Wagner, Musland hoping to help Class B get two wins in Lions ASG

Jul. 9—JAMESTOWN — While this is the last game of high school basketball for the players selected to the Lion's All-Star Basketball series, two local players are continuing their careers after the showcases are over. Before that though Scott Wagner and Molly Musland will be hoping to take down their Class A counterparts.

"I'm very excited to play against Class A," Wagner said. "Especially going against some of the top bigs from Class A like Michael (Nhial) and Treyson (Eaglestaff). I need to see how Class A plays because I know that, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Class A has won the past few years. So I want to change that, I think Class B is gonna win."

Musland said she is excited to see old friends again when she steps on the floor for the Class B squad.

"I get to play with a lot of my AAU teammates again like Terryn Johnson, Cassie Erickson, Reagan Hanson," Musland said. "We all played AAU together growing up so it will be fun to play with them one more time."

Wagner's journey to play in the games was a long and winding one that put his ability to play basketball in jeopardy. In May of 2021, Wagner rolled his car and broke two vertebrae in his back, his left clavicle, his left wrist and left thumb. Those injuries required months of rehab to get back for the Cardinals season.

"When I was recovering I just wanted to see if I could still perform for what type of level I could still play in," Wagner said. "I didn't really have the Lion's all-star game in the back of my head. I just had the idea of being able to play at least. It feels amazing, spectacular, there are too many words to describe how I feel about it, knowing that even after my accident I was able to not only perform at the same level but even go above it and have the best year of my high school career."

Wagner and Musland will get the chance to play in the games with the girls' game first at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 11, followed by the boys' games at 8 p.m. at Legacy High School in Bismarck. The teams immediately rematch the following day, July 12, with the girls again opening it up at 6 p.m. before the boys play at 8 p.m. at Fargo Davies High School in Fargo.

As the two prepare to start their freshman year playing collegiate basketball, they have been working hard and staying in basketball shape.

"All summer, I've been in the gym here in LaMoure and then shooting and practicing dribbling and all that," Musland said. "For Concordia, we have been having open gyms once a week, every Wednesday and so it's good to get up and down with my future teammates too."

In 25 games for the LaMoure/Litchville-Marion Loboes, Musland averaged 16.4 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and three assists per game. In 25 games for the Ellendale Cardinals, Wagner averaged 19.5 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game and 3.2 blocks per game.

The Dakota State bound Wagner and future Concordia Cobber Musland are not alone as future collegiate athletes to play in the game. Both players will play against future college teammates in the games as Wagner will be joined in the Trojans program by West Fargo's Brett Limke, while Musland will be taking on Fargo Davies' Taylor Safranski.

"I think mostly all the girls on my team and the Class A girls too are playing a college sport whether that be basketball or volleyball," Musland said. "So we're all highly competitive and want to win. So, it should be fun to have them push us and me to push them to be better."

The sadness the two feel about the end of their high school career is dampened by the continuation of their basketball careers.

"It hasn't yet but I'm starting to realize it, gaining the ability to dress up for one more game of my high school career I'm not going to let it go to waste," Wagner said. "I'm sad that my high school career is over but I'm also very excited to move on and play at the next level."