Eastview senior forward Samantha Trammel didn’t play a single minute for the Lightning during their run to the Class 4A state title last year, but she was a key to the team’s success.

Trammel was ineligible to play at the varsity level for year per Minnesota State High School League rules after she transferring from Eden Prairie. However, Trammel could practice and Eastview benefitted from her participation.

“When you’re competing against her every day, there’s not going to be somebody tougher that you’re going to go against when you have her in practice every day,” Lightning coach Melissa Guebert said. 

Now eligible, Trammel provides an already loaded Lightning team with an additional in-game weapon and proved it with her performance against her former team on Tuesday.

Trammel overcame first-half foul trouble to finish with 24 points and eight rebounds in Eastview’s 79-47 home victory over Eden Prairie.

Trammel was limited to just six points in the first half, but responded with 18 in the second despite the foul concerns. 

Guebert said Trammel did a great job of maintaining her poise while playing in the second half.

"That’s not always easy when you get in foul trouble,” Guebert said. 

Trammel is not only mentally tough, but also physically strong.

She gives the Lightning a dominant presence down low, something Eastview was lacking last season, senior guard Madison Guebert said.

“To really have a definite post was something (we needed) to add and she really brought that,” Guebert said. 

Trammel averaged 13.8 points per game and was the leading scorer with 334 points as a sophomore for the Eagles, and she’s continued her scoring propensity as a member of the Lightning. The Michigan-bound forward is averaging 17.7 points per game and is the team’s second-leading scorer (53 points) behind Guebert, who has 64 points (21.3 ppg). 

Trammel and Guebert give the Lighting a more formidable inside-outside combination than the team had when it won the state title. Eastview also is beginning the season with stronger team bonds, another advantage it has over last year’s squad, and it’s one Trammel said could be a factor in the Lightning’s quest for a second state championship. 

“Last year, it took all season to get this team’s chemistry (set), and we did really well,” she said. “We have good chemistry from the get-go (this season).”

Senior guard Madison Guebert finished with 29 points and five rebounds to lead Eastview past Eden Prairie 79-47 at Eastview High School on Tuesday night. The game was a rematch of last year’s Class 4A state semifinals clash also won by the Lightning on their way to wrapping up a state championship.

Senior forward Sam Trammel, a transfer from Eden Prairie, overcame first-half foul trouble to score 18 of her 24 points in the second half. Sophomore guard Rachel Ranke had 10 points for Eastview, ranked No. 1 in the Class 4A poll provided by Minnesota Basketball News.  

Senior forward Emma Boehm scored 15 points to lead the Eagles, No. 6-4A.

Eastview (3-0) tries to extend its winning streak when it travels to Hopkins to battle the Royals in the Tip-Off Classic on Saturday. Eden Prairie (0-1) hosts Burnsville on Thursday.   

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