Minneota started out the year winning its first three games and six of its first eight.

The Vikings put together several highlights this season ahead into the postseason, closing the regular season with momentum by winning five of its last six games.

Particularly, the fewest amount of points Minneota allowed was just 7 against Ortonville on Jan. 8 in a 71-7 win. Their highest scoring output was 86 points on Feb. 5, defeating Yellow Medicine East 86-50.

Despite some close losses, the Vikings fought competitively with some of the area’s toughest opponents like Class 2A Pipestone on Jan. 6, coming up short by just 4 points, or hanging within reach of reigning 3A champion and Class A state runner-up MACCRAY 53-47 on Jan. 5.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Minneota senior Sarah Gruenes facilitates the offense against Central Minnesota Christian in the Section 3A North subsection semifinals in Montevideo on Feb. 21 in Montevideo.

Minneota also went on a stretch in the latter half of the regular season where it won nine of 10 games, including five in a row.

The Vikings season ultimately came to an end in the Section 3A North subsection semifinals in a competitive and down-to-the-wire 52-49 battle with Central Minnesota Christian. CMC went on to become the section champions and earn a spot in the state tournament.

Minneota overcame an 8-point deficit earlier in the second half of the matchup, and came within a 50-49 deficit on the brink of an upset with 4.7 seconds remaining after an Autum Anderson 3-pointer and deep-2 from Ava Rost. Rost’s shot was originally ruled a tying 3, but was overturned to a 2 after discussion from the officlas

The Vikings intentionally fouled CMC out of a timeout, and the bluejays made both free throws to clinch the win.

Following the game, Minneota’s lone senior Sarah Gruenes reflected on her journey in leading the team as the only upperclassmen and detailed that this year’s squad had a lot to be proud of.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Minneota's Brynn Rost makes a pass against Canby in the Section 3A North subsection quarterfinals in Montevideo on Feb. 21 in Montevideo.

“I am really proud of our growth. Like, look at the first time we played CMCS, we lost by like 40 [71-31 on Jan. 12],” Gruenes said. “But now, we lost by one [posession]. It’s crazy to see our growth, and just coming in confidently.”

Minneota got to see its depth grow over the season, especially with the absence of Anderson for about a month due to a hand injury. Anderson, a sophomore, is the Vikings’ starting point guard.

“Obviously, having Autum [Anderson] go down with an injury, we’re going to have a lot of girls getting some more minutes and maybe points in games to get some experience in those big games with big moments,” Panka said following a 63-30 win over Redwood Valley on Jan. 2. “Hopefully, they take it and run with it, because when we get Autum back later, we’ll just have that much more depth because of it … We’re going to work on that depth, and do the best we can with who we got.”

Jaylyn Coequyt had another shining season, and led Minneota with 17.8 points per game and 9.6 rebounds, four being offensive boards on average, along with 2.2 steals and 0.6 blocks a game. She also led the team in 43% field-goal shooting.

Minneota also had a handful of strong perimeter shooters, including Anderson, Ava and Brynn Rost and Gruenes.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Minneota's Leah Coequyt (left) reaches for the ball on defense against Central Minnesota Christian in the Section 3A North subsection semifinals in Montevideo on Feb. 21 in Montevideo.

Autum followed Coequyt with averaging 10.8 points and a team-high 3.1 assists and 2.6 steals.

With just Gruenes being this year’s senior, Minneota will return most of its talent come next season.

“I kind of feel like the mom of the group, I kind of feel my age once in a while,” Gruenes said following the season. “But, it is cool to see all the younger girls fill into their roles. I am excited to see what they are going to do, because I am the only senior, so they are going to have all that experience coming back.”