Coach reflects on season and career

Longevity in any career is admired. In sports longevity is a rather rare attribute.  Imagine then two Blooming Prairie senior girls who have not only fashioned a remarkable 105 game career, but have done it without missing even one contest. 
Taylor Hagen and Madison Worke have accomplished that amazing statistic, having been starters on the basketball team all four years of high school.
Coach John Worke recognized this feat, as well as other fine performances at the annual awards program held Sunday, March 15, at the local high school. The careers of the two dominating performances earned them Co-MVP honors for the 2015 basketball season.  
As Worke commented, “We were hoping that this year would be the one to take us to state, but it just wasn’t to be. However, we captured the conference for the first time since 2008, by running through the league undefeated, and the team compiled the third best season in school history with the 22-4 overall record. Not too shabby.”
Thirteen girls earned their Blossoms letters this past season, Hagen, Worke, Kalyn Naatz, and Kaci Gwilt all  earned All-Conference honors and Hannah Ahrens received an Honorable Mention All-Conference. Eight members of the team made the All-Conference academic team, and Tessa Ivers, Macaela Jensen, Hagen and Worke also made the Academic All-State team.  Gwilt, Hagen and Worke all were named to the KRFO Team of the Week, and Gwilt earned Most Improved Player.
For the season, Hagen led all scorers with 425 points, followed by Worke at 396.  Gwilt and Naatz had 149 and 142 respectively. Hagen pulled down 244 rebounds, Hannah Ahrens had 105 and Naatz and Nicole Inwards had 100 each. Hagen set a new block record with 77 and Worke totaled 112 steals and 100 assists. Hagen and Gwilt added 68 and 53 steals, respectively.
Hagen and Worke set several season and career marks. Hagen’s 425 points rank first in the records, and Worke is third with 396. Worke set a single season mark with 112 steals, ranked second in free throw percentage at 81.4, and third in assist ast 100. Hagen also ranked second in season rebounds.
Hagen set a new record in scoring with 1,551 points, and Worke ranks second with 1,217 points. Worke set a new assist record with 300 total and steal record with 288. Hagen now leads the rebounders with 914 boards.   
In his final remarks to the team, Coach Worke responded, “I want to thank you all for your commitment and dedication to the basketball program. I have coached now for 22 years, and I have been involved with this group for nearly half of that time. I appreciate that you have stuck with program and for the accomplishments of the team. Thanks.” 
One last honor came to the two senior leaders when the girls were two of the team’s area seniors chosen to participate in the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Class A All-Star game on April 10-11.  More details on that contest later.