Milacaís last appearance in postseason
championship game was in 1991-92
Posted 3/13/03

When Milacaís boys basketball team topped Pine City 62-43 in the semifinals of the Section 6AA Sub-Section 18 Tournament Saturday it moved Milaca into its first boys postseason championship game since the 1991-92 season.

In 1991-92, Milaca (then the Indians) opened the Section 5A Sub-Section II Tournament by topping Big Lake 63-32 before trimming Pierz 77-65 in the semifinals.

St. Michael-Albertville then topped Milaca 63-50 in the championship game.

Milaca posted an 18-5 overall record that season, finishing 10-2 in the Rum River Conference where it tied Cambridge for the title. Key players for Milaca included high-scoring forward Jason Johnson, guards John Perry and Jake Roehl and center Steve Kragt.

Milacaís last boys district title was in 1987-88 when it claimed the District 18A crown and advanced to the Region 5A finals before losing to Minneapolis De LaSalle, finishing one game short of the state tournament.

That team opened the District 18A tourney by topping Isle 68-42 in the quarter-finals. The Indians then stopped Braham 71-53 in the semifinals and Crosier Seminary 74-57 in the title game.

Milaca, coached by Rich Perry, topped Swanville 80-67 in the semifinals of the Region 5A Tournament at St. cloud State Universityís Halenbeck Hall before losing to DeLaSalle 70-59.

Among the players on that team were guards Cory Ploeger, Kurt Kragt and Joe Pap, forwards Scott Larsen and Todd Hasz and centers Terry DeShaw and Dave Sauer. And, forward Jeff Meyer, Milacaís current head coach.

Milaca finished 22-2 overall and 11-1 in the RRC.

Here is how Milaca has fared since that district championship season:

ï1988-89 (second place) -Milaca topped Ogilvie 62-30 and Aitkin 75-43 in the first two games of the District 18A tourney before losing to Crosby-Ironton 85-80 in the title game. The Indians finished 18-4 overall, 11-1 in the Rum River. Key players included guard Adam Rensenbrink, forward Jeff Meyer and center Scott Larsen.

ï1989-90 (third place) - Milaca topped Ogilvie 68-55 in the quarter-finals of the District 18A tourney before losing to Aitkin 61-51 in the semifinals. Milaca topped Braham 62-54 in the third-place game. Milaca finished 13-10 overall, 7-5 in the RRC. Key players included inside players Joel Vedders and Matt Joldersma and forward Jason Johnson.

ï1990-91 - Milaca lost to Pierz 63-52 in the quarter-finals of the District 18A Tournament. Milaca was 10-12 overall and 6-6 in the RRC. Forward Jason Johnson and center Steve Kragt were key players.

ï1991-92 - (second place) - The Indians topped Big Lake 63-32 and Pierz 77-65 before losing to St. Michael-Albertville 63-50 in the Section 5A Sub-Section II title game. Milaca finished 18-5 overall, 10-2 in RRC play.

ï1992-93 - St. Cloud Cathedral topped Milaca 57-52 in overtime in the quarter-finals of the Section 5A Sub-Section II Tournament. Milaca finished 15-8 overall, 10-2 in the RRC. Key players were guards John Perry and Derek Brink and center Steve Kragt.

ï1993-94 - Milaca defeated Royalton 58-50 in the first round of the Section 5A Sub-Section II Tournament before losing to St. Michael-Albertville 66-65 in double overtime in the semifinals. Milaca, under first-year coach Doug Reetz, won the RRC title with a 12-0 record and finished 19-5 overall. Key players included guard Derek Brink, forward Joel Peterson and center/forward Eric Joldersma.

ï1994-95 - Milaca stopped Big Lake 68-61 in the quarter-finals of the Sub-Section II Tournament, then lost to Pierz 78-59 in the semifinals. Milaca finished 14-10 overall, 7-5 in the RRC. Key players included guard/forward Ben Matthews and inside players Eric Joldersma, Mark DeJong and Aaron Larsen.

ï1995-96 - Milaca tipped Foley 69-64 in the quarter-finals before falling to talented Sartell (Russ Archembault, Nate Wrightson) 79-48 in the semifinals. Milaca was 12-12 overall and 6-6 in the RRC. Key players included guard/forward Ben Matthews, forward Gabe Hackett and guard Neil Larsen.

ï1996-97 - Milaca topped Foley 56-49 in the quarte-finals of the District 18 tourney before losing to East Central 76-71 in the semifinals. Milaca was 13-11 overall, 7-7 in the RRC. Key players included guards Jesse Peterson and Joe Hasz.

ï1997-98 - Foley topped Milaca 61-45 in the quarter-finals of the District 18A Tournament. Milaca finished 7-16 overall, 1-13 in the RRC. Its key player was guard Joe Hasz.

ï1998-99 - The Wolves topped Pierz 62-61 in the quarter-finals of the District 18 Tournament before losing to Braham 57-52 in the semifinals. Milaca was 13-11 overall, 7-7 in the RRC. Key players were guard Joe Hasz and center Matt Kuperus.

ï1999-2000 - Milaca stopped Big Lake 65-56 in the quarter-finals of the District 18AA tourney before losing to East Central 58-41 in the semifinals. Key players for the Wolves were guards Seth Hasz and Jake Johnson. Milaca finished 10-14 overall and 7-7 in RRC games.

ï2000-2001 - The Wolves tipped Big Lake 62-53 in the quarter-finals of the Sub-Section 18 Tournament, then lost to Braham 61-45 in the semifinals. Milaca finished 10-14 overall and 7-7 in the RRC. Key players included guards Adam Roehl and Gregg Pearson, center Dave Tesch and forward Derek Marxhausen.

ï2001-2002 - The Wolves topped Pine City 58-53 in the quarter-finals of the Sub-Section 18 Tournament before losing to Braham 59-49 in the semifinals. Milaca finished 9-15 overall, 4-10 in RRC games. Key players were center Eric Bergstrom, forward Jon Matthews and guards Tim Veurink, Tom Tadych and Tom Hubers.