Thorn Cracks 1,000 Points as St. Michael-Albertville Girls Continue Roll

Christine Thorn scored 17 points and the St. Michael-Albertville girls' basketball team topped St. Francis 67-29 on a monumental night for he Knights' senior.

Thorn dropped in 17 as she continued her recent tear. She's the sixth Knight to top the 1,000 point mark in girls' basketball, joining Rachel Jobes, Jenna Stangler, Brittani Wiese, Jodi Reinschmidt and Marla Arns.

Since being held to just three points in the squad's last loss–to Buffalo–Thorn is averaging more than 20 points per game during the Knights' seven-game winning streak. That includes a 41-point outburst against Cambridge-Isanti, her career high and team season high. 

"It's was a fun thing to watch," coach Kent Hamre said of his senior guard's big night. "One of those nights where everything she was throwing up there was going in."

The Knights' current streak includes wins over several conference competitors, including Rogers, Monticello and Cambridge.

Last night's win over St. Francis was against a possible future conference opponent, as the league has approached St. Francis about joining after Becker leaves next year.

It was also senior night for Thorn and fellow Class of 2012 members Rachel Valley, Maggie Casey and Courtney Rotenberger.

"They're a group that has given a lot to STMA basketball over the past four or five years, and they've grown up together as a team," Hamre said.

Currently 18-6 and 9-1 in the conference, the Knights close out the regular season at home vs. Rogers Friday, Feb. 24. Tip is at 7:15 p.m. The shootout with Buffalo, which will determine the conference title and the No. 1 seed in Section 8-4A, is set for 7:15 p.m. Tuesday night in Buffalo.