Browerville, Perham, Ashby and North Woods Ranked
Four Minnesota High School basketball teams, who Midwest Elite Basketball (MEB) has worked with in the past years, are currently state ranked. The Browerville Boys Basketball team (8-0) is ranked #5 in Class 1A, the Perham Boys Basketball team (8-1) is ranked #5 in Class 2A, the Ashby Boys Basketball team (7-0) is ranked #6 in Class 1A and the North Woods Girls Basketball team (8-0) is ranked #8 in Class 1A.
“We follow each and every program we work with during the summer,†Midwest Elite Basketball Co-Owner Craig Doty said. “It feels good to be able to make a positive impact on athletes during the off-season and watch them succeed and earn state recognition during the season.â€
The Prior Lake Boys Basketball team, who MEB also worked with this past summer, was ranked #10 in Class 4A in the December 7th Poll. MEB has also seen Prior Lake 7-footer Carson Shanks commit to NCAA Division 1 Utah State.
“A majority of our camp market consists of average to smaller enrollment schools, however, we have tapped into the large school market as well and have worked with NCAA Division 1 commits and signees such as Carson (Shanks) and Alec Brown from Winona High School who is currently a star for UW-Green Bay,†MEB Co-Owner Brad Schmit said.
The Browerville Boys Basketball program and Head Coach Bob Schueller brought in MEB in 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011. The Tigers have had great success over the past two seasons. Coach Schueller’s program went 21-5 during the 2010-2011 season and they are currently enjoying their best start in over a decade with an 8-0 record.
Eli Starzl, Assistant Coach at University of Minnesota Morris, directed an MEB camp in Browerville. “Coach Schueller does an outstanding job with his program,†Starzl stated. “The Browerville athletes were a disciplined and hard working group of young men. I have enjoyed following their scores this season and hope they can continue their success.â€
Bryce Tesdahl, a senior team captain and the all-time assists leader at Bemidji State University, worked alongside Coach Starzl at the Browerville camp. “Each and every hour of camp we saw improvement in the Browerville athletes. This doesn’t happen without focus and a willingness to be coached. Credit the athletes, Coach Schueller, his assistants, and the parents of each athlete for putting these young men in a position to succeed on and off the court,†Tesdahl stated.
After winning a 2A State Championship last season, the Perham Boy’s Basketball team continues to prove they are among the elite in the state as they have been ranked as high as #1 in Class 2A and currently rank in at #5. Led by Max Preps 2011 National Coach of the Year Dave Cresap, the Yellow Jackets brought in MEB to work with their athletes in the summer of 2008.
“When Coach Cresap gave us a call to work with his squad at Perham we were very excited,†Doty said. “We had worked with many surrounding programs such as West Central, Frazee, Wadena-Deer Creek, and Barnesville. Each of these programs talked with immense respect about the Perham program. It was great to work with many of Perham’s younger athletes and then see them win a State Championship 3 years later. It isn’t an accident that Coach Cresap was National Coach of the Year; he teaches defense, toughness, preparation, and he is a winner.â€
The Ashby Boys Basketball program brought in Midwest Elite Basketball in the summer of 2008 as well and has seen continued growth and success. Ashby’s progression has moved the squad from 6-18, to 10-14, to 16-9 last year, to a 8-0 start and a #6 ranking in Minnesota Class 1A this season.
Joe Reagan, current Assistant Coach at Nationally-Ranked Odessa College in Texas, directed the Ashby camp in 2008.
“This was a unique camp as it consisted primarily of younger athletes including multiple incoming 8th graders. The young athletes were very hungry, they loved the game, and you could tell that the squad had a bright future. I am very happy to see their success this season,†Reagan stated.
The North Woods Girls Basketball team is off to another outstanding start under the tutelage of Coach Ashley Zupancich with an 8-0 record and a #8 ranking in Class 1A. Midwest Elite Basketball has worked with both the girls and boys programs at North Woods High School each of the past 2 years.
2010 MEB Director of the Year and current Assistant Women’s Coach at University of Concordia-Texas, Brandon Rohr, was director of a North Woods girl’s camp. “Coach Zupancich’s squad was a pleasure to work with. In all of the MEB camps I direct I focus on teaching the importance of player development as well as team unity, family, communication, and leadership; the North Woods athletes have the total package. What a great community of student-athletes,†Rohr stated.