat us on any given night.”
Michelle Borman (JV) and Robbie Cox (C Team) will assist Super.
Super says Pelican Rapids, Thief River Falls, Wadena-Deer Creek, Menahga, Barnesville and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton will be the main challengers to the Yellowjackets in Section 8AA. Perham is the favorite in the HOL, however, Super says, “Pelican Rapids will be tough, but every team will be good in some areas. There are no weak teams in the conference this year!”