Boys basketball: Blackjacks' 1991 squad cheers on one of their own
Mar. 21—MINNEAPOLIS — The Class A state boys basketball tournament was cause for celebration.
One side of the Target Center was packed with Dawson-Boyd's black and yellow as the Blackjacks prepared to take on Heritage Christian Academy in the opening round on Thursday.
Dawson-Boyd last made the state basketball tournament in 1991, where it finished in third place with a 2-1 showing.
And with one of their own coaching the Blackjacks back to state, members of the '91 state team got together to relish in the state memories.
Among the returning group was Jeff Nordgaard, the star of that '91 Blackjacks team who was eventually drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1996 draft. The West Central Tribune's Hengstler-Ranweiler winner in '91, Nordgaard went on to play extensively in Europe from 1996-2009.
"He had, I'd say, 10 of us from the team, we got together and pre-gamed," Nordgaard said. "We got together at Lyon's Pub today at noon and got over here at two for the game."
As Dawson-Boyd and Heritage finished up warm-ups, the 1991 players called from across the court to their former teammate, Cory Larson.
Larson was a junior point guard on the '91 team.
He coached the Blackjacks to state championships in football and in girls golf. Now, he finally got Dawson-Boyd back to state in boys basketball. And, according to Jeff Anderson, Larson is also due a spot in Dawson's Gnometown.
"If there was ever a guaranteed gnome that was going to be built in Dawson for Riverfest, I'd say they better start carving one for Coach Larson," said Anderson, a classmate of Larson's and another member of the '91 squad.
Nordgaard remembers Larson as a quiet, unsung member of the '91 state squad. Now, Larson was patrolling the sidelines at the Target Center.
"Cory's done such a wonderful job taking over after our coach Werf (Dave Vanderwerf) led us here in '91," Nordgaard said. "They've had a lot of good teams — last year, we thought we'd be here and it didn't happen — so it's really, really cool to see this group get back to state.
"You can tell by the amount of people that are here from the community that it's a really special thing for our community."
The No. 2-seeded Blackjacks kicked off the 2025 state tournament with a 69-46 win over No. 7 Heritage.
The 1991 squad also opened state with a 56-51 victory against Argyle. Those Blackjacks went on to lose in the semifinals to Westbrook-Walnut Grove 80-66 before rebounding in the third-place game by beating Becker 75-73. The Class A state title was eventually won by the Joel McDonald-led Chisholm Bluestreaks with a 77-61 victory against WWG.
Talking to the Minnesota State High School League's John Millea after the victory Thursday, Larson admitted he remembered more about the hotel experience over the games at the St. Paul Civic Center.
"We ended up having to spend an extra night because there was a snowstorm, so we didn't leave back to Dawson until Sunday," Larson said. "We had a night where you're done with basketball and you're having fun.
"It's probably like that for these guys, too," Larson continued, pointing to seniors Drew Hjelmeland and Brayson Boike and junior Gunner Liebl. "You don't get caught up in what the fans are doing and all that. You just kind of prepare for the game, go out and play and try to enjoy it."
As far as similarities to the 1991 and 2025 Dawson-Boyd teams, it begins by having a pair of senior 1,000-point scorers. The 2025 Blackjacks have a 2,000-point scorer in Boike and two 1,000-point scorers in Hjelmeland and Liebl. The 1991 team had Nordgaard at 1,653 and Brian Prestholdt at 1,174.
"(Boike and Hjelmeland) are very well-rounded, fun up and down the court and (have) lots of talent," Anderson said. "It's been a pleasure to watch them throughout the years. With technology and YouTube, to live vicariously through what they're experiencing now 30-plus years later is pretty special."
The 1991 team was shaking hands and sharing well-wishes with the Dawson-Boyd faithful as they walked down the Target Center stairs. With a crowd full of gold satin and sequin jackets, Nordgaard fit in by putting on his old letterman's jacket.
"I've seen plenty of photos sent (Thursday) morning," Larson said. "I am so thankful and blessed that we have such a great following. That makes the experience that much more enjoyable."
Thirty-four years after his state trip, Larson hopes to help his players have a cause for celebration they can enjoy decades later like his teammates.
"For me, certainly as a coach, I feel like it's more rewarding than it was as a player," Larson said. "Getting here is a culmination of the time and effort that these guys have put in from when they were waist high to now."
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