Athletes of the week

It would be hard to imagine a better week than Kurkowski had last week.

A junior who attends Coon Rapids High School, Kurkowski set a tournament record by scoring 19 goals in three games, leading Anoka-Hennepin to its second consecutive CI Division state championship.

Kurkowski's tournament heroics came only three days after he bowled a 300 game in practice for his weekend bowling league. His average is 219.

"It was a real 300 game," said his mother, Terrie Stevenson. "It wasn't sanctioned or anything, but it was a practice game. We were keeping score and bowling like it was a real game."

In between his athletic feats, Kurkowski celebrated his 17th birthday, thereby cementing his week as one of the most eventful of his life.

"He's a natural athlete with an innate ability to score," Anoka-Hennepin coach Bill Newell said. "He's the kid that makes our program go."

Like many successful athletes, Kurkowski kept his cool when discussing his achievements.

But his mother knew otherwise.

"When I told him that he had set a new record, the smile on his face went ear to ear," Stevenson said. "I've never seen him smile so big."

Others might have had better individual games, but no Islanders player had a better overall Class 3A tournament than did the junior guard. She scored 49 points, had 21 rebounds and handed out nine assists over three games.

The 5-10 sophomore guard was the Royals' most consistent performer in their run to the Class 4A championship. Coffey scored in double figures in all three games, finishing the tournament with 38 points and 24 rebounds.

A smooth-shooting guard with the ability to get off his shot against tight coverage, Kelly scored a game-high 19 points in leading the Raiders to a 47-46 victory over Tartan in the Class 4A, Section 4 championship game.

As Smith goes, so go the Spartans. And Orono is making a return trip to the Class 3A tournament, thanks in large part to the a 27-point night from the senior guard in a 72-51 rout of Rogers to win the Class 3A, Section 5 final.

The 6-foot guard was the offensive star for the Orioles in their 74-50 rout of Cooper in the Class 4A, Section 5 championship game. He scored a team-high 22 points, his 22nd consecutive game scoring in double figures.

JIM PAULSEN