The Randolph girls basketball team closed their season with a 13-14 overall record throughout the year. This year was different than past years because it marked the first year of the two year co-op between Randolph and Cannon Falls. The girls fought challenges as there were many new people playing together, but they quickly found their rhythm throughout the season. Strong chemistry was built between the team on and off the court.
The head coach for the Rockets is Mackenna Otte. When asked about how adjusting to the co-op with Cannon Falls was, Coach Otte shared that it was very smooth, or in her words, “too good to be true.” She explained that most girls became so close after just a short period of time. The group formed from two schools quickly became one bonded team. Coach Otte added that this made the adjustment a whole lot easier for them.
The girls created team goals at the beginning of the season. Coach Otte noted some of these goals were to have a .500 record at the end of the season, lowering turnovers, and improve the amount of rebounds per game. The Rockets reached numerous of these goals throughout the season. When Coach Otte was asked about the biggest goal she feels the team reached, she responded “They began playing as a full unit.” The girls have learned how to trust each other, and that was evident as they played on the court.
Coach Otte also shares how much she enjoys coaching girls basketball. When asked why she enjoys it so much, she responds, “you get the athletes who like to work hard and get better.” Basketball is definitely a sport that challenges athletes physically and mentally. Coach Otte adds that it takes athletes who like to compete and work hard especially during the long winter months. Lastly, Coach Otte states “basketball feels (at least in our [Randolph Rockets] program) like more of a full team sport.” The girls on the team truly play for their teammates and supporters, not just themselves, which is super important for a team sport.
One of the new players who came from Cannon Falls is junior Livia Tennessen. When asked how she feels the season went, Tennessen responds, “I felt the season went pretty good and I enjoyed playing different players.” In past years, Tennessen has played in the Hiawatha Valley League (HVL), but since Randolph is in the Minnesota River Conference/Gopher Conference, she has experienced playing against new teams and players. She added that her favorite part of the season was making more friends and becoming close with many new people.
The first year of the Randolph and Cannon Falls co-op definitely forced players to fight through challenges, but it proved that the team will come out stronger than ever next year. The most important part of the season was the new friendships made and teamwork developed that pushed them to meet most of their goals. As they head into off-season, the team will continue to build chemistry and improve skills. They hope to have a strong run next year!
