Athletes of the week

KATIE LOBERG

Princeton, basketball

A couple of weeks ago, Princeton coach Matt Stueber pulled Loberg aside and told the 6-4 junior center that the team needed a little more from her.

Loberg, who verbally committed to Minnesota last summer, was averaging 20 points, 13 rebounds and nearly four blocked shots per game at the time.

"It seems strange, but I told her we needed her to step up even more," Stueber said. "And she never said a word. She just took it as a challenge and went out to improve her game."

She did, and her stats from last week bear witness.

Loberg scored a school-record 48 points and added 14 rebounds and four blocked shots in a victory over Zimmerman and had a triple-double -- 27 points, 22 rebounds and 12 blocks -- in a victory over Cambridge-Isanti.

"Whatever the coach wants me to do, that's what I'll do," said Loberg, who spent Sunday watching her future team beat Michigan State at Williams Arena. "... It's all about getting better as a player and helping the team."

JOSH BIRKHOLZ

Blake, hockey

The junior forward has been the Bears' most consistent scorer all season, leading them with 23 goals and 43 points. He was at his best last week, scoring two goals in each game in victories over Woodbury, the Saints co-op and St. Paul Academy/Mounds Park Academy, and adding four assists.

SARAH BAKER

Roseville, gymnastics

The senior has set personal bests in the all-around in each of her past two meets. Saturday, she took home top honors at the Park Invitational at 38.85 points, the second-best score in the state so far this season.

JORDAIR JETT

St. Bernard's, basketball

The fleet junior guard was dominant in three victories last week, averaging 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists. His signature game came Saturday when he posted a triple-double -- 25 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists -- in a 91-60 victory over St. Paul Arlington.

TEMPESTT WILSON

Elk River, basketball

The junior guard scored 20 of her 29 points, including the 1,000th point of her career, in the second half of the Elks' 74-50 victory over Coon Rapids on Friday. Three days earlier, she scored 18 points in a victory over Park Center.

JOEY MUNOS

South St. Paul, wrestling

The 103-pound eighth-grader won all three of his matches last week, including back-to-back victories over top-10 opponents. Munos has won 11 matches in a row and is ranked No. 6 in Class 2A.

MAGGIE ENGELMEIER

South St. Paul,

hockey

The senior goalie stopped 46 of 47 shots she faced, leading the Packers to a 2-1 record. She shut out Mahtomedi 3-0 and Simley 5-0, making 14 saves in each game, and gave up only one goal in a 1-0 loss to Visitation/St. Paul Academy.

RODNEY WILLIAMS JR.

Cooper, basketball

The junior swingman helped the Hawks to sole possession of the North Suburban Conference lead. He had 32 points and 10 rebounds in a 94-84 victory over then-No. 1, 3A Benilde-St. Margaret's and 25 points, six rebounds and four assists in an 83-66 victory over St. Francis.

JIM PAULSEN