Crosby-Ironton's Oehrlein completes her record rush to 3,000 points
Crosby-Ironton's girls basketball team rarely waits long between baskets by Tori Oehrlein. This time the space between the last basket and the next surely seemed a little wider.
With her first basket Tuesday at Providence Academy, barely a minute and a half into the game, Oehrlein became the first sophomore in state history to surpass 3,000 career points. She had been stuck at 2,999 since scoring 41 points Friday against Staples-Motley. Oehrlein reached 3,000 points in her 101st game.
Oehrlein's fans traveled about 115 miles to see her hit the milestone. When she did, she was feted with gold balloons spelling "3,000.″ Oehrlein finished with 27 points.
"I couldn't do it without my family and the community," Oehrlein said. "When we have this big of a crowd come to the game, it's awesome."
Her milestone moment came in a matchup against Providence Academy's Maddyn Greenway, a sophomore who entered the game with 2,929 points. Oehrlein was averaging 37.8 points per game, Greenway 32.7. Greenway was impressed by the size and volume of the Crosby-Ironton contingent.
"Crosby always brings the noise," she said. "Everywhere we go, we tend to bring in good crowds, but they outdid us tonight."
The game also pitted two of the top teams in Class 2A. No. 1 Providence Academy defeated No. 6 Crosby-Ironton 93-75 and improved to 17-3. Crosby-Ironton fell to 15-5.
Greenway and Oehrlein made similar runs at 2,000 points last season. Greenway got there first, on Feb. 18, by scoring 60 points against Minnehaha Academy. Oehrlein surpassed the mark two days later.
Before this season, the youngest players in state history to reach 3,000 points were juniors Rebekeh Dahlman of Braham in 2011 and Addison Mack of Minnehaha Academy. Mack reached the milestone on Dec. 29, when she scored 31 points in the Redhawks' 70-46 victory over Hill-Murray. Dahlman, who graduated in 2013, is the leading scorer in state history with 5,060 points.
Theo Franz, a Star Tribune intern from the University of Minnesota, contributed to this report.
Fewest games to 3,000 points
101 games (sophomore): Tori Oehrlein, Crosby-Ironton, Class of 2026
112 games (senior): Kierah Kimbrough, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River, Class of 2005
116 games (senior): Megan Taylor, Roseau, Class of 1997; Madison Mathiowetz, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, Class of 2022
118 games (senior): Janet Karvonen, New York Mills, Class of 1980
