Former state record-holder Kay Konerza applauds McKenna Hofschild for breaking her scoring record

In 1982, Kay Konerza of Lester Prairie set a single-game scoring record for girls' basketball in Minnesota in an 81-26 victory over Winsted Holy Trinity. Konerza was in the first wave of high-profile girls' basketball players in the state.

Saturday night, her record of 58 points was broken by McKenna Hofschild, a 5-3 guard from Prior Lake, who scored 63 points in a game her team lost 99-95 to Park Center in the Breakdown Classic at Hopkins High School.

Now a Texas teacher and known as Kay Bachert, Konerza has been an AAU coach and the oldest of her children plans to play college basketball at Division II Western Colorado.

After the Star Tribune contacted her about the record being broken, Bachert responded with an e-mail that included a message of congratulations that she wanted to have forwarded to Hofschild.

"It's nice to see all the hours upon hours you've put into the game you love get recognized,'' wrote Bachert, who played collegiately at Louisiana Tech, one of the nation's highest-profile programs at the time.

"I never thought that record would stand for as long as it did, especially with the addition of the three-point line and smaller ball.''

She continued, "As a competitor, I know you would've rather gotten the 'W' and your team came up short, but these tough games are preparing y'all for the big picture of a tournament run later on. McKenna, aka "Dynamite-Comes-In-Small-Packages," keep playing BIG as you continue to go after your goals & dreams. YES, you CAN!''

"Lindsay Whalen knows what hard work is all about and as a successful player she knows the importance for team," Bachert wrote.

"She has the clout to demand it out of today's superstars. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds. Exciting times for the U."

HOWARD SINKER

Tickets for June's CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader — the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, of course — at new 19,400-capacity Allianz Field have sold out.

Minnesota United's website directs people who want to purchase them to the resale market.

The June 18 games, featuring the U.S. national team's opening game in Group D play under newly named coach Gregg Berhalter, will be the St. Paul stadium's first international sporting event.

The complete group and its schedule will be announced once all qualifying rounds — the last one is in March — are completed. Six of 16 national teams that will participate have qualified so far: United States, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.

JERRY ZGODA

The Gophers wrestling team's final home dual meet against Rider University on Feb. 21 will be at Northrop Auditorium, instead of of Maturi Pavilion.

Northrop, the venue for world-class dance and music performances, and host to speakers, films, exhibits and more, will transform to host a wrestling match for the first time in its nearly 90-year history.

Northrop, named after former university President Cyrus Northrop, reopened in 2014 after a complete renovation.

Last season the Gophers defeated Rider 32-12.

Minnesota is ranked No. 8 in the country and has seven ranked individuals, including No. 2 Gable Steveson, a freshman who is 13-0 at heavyweight.

• Steveson was named USA Wrestling's athlete of the week by TheMat.com. He won a championship at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas this past weekend, defeating three ranked wrestlers, two by major decisions, in the final three rounds.

• St. John's quarterback Jackson Erdmann was named the West Region's Offensive Player of the Year by D3football.com and the Johnnies' Gary Fasching the region's Coach of the Year.

• Bemidji State goalkeeper Anne Fobbe of St. Paul was named the Academic All-America of the Year in Division II women's soccer. She is an exercise science-pre-physical therapy major with a 4.00 GPA. Forward Abby Bohanski of Winona State and midfielder Dakota Wendell of Minnesota State Mankato also made the Academic All-­America D-II first team.

• A total of 102 fall athletes for the Gophers earned academic All-Big Ten honors. By sport, the breakdown was 39 in football, 28 in women's cross-country, 15 in soccer, 14 in men's cross-country and six in volleyball. To be eligible, athletes had to be at least in their second academic year and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Three of Minnesota's honorees had perfect 4.0 GPAs: cross-country runners Patricia O'Brien and Paige Peschel and linebacker Payton Jordahl.

• Gophers sophomore Grace Zumwinkle was named the WCHA's forward of the week. She had four goals, including a hat trick in the first game, and two assists as Minnesota swept Yale last weekend.