BOYS BASKETBALL
The 2025-26 Minneota boys' basketball team. Front row, left to right: Leo Hennen, Easton Johnston.
The 2025-26 Minneota boys' basketball team. Front row, left to right: Leo Hennen, Easton Johnston.
In a physical confrontation, as evidenced by 45 foul calls, Lakeview handed Minneota its first loss of the season with a 75-67 victory Friday night in Cottonwood.
Mason Javers and Cael Fier won individual titles and Minneota captured the team title at the Delano Invitational on Saturday.
Neil Kuehl scored 22 points to lead four players in double figures as Westbrook-Walnut Grove topped Minneota 77-58 in the second day of the Candy Cane Classic Saturday in Westbrook.
After falling behind 9-0 to start the game, Minneota reeled off 23 straight points and went on to rout Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 66-34 Monday night in Tyler.
Minneota put on a good showing Friday in its season opener with five individual champions en route to winning the team title of the Morris Area/Hancock/Chokio-Alberta Dr.
After finishing one win from a berth in the state tournament last year, Minneota is geared up for another run to the Big Show with the majority of its lineup returning.
Minneota is looking to improve its scoring output from a season ago, but lost its top two scorers and will need the five returning letterwinners or some of the newcomers to put points on the board
Minneota garnered several honors in the South All-District White Division.
Al Panka, now in his fourth year as head coach of the Minneota girls' basketball team, returns six letterwinners from a team that went 17-12 a season ago.