Levelyn Katzenberger of Crosby-Ironton found herself in possession of the ball after a steal Tuesday. She started a fast break, eventually putting the ball into Tori Oehrlein's hands.
Oehrlein looked up, saw she had the angle and, with a right hook, rolled the ball off the backboard and into the hoop. A crowd of maroon and white erupted in applause while officials stopped play not even two minutes into the game.
Oehrlein had become the first Minnesota girls basketball player to reach 3,000 career points as a sophomore, and it was time for the crowd at Providence Academy, many of whom had driven 115 miles to Plymouth to see that basket, to acknowledge her success. Oehrlein began the game with 2,999 points.
With a smile on her face, Oehrlein ran to her family sitting courtside holding posters and balloons and joined them for a photo.
"I couldn't do it without my family and the community," Oehrlein said. "When we have this big of a crowd come to the game, it's awesome."
Providence Academy guard Maddyn Greenway walked over to hug Oehrlein during the celebration. Greenway and Oehrlein are linked as high-scoring sophomores; their scoring totals have been neck and neck since they began playing varsity basketball in seventh grade. Greenway reached 2,000 points two days ahead of Oehrlein last season by scoring 60 points against Minnehaha Academy.
It's not a competition, Providence Academy coach Conner Goetz said.
"People like to make it out to be 'Tori versus Maddyn' or 'Maddyn versus Tori,' but it's just two kids running their own race," he said.
Before this season, the youngest players in state history to reach 3,000 points were juniors Rebekeh Dahlman of Braham in 2011 and Addison Mack of Minnehaha Academy. Mack reached the milestone on Dec. 29, when she scored 31 points in the Redhawks' 70-46 victory over Hill-Murray. Dahlman, who graduated in 2013, is the leading scorer in state history with 5,060 points.
Greenway scored 30 points in Providence Academy's 93-75 victory and is at 2,959 for her career. Providence Academy (17-3) is ranked first in Class 2A by Minnesota Basketball News, and Crosby-Ironton (15-5) is ranked sixth.
The matchup and the push for 3,000 made for a loud setting at Providence Academy.
"Crosby always brings the noise," Goetz said. "Everywhere we go, we tend to bring in good crowds, but they outdid us tonight."
Theo Franz is a Star Tribune intern on assignment from the University of Minnesota.
Fewest games to 3,000 points
101 games (sophomore): Tori Oehrlein, Crosby-Ironton, Class of 2026
112 games (senior): Kierah Kimbrough, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River, Class of 2005
116 games (senior): Megan Taylor, Roseau, Class of 1997; Madison Mathiowetz, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, Class of 2022
118 games (senior): Janet Karvonen, New York Mills, Class of 1980
