Lakeview finished the year 21-8 overall, which was the Lakers’ first season with 20 wins since the 2019-2020 season where they were subsection runners-up to Minneota and went 20-8 overall.

A large part of Lakeview’s success was credited to its depth and strong group of seniors coming with experience.

“It means a lot. It shows the work we put in, and just shows how much passion we have for it [the game], and just the bond we have,” senior Brook Gunlogson said regarding the upperclassmen’s role in Lakeview’s successful season.

Particularly with the seniors, Anah Schmidt was a double-double machine and led the rebounding front along with being a constant force in the paint for the Lakers on the offensive end.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Lakeview's Jovie Benson goes in for a layup against Westbrook-Walnut Grove on Feb. 2 at Lakeview High School in Cottonwood.

Brynn Stensrud was a consistent sharp shooter, as head coach Mike Imes credited during the season that she could get them a bucket when needed most.

Gunlogson helped lead the Lakers’ facilitating along with her speed, and the Lakers also played deep into their bench oftentimes to keep legs fresh to out-pace opponents.

“I’m proud of the younger girls — It didn’t matter how old they are. They just knew they had to do their part and just play their game, and most of the time, they weren’t even nervous,” Stensrud said. “They trusted each other. We all trusted each other.”

Schmidt, Stensrud and Gunlogson led Lakeview offensively this season with 15.1, 16.8 and 8.4 points per game on average. Schmidt also averaged 12.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, while Gunglogson averaged 2.5 steals a night. Stensrud was named a Class A All-State honorable mention by the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association.

Lakeview originally started out the season winning seven of its first eight games after dropping its season opener.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Lakeview's Brynn Stensrud begins to drive toward the basket against MACCRAY in the Section 3A North subsection semifinals on Feb. 24 in Montevideo.

The season came to an end for Lakeview in the Section 3A North subsection semifinals in a 69-30 loss to MACCRAY, the defending section champions and state runner-up. The Lakers, however, did get a win over the Wolverines in thrilling fashion during the regular season on Jan. 15 at home, 60-52.

“It takes a lot of extra work, good leadership and just great individuals. When you leave the locker, the stuff you miss the most is just being around them. I said I love them. It’s different when you just don’t see them anymore, but I said you’re going to go on to do great things with your life,” Imes said regarding what he told the players and seniors following the season-ending loss. “You develop a special bond with these kids, and it stinks for quite a while, but it’s just part of the game … [You] tell them that you’re always there for them.”

Lakeview claimed this year’s Camden Conference South Division championship, and went on to become Camden Conference runners-up to Central Minnesota Christian, who won this season’s section and a state tournament berth.

When Lakeview’s season came to an end, the accomplishment Imes said he is most proud of is that the team never lost back-to-back games the entire season, showing resiliency.

“We started out the year with some big goals. Obviously, one was to win the Camden South [Conference Division]. We accomplished that,” Imes said. “This year, we tied the school record for points, we were one short of tying the school record for wins in a season. It’s a lot of cool stuff. The one thing I’m really proud of them is we never lost back-to-back games this entire season. We always found a way to bounce back from a loss.”

Photo by Samantha Davis: Lakeview's Brook Gunlogson goes in for a layup against Central Minnesota Christian on Jan. 23 at Lakeview High School in Cottonwood.

Lakeview graduates seniors Stensrud, Schmidt, Gunlogson, Jovie Benson, Kiannalee Olson, Aubrey Nething and Teegan Fiene. Despite graduating its core of seniors, the Lakers will return a big group of young experience that have gotten varsity exposure.

“That’s the one thing that I’m looking forward to. You know, when you graduate that many seniors, it’s usually devastating to your program,” Imes said. Five last year now, seven this year, there’s 12 kids that are leaving our program. But, I look at the talent that’s there and coming back, and I’m pretty excited.”