All-city basketball selections were winning bunch

Chad Courrier, The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.
·2 min read

May 6—MANKATO — Mankato West made its first appearance at the boys basketball state tournament since 2009, but the four Mankato boys and four girls high-school teams combined for 91 victories and a 64.5 winning percentage in this pandemic-shortened season.

Sixteen players from Mankato were named to the all-city team, which was honored at a banquet Wednesday at the Loose Moose.

West senior Mason Ellwein received All-Big Nine Conference honors, averaging 14.6 points and shooting 50% from the field. He also averaged 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals.

West junior Mekhi Collins, another all-conference selection, led the team with 163 rebounds, including 78 on the offensive end, in 21 games. He averaged 16.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals, while shooting 58.7% from the field.

Buom Jock, a junior at West, was named to the all-conference team after averaging 15.3 points and 7.1 rebounds. He led the team with 34 3-pointers and shot 55.3% from the field. He had a team-high 14 blocked shots.

East junior B.J. Omot averaged 21 points, the second-highest season average in program history, with two games of 27 points. He also averaged 8.5 rebounds, with a high game of 18. Omot led the team with 3.1 assists and shot 54% from the field, including 40.4% from 3-point range, earning his second all-conference honor.

East junior Puolrah Gong averaged 14.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, shooting 51.5% from the field to earn all-conference honors. He had 26 points and 10 rebounds in a game against Red Wing.

Loyola sophomore Simon Morgan averaged 14 points and 11.5 rebounds, while shooting 49% from the field. He also averaged 3 assists and 2 steals.

Sophomore Lawson Godfrey was Loyola's leading scorer at 16 points per game, and he also chipped in 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game. He shot 55% from the field, including 43% on 3-pointers.

Immanuel Lutheran senior Austin Hanel averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists this season, shooting 41% on 3-pointers. He holds the program single-game record with 10 3-pointers. Hanel finished his career with 1,444 points, which ranks fourth at Immanuel Lutheran.