Draft:Chaska Girls Basketball Team

Chaska Hawks Girls Basketball
Nickname	Hawks
Conference	Metro West Conference
Division	AAAA
Arena	The Nest
Capacity	15,000
Location	Chaska, Minnesota
Team colors	Purple and Gold
Head coach	Samantha Canter
Championships	1 (2021 State Champions)
Website	Official Website

Overview

The Chaska Hawks girls basketball team competes in the Metro West Conference as part of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). The team plays its home games at The Nest, a 15,000-seat arena in Chaska, Minnesota.

The program has steadily built a reputation as a competitive force in Minnesota high school basketball, highlighted by a Class AAAA State Championship win in 2021.

History

The girls basketball program gained significant prominence under head coach Tara Seifert, who coached from 2007 to 2022. Seifert led the Hawks to multiple state tournament appearances, culminating in the 2021 state championship, the first in the program's history. Her leadership transformed the team into a perennial contender in the Metro West Conference and the state.

In 2023, Samantha Canter succeeded Seifert as head coach. Canter has continued to guide the team to success, maintaining their strong competitive presence in the 2024–25 season.

Rivalry

Chaska shares a longstanding rivalry with the Chanhassen Storm. Their matchups regularly draw large crowds and are characterized by intense, competitive play. The rivalry gained additional attention with the notable clash between Chaska’s Natalie Heyer and Chanhassen’s Reese Keating, two standout players who have become symbols of the competitive spirit between the schools.

Notable players

• Jenna Nelson – Known for her scoring ability and leadership in the early 2020s, Nelson was a key contributor to the Hawks’ success during her tenure.
• Natalie Heyer – A standout guard recognized for her competitive intensity in the Chaska-Chanhassen rivalry.

• Mallory Heyer** (Class of 2021) – Led Chaska in scoring during the undefeated 2020–21 season and scored 24 points with 13 rebounds in the state semifinal upset of Hopkins. Earned All-Metro honors and later played at the University of Minnesota.
• Kennedy Sanders (Class of 2021) – As a sophomore, she scored 20 points in the 2021 state semifinal upset over Hopkins. Went on to continue her education and basketball career at the University of Colorado.
• Ella Keenan(Class of 2025) – Hit a dramatic overtime buzzer-beater against Eden Prairie to clinch a Section 2AAAA title in March 2025. Received interest from DI programs; recognized for her clutch scoring in state tournament coverage.

Statistical leaders

Below are the all-time career leaders for Chaska Hawks Girls Basketball.

Category	Player	Statistic	Years
Points	Alexis Schaefer	1,320	2019–2023
Rebounds	Hanah Thul	720	2018–2022
Assists	Reagan Niebuhr	400	2020–2024
Steals	Addison Schneider	250	2021–2025
Blocks	Hanah Thul	190	2018–2022

2024–25 Girls Basketball Roster

Number	Name	Position	Year
1	Kara Moger	Guard	Junior
2	Macy Anderson	Guard	Senior
5	Mallory Allen	Guard	Senior
10	Alexis Schaefer	Guard	Senior
11	Jenna Nelson	Guard	Freshman
13	Addi Schneider	Point Guard	Junior
14	Reagan Niebuhr	Forward	Senior
20	Kaedynn DeBruine	Guard	Senior
21	Addie Perkins	Guard	Junior
22	Ella Keenan	Forward	Senior
23	Ayla Schmitz	Forward	Junior
24	Natalie Heyer	Forward	Freshman
33	Hanah Thul	Forward	Senior
35	Sophia Kruger	Forward	Junior
40	Morgan Donahue	Guard	Junior

2024–25 Season Results

Date	Opponent	Location	Result	Score
Nov 22, 2024	Champlin Park	Home	Win	69–46
Nov 26, 2024	Prior Lake	Home	Loss	55–67
Nov 29, 2024	Centennial	Away	Win	64–36
Dec 4, 2024	Shakopee	Away	Win	65–49
Dec 10, 2024	Wayzata	Away	Loss	48–79
Dec 13, 2024	Hopkins	Away	Loss	58–79
Dec 17, 2024	St. Michael-Albertville	Home	Win	59–51
Dec 20, 2024	Eden Prairie	Away	Loss	56–87
Dec 27, 2024	Rosemount	Neutral	Loss	61–70
Dec 28, 2024	Eagan	Neutral	Win	62–45
Jan 3, 2025	Minnetonka	Home	Loss	57–66
Jan 7, 2025	Waconia	Away	Win	76–62
Jan 10, 2025	Chanhassen	Home	Loss	62–68
Jan 14, 2025	New Prague	Home	Loss	62–63
Jan 17, 2025	Bloomington Jefferson	Away	Win	70–35
Jan 21, 2025	Orono	Away	Win	81–76
Jan 24, 2025	St. Louis Park	Home	Win	83–30
Jan 31, 2025	Waconia	Home	Win	62–59
Feb 4, 2025	Chanhassen	Away	Win	58–49
Feb 7, 2025	New Prague	Away	Win	74–62
Feb 11, 2025	Bloomington Jefferson	Home	Win	61–32
Feb 14, 2025	Orono	Home	Win	69–59
Feb 18, 2025	St. Louis Park	Away	Win	77–37
Feb 21, 2025	Benilde-St. Margaret's	Home	Loss	50–74
Feb 26, 2025	Chanhassen	Home (Section Final)	Win	74–62
Mar 6, 2025	Minnetonka	Neutral (Section Final)	Win	55–52
Mar 12, 2025	Hopkins	State Quarterfinal	Loss	64–70
Mar 14, 2025	Brainerd	State Consolation Final	Win	72–57

Coaching history

Years	Coach	Record	Key Achievements
2023–present	Samantha Canter	39-21	Took over in 2023; led team to Section Final and Consolation Championship in 2024–25
2007–2022	Tara Seifert	381–102	7 conference titles; two State Tournament appearances; 2021 State Champions
2004–2006	Dana Kallman	59–22	1 section title (2006)
1998–2003	Dan Pelowski	98–83	2004 Section 4AAA champion (final season)

Seasonal records (2010–2025)

Click to expand Chaska Girls Basketball Seasons 2010–2025

Chaska Hawks Girls Basketball Season Results Season Coach Overall Conference Section Finish State Tournament Finish 2024–25 Samantha Canter 18–11 6–2 Section Finalist Consolation Champion 2023–24 Tara Seifert 19–9 7–1 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify 2022–23 Tara Seifert 27–2 8–0 Section Finalist Did not qualify 2021–22 Tara Seifert 22–4 8–0 Section Champion State Champions 2020–21 Tara Seifert 18–0 3–0 Section Champion State Champions 2019–20 Tara Seifert 23–5 5–1 Section Finalist Canceled (COVID-19) 2018–19 Tara Seifert 19–10 9–5 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify 2017–18 Tara Seifert 12–16 10–4 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify 2016–17 Tara Seifert 13–15 10–4 Section Finalist Did not qualify 2015–16 Tara Seifert 13–17 6–2 Section Finalist Did not qualify 2014–15 Tara Seifert 15–11 1–3 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify 2013–14 Tara Seifert 21–9 11–4 Section Finalist Did not qualify 2012–13 Tara Seifert 21–8 10–4 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify 2011–12 Tara Seifert 12–15 8–5 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify 2010–11 Tara Seifert 11–16 4–9 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify 2009–10 Tara Seifert 16–9 12–4 Section Semifinalist Did not qualify Key:   State Champions   Section Champions (but did not win state)   Conference Champions only External Links References