Posted: 4/11/07
NB ‘Record breaker' to play in state all-star game
 Gabrielle Olson will play in state girls all-star game April 21-22. Above, she drives to the basketball during a game against Robbinsdale Cooper Jan 16. |
By Steve Morris
Gabrielle Olson, arguably one of the best all-around girls players North Branch has seen in recent history, will play in the state all-star game April 21-22. The game will put an end to Olson's high school basketball career.
"It's a real honor to be able to play with those girls," Gabrielle Olson said.
The game is sponsored by the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association. Olson will play with the class AAA all-stars. Her first game is at 6 p.m. April 21 at the Rochester Civic Center Auditorium against class A girls. Depending on if they win or lose, she will play the following day at 12:30 or 2 at the University of St. Thomas Schoenecker Arena. On her team will be North Suburban Conference players Kachine Alexander and Latoya Williams from Benilde-St. Margaret's.
Her career statistics speak for themselves. By the time she played her final game against Rogers March 6, she moved to first all-time in steals and assists. In all, she tallied 458 steals and 611 assists.
In her senior year, she steered the girls to the section quarterfinals and was part of state tournament team her sophomore year. She was a four-year starter and compiled a record of 76-38.
Dan Schindler, head coach for the Vikings, will miss what she brought to the team and the program.
"I think the best thing about Gabrielle is that she made all the other players around her better. She was a very unselfish player that many times gave up scoring opportunities to pass the ball to a teammate. She would do whatever it would take to make the team have success," he said.
Olson's court skills caught the eyes of opposing teams. Often, a team's defensive scheme was designed to stop Olson from doing her thing. Many times they had no luck. What made Olson so valuable was her versatility. She could pass, score and defend, something that is rare in high school girls basketball.
Olson is the 4th girl from North Branch to play in the state all-star game. Jenny Anderson played in 2003 and Kelly Line and Megan O'Hern played in 2002.
Olson plans to attend Winona State next fall. As far as basketball is concerned, she may try to walk on to the team, but she is uncertain at this point.
In terms of basketball, she is certain she had the best coach available at North Branch.
"Schindler, he's the best coach anyone could ask for. He's an all-around good coach," she said.
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