After a very successful 2024-2025 season, the Lakers finished with a record of 20-5. The Lakers lost to Minnetonka in the section semi-finals causing a disappointing end to their season as they also said goodbye to seven seniors.
Head coach Maurice Hodges also decided his coaching career was over after that joyful season and retired. With Hodges’ departure, assistant coaches Alex Davis and Mike Hopper moved on as well and now coach at Shakopee High School.
After endless searching and a very long wait, PLHS hired a new coach for the girls basketball team. Her name is Ellen Thompson.
Thompson was previously the assistant coach at Minnetonka High School and, when she came over to Prior Lake, she hired Bree Colangelo as the varsity assistant. Colangelo came over from Lakeville South where she was coaching fifth grade, so becoming a varsity assistant coach was definitely a big step in her coaching career.
After losing seven seniors, the Lakers have a big year full of rebuilding. Currently, the Lakers have a record of 8-10 and had to fight back some wins after losing many tough games. The Lakers just had two big home wins against the #2 ranked in the state Rosemount and the #7 ranked in the state Eastview earlier in the season.
These wins came from our coaching staff’s dedication and personalized coaching style. “I want to have fun with you girls, but when it’s time to lock in and focus and get things done, we need to do that because that’s the only way we are gonna be a better team. You have to have balance in all of that to create a successful team,” says Colangelo.
Similarly, Coach Thompson states, “I set high expectations for my team, and I set high expectations for myself and the whole program. So, I make sure I teach the skills that are necessary to understand those expectations and help develop the players. I am also a very intense coach and will always bring energy to my team.”
These new coaches and their coaching styles have been super successful for the basketball team. Coach Thompson brings the fire, intimidation, discipline, and brains. Coach Colangelo contributes with fun, energy, aggression, and passion. They’re a great pair, and the team is responding well.
Playing for both of these coaches has been an amazing experience. “This is not just about basketball. It’s about developing yourself as a person and taking the things you learn as basketball players and applyng that to all areas of your life.” This is advice Coach Thompson gave when asked what she hopes her players remember about playing for her. This is definitely some of the best advice I have received from a coach because sports and activities are just building blocks of life that teach valuable lessons.
Coach Colangelo also has advice to share: “My desire as a coach is to see you guys grow as young women and come back and say, ‘hey, I think you made me a better player and a better person when I played for you.’” This advice really made me realize how much our coaches care about all of the girls on the team. Clearly, all of the time we spend together as a team will pay off in our futures with specific skills like working in groups, communicating, and building relationships.
Even during the hardest weeks of games, losses, and practices, the Prior Lake Girls Basketball coaches never gave up on them. Many tears have been shed this season due to hardships, but the constant support and encouragement have kept our heads high and made the team ready to play all the time.
“Next play!” and “Chins up!” are positive words that our coaches repeat every day. The team uses these motivating phrases to uplift each other when times feel miserable. They represent power and the bond between the players.
I am so excited to finish off the 2025-2026 season with these memorable coaches. I was really nervous for a change, but it all worked out in the end because change isn’t always a bad thing.
