AMANDA KAUTZER

Benilde-St. Margaret's • Nordic skiing

She's skied in three previous state tournaments at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, but the senior's victory in the skate race at the reknown Mesabi East Invitational was perhaps the most important of her high school career. Skiing on a fast track thanks to a preceding boys' race, Kautzer covered the 5K course in a time of 16:40.1, more than 38 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

"It was fast but it wasn't icy," she said. "I'm very happy with my race."

Despite being one of the state's top Nordic skiers, Kautzer won't get the chance to compete for a state championship. She'll be spending late January and most of February in Europe. She's competing in the Youth/Junior World Championships in Cheile Gradistei, Romania, and the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. She qualified for the United States national team in the biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship, at the World Junior Trials in Anchorage in late December.

"It will be tough, but I'm beyond excited to go," she said. "Skiing is so big over there. They watch skiing [in Norway] like we watch football here."

GABBIE HUGHES

Centennial • hockey

The sophomore forward moved into a tie for the state lead in goals scored at 36 with hat tricks in consecutive victories over Champlin Park (7-3) and Irondale (6-3), and a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime victory over Anoka.

KAYLYN KIDD

Northfield • basketball

The Raiders bumped their winning streak to four consecutive games by defeating Rochester John Marshall 62-60 and Class 3A, No. 2 Winona 64-53. The junior wing scored a combined 55 points in the two games and totaled 16 rebounds, nine steals and six assists.

Paul Klauda, Star Tribune

STEFFAN MUSOKE

Rogers • basketball

The senior guard led the Royals to a 73-41 rout of arch-rival St. Michael-Albertville with 25 points, four steals and three rebounds. He followed with 31 points, five steals and five rebounds in an 82-69 road victory over Chisago Lakes.

DANIEL OTURU

Cretin-Derham Hall • basketball

The 6-foot-8 sophomore forward has been a rebounding force all season and showed as much in victories over Mounds View, Stillwater and St. Paul Johnson. He had double-doubles in each game, totaling 49 points and 57 rebounds, and adding 23 blocked shots.

ABI SCHEID

Elk River • basketball

It was a big week for the senior pos, who has committed to play at Northwestern. She scored 35 points in a 72-56 victory over Blaine, added 27 in a crucial 72-54 Northwest Suburban Conference victory over Centennial, and was nominated for the McDonald's All-America team.

JIMMY VOLLBRECHT

Jordan • basketball

Consecutive double-doubles in games against Minneapolis Henry (88-61 loss) and St. James (74-50 victory) set the stage for the 6-8 junior center. On Saturday he scored a team-record 47 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 76-67 victory over Southwest Christian

JIM PAULSEN

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