Friendly farewell

• Aaron Grinsteinner

Press File Photo by Dustin Monke Dickinson Trinity graduate Aaron Grinsteinner is playing his final games together today and Wednesday as they lead the Class B all-stars into the Lions All-Star basketball series.
• Robbie Morey

Press File Photo by Dustin Monke Dickinson Trinity graduate Robbie Morey is playing his final games together today and Wednesday as they lead the Class B all-stars into the Lions All-Star basketball series.

Talk about it

As Aaron Grinsteinner walked off the basketball court at Fargo’s Carl Ben Eielson Middle School on Monday, he realized something that stirred his emotions.

“That was my last basketball practice, ever,” Grinsteinner said.

Grinsteinner, along with fellow Dickinson Trinity High School graduate Robbie Morey, is representing Class B in the Lions All-Star boys basketball series that begins tonight at the Bismarck Civic Center and concludes Wednesday at the Fargo Civic Auditorium.

Grinsteinner plans to attend Notre Dame in the fall and said while walking on to the school’s track and field team remains a possibility, he likely won’t pursue any athlete endeavors outside of the intramural leagues.

“It’s bittersweet,” said Grinsteinner, who was one of Class B’s alternate replacement players. “I’m excited that I’m going to be able to go to Notre Dame and everything, but I’m sad because I love the game of basketball.”

After a strong career on both the hardwood and the football field, Grinsteinner is getting his second chance to say goodbye to high school athletics this summer. In June, he started safety for the North Dakota all-stars in their 41-38 win over Montana in the Badlands Bowl.

Having Morey along for the ride the past week makes going into his final basketball games a little easier for Grinsteinner, who was a two-time all-Region 7 guard.

The duo have been teammates since the seventh grade and guided Trinity to back-to-back Region 7 runner-up finishes during their junior and senior seasons. Morey was also the sixth man as a freshman on the Titans’ 2007 state runner-up team.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Morey said. “We’ve been playing together so long, it’s nice just to have one more time together before we hang up the shoes.”

The Titan shoes that is.

Morey plans to play basketball for Dickinson State this winter.

With a week of practice under their belts, Morey said the Class B team has reached a point where they’re ready to play a game together even though they’re still feeling each other out.

“We’re still trying to get used to each other,” Morey said. “It takes a little while. Everybody is tentative right away. We’re starting to get used to each other so we know where the other person is going to go and things like that. It makes it a little easier.”

Grinsteinner said having Morey on the team could serve to ease those would-be growing pains once the team hits the floor tonight.

He added that having a teammate like Morey is something he will miss.

“Playing with him isn’t like playing with anybody else,” Grinsteinner said. “He’s a great team player. He’s a great athlete. He can score if he wants and he can get other people open when he wants. I’m, really glad I had one last opportunity to play with him.”

Rosters

Boys

Class A: Ryan Buchholz, Century. Tyler Eiken, Williston. Ryan Huber, St. Mary’s. Bryan Kielpinski, Mandan. Mike Miller, Mandan. Taylor Poss, Fargo South. Nik Savageau, Fargo North. Brad Shaw, Fargo South. Donte’ Smart, Minot. Brian Sinner, Jamestown. Andrew Peterson, Jamestown. Tyler Thompson, Grand Forks Red River. Coaches: Steve Miller, Bismarck. Jason Horner, Mandan.

Class B: Sam Olson, Fargo Oak Grove. Harrison Weber, Central Cass. Brandon Weber, Thompson. Trent Roemmich, Linton. Adam Randall, Kidder County. Aaron Stemen, LaMoure. Grant Singer, Turtle Lake-Mercer. Shae Brown, Center-Stanton. Matt Yale, Berthold. Robbie Morey, Dickinson Trinity. Devin Yellow Wolf, Mandaree. Aaron Grinsteinner, Dickinson Trinity. Alternate: Levi Friedt, Minot Ryan. Coaches: Nate Monson, Carrington. Keith Hartz, Cavalier.

Girls

Class A: Jordan Allard, Belcourt. Madi Buck, Century. Siri Burck, Fargo South. Chelsea Carlson, Grand Forks Red River. Brooke Christensen, St. Mary’s. Julia Davis, Belcourt. Emily Evers, Grand Forks Red River. Chelsea Lingle, Bismarck. Anne Marhula, Grand Forks Red River. Tana Teschendorf, Fargo North. Alyssa Wixo, Fargo North. Miranda Zavalney, Williston. Coaches: Ron Metz, Century. Derek Ouren, Fargo North.

Class B: Jenica Bohnenkamp, North Sargent. Lexi Erickson, Forville-Lankin. Hailey Longtin, North Border. Eli Benz, Kidder County. Laura Lies, New Rockford. Kali Kurtz, Carrington. Heather Carlson, Rolla-Rock Lake. Kelsey Peltier, Bottineau. Macie Harris, Kenmare. Stef Bohrer, Hazen. Dani Sadowsky, Killdeer. Samantha Heier, Ray. Alternates: Tessa Zahradka, Fordville-Lankin. Jordyn Bender, New England. Rachel Mehus, Stanley. Coaches: Barb Kraft, Central Cass. Andy Braaten, Carrington.

Games

Today at Bismarck Civic Center: Girls, 5 p.m.; Boys 7 p.m.

Wednesday at Fargo Civic Auditorium: Girls, 5 p.m.; Boys 7 p.m.

Tags: lions all-star, sports, titans, preps, basketball