Chaska girls hoops enters season with high hopes, expectations

Last season, despite a young roster the Chaska girls basketball team seemed to be State Tourney-bound for the first time since 2010.

But after earning the #1 seed in their section, the Hawks were upset in the Section Final. Coming up one game short, and with another year of valuable experience behind them, the Hawks are reloaded, re-focused and packed with talent for the season ahead.

Click the video box on this page to see Chaska’s Mallory Heyer, Kennedy Sanders and head coach Tara Seifert preview the 2021 season

During the offseason, junior forward Mallory Heyer committed to the University of Minnesota for college – a milestone she admits is a relief to have behind her after dreaming of the moment for a lifetime.

RELATED: Chaska girls hoops dominates Bloomington Kennedy

Along with sophomore point guard Kennedy Sanders and senior Lehigh University-commit Kaylee Van Eps, the Hawks appear ready to make another charge this season.

Sanders burst onto the scene as a freshman last season, while Van Eps – a starter since 8th grade and a two-year captain – serves as an upperclass leader and ranks among the top players in the state’s Class of 2021.

The Hawks have opened the season with a 40-point win at Benilde-St. Margaret’s and followed it with a dominant 64-point win over Bloomington Kennedy. Heyer averaged 18 points in the two season opening wins.