The Minnesota Lynx are proud to announce the eight high schools that have earned the distinction of receiving the first “Lynx Team of the Week” awards.

In conjunction with the “Lynx Ballerz Tour Live,” the "Lynx Team of the Week" initiative is part of an offseason program that the Minnesota Lynx have introduced this winter in an effort to give back to the basketball community in the state of Minnesota. The “Lynx Team of the Week” initiative celebrates excellence in the classroom, in the community, and on the court.

Beginning today, the Minnesota Lynx will recognize one girls team and one boys team in each of the state’s four classes every Tuesday throughout the high school regular season.

“I have coached basketball at every level there is and won the Class A state championship when I coached the boys basketball team at De La Salle High School,” said Lynx head coach Don Zierden. “The one thing that has impressed me most is the amount of talent that there is in the high schools here in Minnesota. We have some of the nation’s best teams playing right here in our own backyard. I am thrilled that the Minnesota Lynx have introduced this program so that these teams and these athletes are able to receive the recognition that they deserve for their achievements on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.”

This week’s recipients are:

Girls Basketball
Class A
Wrenshall is the Class A Lynx Team of the Week after a 3-0 start to the 2007-08 season. Andrea Gould and Samantha Anderson have led the Wrens in wins against Cook (78-48), Mountain Iron-Buhl (74-56) and AlBrook (82-24). Gould has averaged 25.0 points and 15.7 rebounds in the first three games. Anderson has averaged 17.7 points per game, 4.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 steals in the three victories.

Class AA
Minnesota Valley Lutheran is the Class AA Lynx Team of the Week after a pair of convincing wins last week. The Chargers are off to a 4-0 start to their 2007-08 season thanks to an astonishing 38.0-point margin of victory. Amanda Barrer scored 19 points in an 85-29 win over Buffalo Lake-Hectos on Dec. 7 after an 18-point effort in a 93-51 win over Wabasso on Dec. 4. Kara Black had 23 points in the Dec. 7 victory, while Amanda Burk added 15 points and 12 rebounds in the Dec. 4 win. The Chargers started the season with wins over Nicollet (74-57) and West Lutheran (80-43).

Class AAA
Totino-Grace is the Class AAA Lynx Team of the Week. The Eagles lost both games in the Hamline University tournament, but have since rebounded nicely with four straight victories over Academy of Holy Angels (74-38), Irondale (74-46), Columbia Heights (80-29), and Spring Lake Park (76-39). Veronica Scott has led the way with 12.7 points per game, while Lizzi Naumann is second on the team with 11.3 points a game.

Class AAAA
St. Paul Central is the Class AAAA Lynx Team of the Week following a 5-1 start to the season. The only blemish on the record so far is a loss in the Hamline University tournament, but the defending state champions have won their five games by an average of 21.2 points a game. Kiara Buford (16.3 points per game), Megan Howard (13.8), Theairra Taylor (13.8), and Georgie Jones (10.8) are all averaging double figures for the Minutemen.

Boys Basketball
Class A
Ellsworth is the Class A Lynx Team of the Week. Ranked second in the initial Class A state rankings, the Panthers kicked off their season with an 89-59 win over Southwest Minnesota Christian. Cody Schilling led the Panthers with 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Trevor Gruis added 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Class AA
Plainview-Elgin-Millville is the Class AA Lynx Team of the Week after a 45-point win over Wabasha-Kellog (85-40) on Dec. 7. Zach Flies led Bulldogs with 20 points and seven rebounds. Cole Olstad contributed 15 points and five assists to the victory, while Ross Grobe added 10 points and four steals.

Class AAA
Minneapolis Washburn is the Class AAA Lynx Team of the Week following a 67-34 victory over Highland Park. RaShed Hageman scored 13 points to lead the Millers, while Taurice Smith added 12 points and Mike Silberman contributed 10 points in the season-opening victory.

Class AAAA
Sibley High School is the Class AAAA Lynx Team of the Week after outlasting Apple Valley in a 79-74 victory. Peter Leslie scored 29 points to power the Warriors. Chris Halvorsen scored 13 points, while Maurice Hernandez added 12 points to help the Warriors open the 2007-08 season with the win.

Each team will receive a Certificate of Merit, courtesy of the Minnesota Lynx, along with a spotlight on Lynxbasketball.com. All 104 teams will also be invited to a Lynx game during their 10th Anniversary season next summer.

The Minnesota Lynx are now running their Holiday Hoopla Ticket Drive, where 10 percent of all season tickets purchased by Dec. 31 will be used to purchase toys that will be donated to Toys for Tots. Join the Lynx for their 10th Anniversary season in 2008 and help Toys for Tots brighten up the holidays for needy children by calling 612-673-8400, e-mailing tickets@lynxbasketball.com or visiting the Lynx website at www.lynxbasketball.com.



About the Lynx Ballerz Tour Live The Lynx Ballerz Tour Live will stop at 18 girls high school basketball games over a period of 13 weeks, bringing the experience of the WNBA to high school gyms across the state of Minnesota. At each stop, the Lynx will meet with players, families and fans, bringing the fun and excitement of Lynx Basketball, including autograph sessions, raffle prizes, Lynx T-shirt giveaways, and even basketball clinics at select stops. The Tour will shine the spotlight on girls basketball at local high schools, where the future stars of the WNBA are already competing.