St. Croix Lutheran has been close in recent seasons, but the squad has fallen just short of the state tournament. With a talented and experienced team, head coach David Mielke hopes this is the year they get over the hump.

To do it, Mielke has set up a schedule to make sure his team is battle tested – a strategy that will certainly be in effect Tuesday night when St. Croix Luterhan moves up in class to play Eden Prairie.

“We are an experienced team,” said Mielke. "Four of our five starters have been together (on varsity) for two or three years. ... We can score with a lot of teams. Last game we hit eleven threes, (senior guard) Kayla Hulsebus hit nine last game. We like to push the ball."

Hulsebus obviously can hit the outside shot, but she has been much more to the Crusaders.

“She is humble and is one of the calmest coolest athletes I have known,” Mielke said. “She wouldn’t say it, but she wants to perform well – there is no doubt about it.”

To compete against Eden Prairie, or the top teams in the Tri-Metro like De La Salle St. Anthony Village or Minnehaha Academy, the Crusaders will need continued tough play from the rest of the lineup as well. Erin Schmelling, who despite being the smallest player on the team, is the second leading rebounder. Jayln Britton is one of the team’s best all-around players and Jordan Wehrenberg is capable of putting up 20 points and/or 10 rebounds in a given game.

“We are realistic and (Eden Prairie) is a great team, but I want our girls to play hard and let it fall where it is going to fall. It will be a good measuring stick," Mielke said.