BAKARI JACKSON

Nova Classical • basketball

When former Timberwolves player Stanley Jackson and wife, Liza, moved back to the Twin Cities nine years ago, their main focus was to send their children to a school with a rigorous academic curriculum.

Enter Nova Classical Academy, a St. Paul charter school founded in 2003 on the principles of a classical education.

Given his family's background, Bakari Jackson playing on the basketball team has been a key element in his success at Nova. And he, in turn, has been a key to Nova's success; the team is 13-1. Last week, the guard had double-doubles in victories over Shattuck-St. Mary's (25 points, 15 steals) and International School (19, 11). This on the heels of becoming the first player in school history to reach 1,000 career points two weeks ago.

"That was amazing when they stopped the game to tell me I had 1,000 points," he said. "I had no idea. It felt great."

To Jackson, his basketball achievements and his education are intertwined: "At this school, they always talk about virtues, about prudence and wisdom. I thought it was corny at first, but it's incorporated into the heart of everything we do. It's prepared me to be the person I want to be going into college."

MAIZIE DEIHL

New Prague • basketball

The sophomore guard scored 34 points in an 83-77 victory over Waconia and added 21 in a 65-54 victory over Holy Family. She shot 51.4 percent from the floor (18 of 35), made eight three-pointers and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Maizie Deihl, New Prague basketball, so.

TOM GATHJE

Bloomington Jefferson • basketball

The 6-7 senior forward, a Winona State recruit, became just the fifth player in Jefferson history to reach 1,000 career points. He had 18 points in a 56-53 loss to Eden Prairie and 19 in a 70-57 loss to Chaska.

CLAIRE KILLIAN

Watertown-Mayer • basketball

The sophomore guard posted a triple-double — 23 points, 12 steals and 11 rebounds — in a 66-58 victory over Belle Plaine and became the second Royal in January to go over 1,000 career points. Sophomore Kirstin Klitzke was the first.

JAKE LUNDQUIST

Minnehaha Academy • hockey

The sophomore had two goals and an assist in a 4-3 victory over Rochester Lourdes and two goals and three assists in an 11-1 rout of St. Paul Como Park. He has nine goals and 20 points overall for the Redhawks.

ALI GREENE

Mahtomedi • basketball

The 6-1 senior ran her streak of games scoring in double figures to 17 in a row with 25 points in a 74-54 victory over Simley and 19 in a 65-49 victory over Tartan. The Creighton recruit is averaging 18.7 points per game and became the leading scorer in school history with 1,431 points.

GRETCHEN SHARP

Stillwater • gymnastics

After tying for first in the all-around at the Park Invitational on Jan. 17, the eighth-grader won the vault (9.5), floor exercise (9.575) and all-around (37.8) in a dual meet against No. 1 Roseville. Her all-around score was the fourth-best in team history.

JIM PAULSEN