Athletes of the week: For Hopkins' Coffey, it's all about teammates

The recently completed girls' basketball state tournament was notable for the wealth of talent displayed.

There was Carlie Wagner of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva setting tournament scoring records. Rebekah Dahlman of Braham displayed a brash, in-your face style of play that has produced more than 5,000 career points. Tesha Buck opened eyes while leading Red Wing to the Class 3A championship game before falling to DeLaSalle, which had its own superstars in Tyseanna Johnson and Allina Starr.

But it would be difficult to find a more athletically gifted player than Coffey, the reigning Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year.

The 6-1 forward put the Royals on her back in Saturday's Class 4A championship game against Bloomington Kennedy, elevating over defenders for rebounds and baskets en route to a double-double before halftime (12 points, 10 rebounds). She was just as good in the second half and finished with 25 points, 16 rebounds and a third consecutive state championship medal as Hopkins pulled away for a 68-45 victory.

Northwestern-bound Coffey finished the tournament with 69 points, 33 rebounds and all-tournament honors for the third consecutive year. Always the team player, however, Coffey talked more about her teammates than herself.

"Everyone contributed in some shape or form, even if they're not on the court," Coffey said. "We play so well together, and we love each other so much. It's the ultimate goal. It feels amazing."

The Robbinsdale Area Robins capped a 16-0 season by winning the PI Division state championship, their third title in a row. Sarff, a junior forward, was the offensive star with seven goals and at least three assists, including a hat trick in a 5-0 championship-game victory over Dakota United.

Closing out one of the most successful careers in girls' basketball state history, Johnson paced the Islanders to their third consecutive Class 3A championship. The Iowa State-bound forward had 56 points, 33 rebounds and 10 assists in her fifth consecutive tournament appearance.

The senior guard scored 29 points in the Cardinals' 84-74 victory over St. Cloud Cathedral in the Class 2A, Section 5 semifinals, then topped himself by scoring 30 in a 60-38 victory over Mayer Lutheran in the section final.

The junior point guard scored a team-high 16 points, including six consecutive free throws in the final minutes of Blake's 47-41 victory over Holy Family in the Class 3A, Section 6 championship game. Blake qualified for the state tournament for the first time in team history.

JIM PAULSEN