Here are some Fab Five moments!
Ellis-Milan resigns
After leading East Ridge to the Class 4A state girls basketball tournament for the first time in school history, head coach Ashley Ellis-Milan resigned a position she has held since the 2020-21 season. The former St. Paul Central and University of Minnesota star led the Raptors to a 23-7 record before losing to Maple Grove in the quarterfinals.
Starks leads Hopkins
Hopkins, under the leadership of head coach and former Minneapolis North standout Tara Starks, made yet another Class 4A girls state tournament appearance, finishing runner-up to Rosemount after a 63-62 nailbiter. Behind the outstanding play of Erma Walker, Jaliyah Diggs, Ava Cupito, Marianna Davis, Ava Smith, Lanaia Durant and Inarah Nesbitt, the Royals finished with a 27-3 record.
Father-son connection
Hall of Fame MSR sports columnist Charles Hallman, a longtime assistant coach for the Minneapolis South boys basketball team, contributed to the Tigers’ run in the consolation bracket of the Class 3A state tournament last month. Son C.J. Hallman was on the sidelines as an assistant during Apple Valley’s surprising journey to a runner-up finish in Class 4A competition.
Central was first
It was 50 years ago when St. Paul Central won the first girls state basketball tournament at the Class AA level, the highest level at the time, with a 49-47 victory over Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The Minutemen were led by sophomores Rita Burch and Lisa Lissimore, junior Linda Roberts, and seniors Debbie Krengel and Teresa Tierney.
McMillan recognized
Richfield boys basketball coach Omar McMillan was recently honored with the 2026 John R. Wooden Award for Minnesota after leading the Spartans to a third-place Class 3A state tournament finish. Dre Collins, Tyrece Hagler, Gideon Horne, Waleed Muhammad, Adin Inda and Nathaniel Clifford led Richfield to one of the most memorable seasons. The Spartans finished with a 29-3 record.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses at mcdeezy05@gmail.com.