Taylor Koenen is more than a scorer for Shakopee. The senior is a solid defender, often drawing the assignment of shutting down the opponent's top player.

Such was the case on Tuesday as Koenen scored a game-high 26 points while limiting Eastview star Rachel Ranke to just 12 points in the Sabers' 73-65 road victory in a South Suburban Conference showdown with the Lightning. 

With the win, Shakopee (14-0, 7-0) took sole possession of first place in the ultra-competitive league, which has four teams ranked in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News. The No. 4-4A Lightning (13-2, 6-1), meanwhile, dropped into second place in the standings and trail the No. 2-4A Sabers by one game. 

Koenen’s ability to limit Ranke, a Kansas State commit, to five points in the second half made the difference Tuesday night. 

“(Koenen) wants that challenge, and she always rises to the occasion,” Shakopee coach Juan Mitchell said. “She is a smart basketball player and a gamer. She likes to compete, no matter what.” 

Koenen, a North Carolina commit, used her knowledge to strategically stop Ranke.

“I denied her the ball a lot, had to be physical with her, and I needed to arrive on the catch and make her put the ball on the floor,” Koenen said. 

It was a job made easier after Ranke got in foul trouble while attempting to defend Koenen in the first half.

The Eastview offense, however, continued to click without its leading scorer thanks to Allie Pickrain’s three three-pointers, which helped the Lightning maintain a lead for most of the half.

Pickrain, who entered the game sixth in the state with 38 made three-pointers, scored 13 of her 19 points in the opening half. 

“We know they are a great shooting team,” Mitchell said. “We tried to put pressure on them and make them dribble. We would rather have them score on twos rather than threes.” 

After struggling to follow that plan in the game's first 18 minutes, the Sabers locked down the Lightning shooters in the second half, where they gave up just three three-pointers. 

The game remained close, however, and the teams flip-flopped the lead until Shakopee asserted itself with about four minutes remaining. The Sabers carved out a small cushion and carried it to the victory.

Several players stepped up to help Koenen and Ranke shoulder the scoring load.

Caleigh Rodning finished with 19 points while Mateya Hutton had 18 for Shakopee.

Eastview's Megan Walstad scored 16 points and Emma Sinn chipped in 12

Lightning coach Molly Kasper said scoring depth is one of Eastview’s biggest strengths, but it wasn't enough to overcome the team's defense deficiencies that allowed three Sabers to score in double figures.

“I think that is the first time all year that we’ve allowed that defensively," she said.  

Kasper also credited Shakopee's late-game offensive performance for the win.

“That was the difference in the game," she said. "Four minutes to go and it came down to which team finished at the rim and with free throws, and they executed.”

Execution is something Koenen succeeds at, whether it is leading the Sabers in scoring or shutting down the opposition’s top player.

“She is that good,” Mitchell said. 


Despite the loss Tuesday night, Eastview coach Molly Kasper has her team playing well heading into the final stretch of her first season. Photo by Korey McDermott

First Report

Taylor Koenen scored a game-high 26 points to lead Shakopee past Eastview 73-65 in a South Suburban Conference showdown at Eastview High School on Tuesday. 

Caleigh Rodning finished with 19 points and Mateya Hutton added 18 for the Sabers (14-0), ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News.

With the victory, Shakopee now sits alone atop the league standings with a 7-0 record more than halfway into the regular season. The No. 4-4A Lightning (13-2, 6-1) drop into second place, one game behind. 

Eastview held the lead for most of the first half but never by more than six points as the Lightning and Sabers played the type of close game one would expect from two highly ranked teams.

But with 10 late points from Koenen, Shakopee took the lead with 2:02 remaining and went to the locker room ahead 40-34. 

The second half was nip and tuck until the Sabers grabbed control with less than four minutes remaining and never relinquished the lead.

Allie Pickrain led Eastview with 19 points. Megan Walstad had 16 points and Rachel Ranke and Emma Sinn each scored 12 for the Lightning.

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