Rivalry games are often defined by close, intense contests and great memories for both teams. However, the Chaska-Chanhassen girls’ basketball rivalry hasn’t fit that description in the past decade.
Since February 2015, the Hawks have beaten the Storm every time the two teams faced off.
This year’s matchup featured a Chaska Hawks squad packed with talented upperclassmen, while the Chanhassen Storm showcased an impressive youth movement, including three standout sophomores and a scrappy freshman point guard.
Would Chan’s young talent finally turn the tide in this rivalry?
Closing the Jan. 11 game on a 23-7 run, the Storm overcame their District 112 rivals for the first time in ten years, securing a 68-62 victory.
Chanhassen head coach Bart Inniger, in his second year leading the program, expressed immense pride in his team’s resilience.
“We are always harping on the girls to ‘win the small battles’ throughout the game,” said Inniger. “We are a young team and make youthful mistakes, but we show resilience and fight all game. We were down 16 points in New Prague as well and battled back to win. In both games, we chipped away and hit big shots down the stretch. It’s great to see the hard work pay off.”
Inniger noted that while the New Prague game was a nice win, this rivalry victory carried special significance.
“For a young team to come back and win this game, against our biggest rival, who we hadn’t beaten in ten years, in their gym, with a loud crowd… it’s a sign that this team is starting to believe in what we can do.”
Sophomores Lyla Hentges and Kate Arnold led the Storm with 20 and 17 points, respectively. Skyler Mancini, another member of Chanhassen’s talented Class of 2027, hit a crucial three-pointer late in the game.
Freshman guard Reese Keating added 14 points and was clutch at the free-throw line, going 7-for-8 in the final minutes.
Inniger also highlighted two “unsung heroes” for their contributions.
“Grace Seubert didn’t score but played inspirational defense on Chaska’s leading scorer, Addison Schneider. When Grace fouled out, our senior captain, Ellie Heno, stepped up, played great defense, and hit a big three-pointer when we were down ten,” said Inniger.
For Chaska, the loss was a tough one. The Hawks were shorthanded, with star forward Ella Keenan unable to play most of the game. Junior guard Addison Schneider, the team’s leading scorer, carried the load with 26 points, including a dominant stretch early in the second half that gave the Hawks a 10-point lead. Senior captain Alexis Schaefer added 21 points and hit key shots throughout the game.
However, the Hawks went cold late, and the Storm capitalized to secure the win.
Despite the loss, Chaska coach Samantha Canter praised her team’s effort. “We played hard and battled until the end,” said Canter.
The Hawks return to action on Tuesday, January 14, hosting New Prague at Chaska High School. The Storm will host Carver County rival Waconia on Tuesday, January 14, at 7 PM.
