Osseo guard Kane shows he's ready for new offensive role

Whether picking up slack for injured starters or making key shots in the basketball state tournament, Osseo junior guard Elliot Kane proved he was able.

Kane, who transferred from Maple Grove, supplied offense off the bench. He averaged 7.4 points per game in the regular season and 13.0 in three section playoff games. He scored five of the Orioles' final 11 points in a close loss to Shakopee in the Class 4A state tournament quarterfinals.

His role will change next season as Osseo shifts from an offense built around dominant post players to one more reliant on guard play.

"He will be a vital part of our new offense," Osseo coach Tim Theisen said. "He's one of the better outside shooters in our conference."

Kane spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about the Orioles' successful season, state tournament excitement and high hopes for next season.

Q: How tough was it to play well at state but come up short, and then know your season was over?

A: That's really tough. You go in there wanting to win it all, but it just didn't work out that way. We played a good game, but we could have played a little better.

A: That zone defense they played is pretty hard. I thought we prepared for it pretty well in practice, but it's just one of those things. They played really well and they shot the ball really well. Some of our shots just didn't fall.

Q: You scored five or your team's last 11 points down the stretch of a tight game. What was the intensity and excitement of that game like?

A: Really intense, actually. I remember hitting a three-pointer to put us up and we came to the bench looking at each other and saying, 'We got this. We just have to keep playing defense and getting stops.' But Shakopee came out and got a couple buckets down low, and that just kind of deflated us a little bit.

Q: What was it like playing alongside a longtime Osseo standout in Ian Theisen plus a Mr. Basketball finalist in Wheeler Baker?

A: It was great. I'm really glad I came over to Osseo. Those guys are all really good friends of mine, and we really became a family. We played really well together; it just didn't work out in the state tournament.

A: Pretty satisfied with the second half of the season for sure. I didn't shoot a lot because we have great players who can really score. But as the season went on, I started getting into it a little more. I was more of a spot-up shooter this year, but I can do more than that.

Q: Coach Theisen said next season the offense will be more guard-oriented and your role will increase. Have you started thinking already about what next season will look like for you?

A: I'm going to have to be a good leader, and I think I'm going to have to be scoring more next season. We're going to need guys to step up. But we have some great players on the JV team. Overall, we'll be a run-and-gun, pressuring, pressing type of team.