UNews - the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League

Horns bolstered by Kodiak recruits

trevor.kenney — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:02:17 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns head coach Mike Hansen has begun re-tooling the men's basketball roster with the signing of a pair of ACAC all-stars from the Lethbridge College Kodiaks.

Hansen announced the signing of southern Alberta products Rob Olsen and Jared Baker on Monday afternoon, wlecoming a pair of players whom Hansen previously coached at Lethbridge College during the 2009-2010 season. Olsen and Baker then embarked on their two year missions for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. This past fall, both returned to the Kodiaks program and did not miss a beat, finishing one-two in team scoring.

Both Olsen and Baker have also excelled in the classroom, with each being named CCAA Academic All-Canadians this past season.

Olsen, a 6'1" guard from Cardston, Alta., finished fifth in South Division scoring averaging just over 19 points per game and was named an ACAC first team all-star, while shooting 49.6% from the field and over 47% from behind the arc. He also added 6 rebounds per game and 2.39 assists.

Prior to joining the Kodiaks, Olsen starred for the Cardston Cougars and was named the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League MVP in his final season (2008-09).

"Rob is an incredible talent and an outstanding young man," says Hansen. "I believe Rob is the best player to come out of Cardston since his uncle and former high school coach Ken McMurray. Ken was an all-Canadian for the Horns and I'm confident that Rob will have the same success with us."

Hansen adds that Olsen is also very accomplished off the court and represents the ideal of the Canada West student-athlete.

"Rob represents everything we look for in a recruit, he was not only an all-star, but a CCAA Academic All-Canadian. He is a character kid and will be a great ambassador for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge."

A Raymond, Alta., product, Jared Baker was named an ACAC second-team all-star this past season and averaged 15 points per game for the Kodiaks, while adding just under 6 rebounds and 3.13 assists per contest.

In high school, Baker was a two sport athlete, winning provincial titles for the Raymond Comets in both football (2008) and Basketball (2009). He led the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League in scoring in grade 11 with 24.1 points per game and was named league MVP in 2007-08.

"I'm very excited to be coaching Jared again," says Hansen. "He is such an incredible competitor and is willing to do whatever is needed for a team to be successful.

"He has evolved from being a shooter to an all-around player. Jared has a high basketball IQ and the success he's experienced playing for Todd Heggie's Raymond teams shows in the way he carries himself. His CCAA Academic All-Canadian also demonstrates that Jared expects excellence for himself."

The men's basketball team will look to round out its 2013-14 recruiting class in the coming weeks.

Tollestrup to join Horns

trevor.kenney — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:05:40 +0000

The 2012 Southern Alberta High School Basketball League (SAHSBL) most valuable player is coming to play for the Pronghorns women's basketball program.

Jackie Tollestrup, last season's southern Alberta MVP, committed to the Horns and head coach Erin McAleenan earlier this week.

"We are thrilled that Jackie has decided to stay home and be a Pronghorn this fall," says McAleenan. "After having been a multi-sport athlete, I am really looking forward to the possibilities with her potential now that she has committed to focus on basketball."

"Jackie is a very hard working and talented basketball player. Her relentless energy and competitiveness on the court will definitely add a lot to our program."

Tollestrup, a 5'8" guard from Raymond, just completed a successful high school career with the Raymond Comets. She led the Comets to a perfect 14-0 record in the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League, and will be quite well acquainted with her new home at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the Comets won the 4A Zone championships on the 1^st Choice Savings Centre floor this past spring.

The Comets went on to claim the bronze medal at the Alberta Schools Association Athletics (ASAA) provincial championships by beating Spruce Grove Composite in the third place game. She was also part of the provincial bronze medal winning team in 2010.

During her senior season, Tollestrup led the SAHSBL league in scoring, averaging 20.7 points per game. She was also third in league scoring in grade 11, averaging more than 16 points per game.

The Pronghorn women's basketball team will open training camp Aug. 27 and tip-off the Canada West conference schedule Nov. 4 by hosting the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Winnipeg.

Another Taal is in the fold

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:14:32 +0000

Coming off their first playoff appearance in eight seasons, the Pronghorns women's basketball team and head coach Donna Branch announced the first recruit for the 2010-11 Canada West season.

Her name and family are no strangers to Pronghorns fans as Cassidy Taal is set to join the Horns next season, following in her sister Lauren's footsteps. Cassidy and Lauren are second generation Pronghorns, as her mother and family have a long history with Pronghorn Athletics. Lynette Taal (Lilja) suited up for the Pronghorns from 1978 – 1983, and was named a CWUAA All-Star twice and Pronghorn Female Athlete of the Year in 1983. She sits tied for 14th on the Pronghorn all-time scoring list with 602 points. Lynette also served as an assistant coach with the Horns from 1990-99 and has recently returned to assist Branch.

The Lilja family was inducted into the Pronghorn Hall of Fame in 2002. Jack Lilja Sr., Cassidy's grandfather, coached the Horns Women's Basketball team for four seasons in the 1970s. Lynette's sisters both preceded her with the women's basketball team, Lorell playing 1973-77 and Leslie from 1974 through 1979, while brother Jack Jr. played both basketball and soccer for the Pronghorns.

Coming off a severe knee injury, Cassidy captained her LCI team this past season with the Clippers finishing third in the 4A South Zones, defeating Medicine Hat in the third place game and entering the provincial tournament ranked 10th. The five-foot-10 inch forward averaged 12.1 points per game during the Clippers' 12-4 season in the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League.

For more on the Pronghorns and their latest recruit, check out the Horns website.

UNews - the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League

Horns bolstered by Kodiak recruits

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