It's all for one and one for all as a well-balanced and cohesive group of Champlin Park seniors heads to state.

By DAVID La VAQUE, Star Tribune

Last update: March 23, 2010 - 7:19 PM

Champlin Park boys' basketball coach Mark Tuchscherer knew his guys were stinging from a 74-69 loss to Hopkins on Jan. 9, but he encouraged them by pointing out the game's larger significance.

The Rebels vs. Royals was one of six games played in the Gatorade Timberwolves Shootout, a one day basketball showcase held at Target Center -- the same venue that houses the Class 4A state tournament.

"Coach said to us, 'This won't be the least time we're here,'" senior guard Dillon Hager said. "We all believed him."

And here they are again. The No. 3 seed Rebels (24-5) open play at 4 p.m. Wednesday against St. Cloud Tech (25-4). Champlin Park owes its return trip to downtown Minneapolis to a group of seniors whose talents are rivaled by their teamwork. These Rebels are not drones who carry out assigned tasks. They are individuals with unique strengths and a collective goal.

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