New Prague senior captain Maizie Deihl was considered one of the top girls' basketball players in her class two years ago.

But for the second consecutive year, the five-year starter has fallen victim to injury. The guard suffered a broken wrist in a 60-46 loss to Orono in a Wright County Conference game Jan. 12.

"She was having a great start [16 points per game] to her senior season," said New Prague coach Ron Gunderson, who is hopeful Deihl can return to the court the last week of February.

Her most recent setback was three days short of being exactly one year after her previous injury. Deihl went down with a torn anterior collateral ligament in her right knee in a 73-59 victory over Delano on Jan. 15, 2016.

"For her to suffer these setbacks is hard for me to deal with," Gunderson said. "It's Maizie's courage, character and optimism that helps her teammates and our staff move forward."

Deihl averaged 19.1 points per game as a junior, after averaging 16.7 in her sophomore season.

"In all my years I have never coached a more competitive player who has a greater love for the game," Gunderson said. "Basketball is what she lives and breathes. She is one in a million."

Top performances

• Simley senior DeAndre Smith scored a school-record 44 points, leading the Spartans past Henry Sibley 81-64 in a Metro East Conference boys' basketball game. The 6-3 forward also pulled down 13 rebounds. Jack Stensgard had held the school record since scoring 43 points against St. Thomas Academy last season.

• Junior guard Alex Rasmussen hit a 25-foot shot at the buzzer, giving Northfield a 67-64 victory over Mankato East in Big 9 Conference game. He finished with 16 points, making all six of his free throws.

Ron Haggstrom