Girls basketball: NLS senior is a 3rd generation Wildcat

Dec. 26—NEW LONDON

— Delaney Hanson is in the midst of leaving her mark on the

New London-Spicer girls basketball

program just like her family members that came before her.

Delaney's family tree stretches three generations within the Wildcats' girls basketball program.

First came her grandpa, Harold Olson. He was the first coach in NLS girls basketball program history (1973-74).

Also an assistant coach for the boys program during that time, Harold stepped away from the girls program when the sport moved from a fall sport to a winter sport beginning in 1975.

Then there is her mother, Trish (Olson) Hanson, and Trish's sisters: Sue (Olson) Peterson and Stephanie (Olson) Murphy. All three played for the Wildcats.

Trish graduated in 1994. Stephanie graduated in 1989. Sue, who graduated in 1985, is one of the all-time leading scorers in program history. Sue ranks No. 7 all-time in career points scored with 1,340.

From 1985 to 1994, the Olson sisters helped the Wildcats make seven state tournaments. NLS was the Class A runner-up in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 and also made appearances in 1985, 1987 and 1988.

After attending NLS girls basketball games since she was in a car seat, Delaney is now filling in her own chapter and is doing so with the support of family members that came before her.

Delaney and her older sister, Ellie Hanson, were a part of NLS teams that made state tournament appearances in 2020 and 2021.

Delaney was also a key component to

the NLS team that won the Class AA consolation championship in the 2022-23 season

.

"I am so proud," said an emotional Trish. "My dad (Harold) is such a fan. He still sits in the same spot that he sat in when he watched me in high school — Front row, center court, opposite of the scorer's table."

Trish and her sisters were all coached by Mike Dreier.

Dreier, who is in his 46th season at the helm of NLS, is Delaney's head coach.

"It has been fun to be able to have this experience," Trish said. "The tradition is so great."

What is the dynamic of having coached both a mother and her daughters, Mike?

"As long as they're not a pain in the butt," Dreier said, "It's a really good dynamic."

Delaney, the now senior forward who has been on varsity since she was in eighth grade, has guided the Wildcats to a 7-0 start in the 2023-24 season.

"I've been playing good," said Delaney, who began the season with a sickness and fought off an early rolled ankle.

Hanson is averaging 10.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 3.4 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.

She scored a career-best 25 points against Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg on Dec. 15

.

"Delaney has showed very good leadership and she has taken her game to another level," Dreier said. "She's playing like she's capable of playing."

With Delaney helping lead the way, the Wildcats' strong start to the season has them ranked No. 7 in the state for Class AA by Minnesota Basketball News as of Tuesday morning.

"So far we've played really well," Dreier said. "I'm really pleased."

Delaney, the Wildcats' captain, is the only senior on their 14-person roster. That is a different dynamic than a season ago when NLS had six seniors.

"I'm handling it well," Delaney said. "I'm doing well with keeping the team together and moving up a step. Everyone else is doing great too with coming into their roles. ... They've definitely stepped up."

Delaney, who plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to study psychology and play tennis following her graduation from NLS, has an opportunity to do something no one else in her family has ever done before her: bring a state title to NLS.

That journey towards a state championship continues when Delaney and the Wildcats compete in the WildCard tournament.

NLS plays Redwood Valley at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Willmar at 3 p.m. Friday. Willmar and Redwood Valley play at 6 p.m. Thursday. All games will take place at New London.

"I'm looking forward to being with the girls and seeing how we can compare to (Willmar)," Delaney said.

"It gives you something to look forward to over Christmas," Dreier added. "It's a little break from the regular routine and it's something different."

*Litchfield vs. Melrose, 2 p.m.

*Concordia Academy vs. St. Cloud Cathedral, 5:30 p.m.

*Concordia Academy vs. Melrose, 2 p.m.

*Litchfield vs. St. Cloud Cathedral, 5:30 p.m.

*Litchfield vs. Concordia Academy, 2 p.m.

*St. Cloud Cathedral vs. Melrose, 5:30 p.m.

*Sauk Centre vs. Pine City, 2 p.m.

*Perham vs. Paynesville, 5:30 p.m.

*Third-place game, 10 a.m.

*Championship, 1:30 p.m.

*Westbrook-Walnut Grove vs. Dawson-Boyd, 2 p.m.

*Renville County West vs. Benson, 3:30 p.m.

*St. Clair vs. Minneota, 5 p.m.

*Lac qui Parle Valley vs. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart, 6:30 p.m.

*Jackson County Central vs. Marshall, 8 p.m.

*Central Minnesota Christian School vs. Russell-Tyler Ruthton, 12:30 p.m.

*Canby vs Edgerton, 2 p.m.

*MACCRAY vs. Jackson County Central, 3:30 p.m.

*Southwest Minnesota Christian vs. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart, 5 p.m.

*Minneota vs. Sleepy Eye, 6:30 p.m.

*Hamlin (Hayti, S.D.) vs. Marshall, 8 p.m.

*KMS vs. Fairmont, 6 p.m.

*YME vs. Windom, 7:30 p.m.

*Third-place game, 1:30 p.m.

*Championship, 3 p.m.

*BOLD vs. Hutchinson, 7:30 p.m. (NYA Middle School)

*Rockford vs. Norwood Young America, 7:30 p.m. (NYA High School)

*BOLD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m.

*TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m.

*Pequot Lakes vs. Southwest Christian, 10 a.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Cass Lake-Bena vs. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, 11 a.m. (St. Cloud Apollo)

*Pierz vs. Hawley, 11:30 a.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Holdingford vs. Hancock, 11:30 a.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Bloomington Jefferson vs. Sartell, 11:30 a.m. (Sartell)

*Brainerd vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong, 12:30 p.m. (St. Cloud Apollo)

*Spring Lake Park vs. Tartan, 1:15 p.m. (Sartell)

*Duluth Marshall vs. Becker, 1:15 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Mankato East vs. Orono, 2 p.m. (St. Cloud State University)

*Rochester Century vs. Anoka, 2:30 p.m. (Sauk Rapids)

*Delano vs. Prior Lake, 2:45 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Mandan (N.D.) vs. Buffalo, 4:15 p.m. (Sartell)

*Fargo (N.D.) vs. Robbinsdale Cooper, 4:15 p.m. (Sauk Rapids)

*Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. Goodhue, 4:15 p.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Lakeville North vs. White Bear Lake, 4:15 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Stewartville vs. Alexandria, 5:15 p.m. (St. Cloud State University)

*Horace (N.D.), vs. Minnewaska, 5:45 p.m. (Sauk Rapids)

*Minot (N.D.) vs. Wayzata, 6 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Fargo South (N.D.) vs. St. Cloud, 6 p.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Crosby-Ironton vs. Albany, 6:15 p.m. (St. John's University)

*Providence Academy vs. Hopkins, 7:30 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Goodhue vs. Crosby-Ironton, 10 a.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*St. Cloud vs. Horace (N.D.), 11 a.m. (St. Cloud Apollo)

*Orono vs. White Bear Lake, 11 a.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Minnetonka vs. Stewartville, 11:30 a.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Fargo South (N.D.) vs. Bloomington Jefferson, 11:30 a.m. (Sauk Rapids)

*Robbinsdale Armstrong vs. Fargo North (N.D.), 11:30 a.m. (Sartell)

*Rochester Century vs. Robbinsdale Cooper, 12:30 p.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Hopkins vs. Minot (N.D.), 1:15 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa vs. Hawley, 2:15 p.m. (St. Cloud Apollo)

*Spring Lake Park vs. Mandan (N.D.), 2:15 p.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Minnewaska vs. Southwest Christian, 2:45 p.m. (Sauk Rapids)

*Brainerd vs. Delano, 2:45 p.m. (Sartell)

*Duluth Marshall vs. Providence Academy, 2:45 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Pierz vs. Cass Lake-Bena, 3:45 p.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Alexandria vs. Mankato East, 3:45 p.m. (St. John's University)

*Maple Grove vs. Prior Lake, 4:15 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Holdingford vs. Pequot Lakes, 5:15 p.m. (St. Cloud Tech)

*Wayzata vs. Lakeville North, 6 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)

*Tartan vs. Sartell, 6 p.m. (Sartell)

*Buffalo vs. Anoka, 6 p.m. (Sauk Rapids)

*Albany vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl, 7 p.m. (St. John's University)

*Hancock vs. Becker, 7:30 p.m. (College of St. Benedict)