The small community of Ellsworth, to the surprise of few, has once again been a big player on the state Class A boys basketball scene this season.
The Panthers, of course, won the state 'A' title last year, and begin their quest for a repeat today when they take on Granada-Huntley-East Chain at 3 p.m. at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Ellsworth has posted a formidable 28-2 record this season; their opponent, meanwhile, is no slouch at 25-2.
While many eyes will be on whether the Panthers will march toward another state crown, plenty of attention will be given to senior Cody Schilling, who is just 23 points away from becoming the state's all-time prep scoring leader. The current No. 1, 2006 Braham Area graduate Isaiah Dahlman, wrapped his high school career with 3,366 points.
Naturally, many hoops fans -- particularly those in Ellsworth and the surrounding area -- will be thrilled if Schilling surpasses Dahlman's mark. Schilling himself, though, seems to have the right perspective on things considering all the attention. " ... Right now, I'm so focused on winning another state title," Schilling told the Daily Globe Tuesday. "We did it last year, so we want to do it again this year.
A solid attitude, indeed, from a player who not only scores points in bunches, but puts up impressive assists numbers, too. It's that kind of leadership that, we hope, will bring home more hardware to Ellsworth. Good luck, Panthers.
