Orono senior forward Cole Hennings finished with a flurry on Friday night, scoring 16 of his 19 points in the second half of a 71-55 victory against Wright County Conference rival Waconia.
Hennings, who drained two 3-pointers and made four of six free throws in the second half, said his stamina comes from his secondary sport, soccer.
“Basketball is a smaller court, but I play soccer in the fall to keep my stamina up so I can play a full game,” Hennings said.
Hennings was the fourth-leading scorer on Orono's boys' soccer team with six goals and three assists for 15 points. His quest to reach the state soccer tournament was halted in the section finals in a 3-2 loss to Chaska.
Now the focus is all on basketball, Hennings' preferred sport.
“I’m always comfortable when he’s on the floor,” Orono coach Barry Wohler said. “He’s such a competitor.”
Hennings averages 19.4 points per game to lead the Spartans, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A by the Minnesota Basketball News.
Last year Orono took fourth at state and the Spartans appear poised to make a long postseason run again this year.
“We have potential to make it to state, it’s picked up our intensity, but I know we’re a targeted team,” Hennings said.
Hennings' fortunes are aided by a good luck charm in the stands.
Flashing among the Spartans' student at almost every game is a huge sign with the phrase, “The Cole Hennings Project.”
Hennings explained that his best friend had promised, for Hennings' birthday, he was getting a special gift. The lone hint: “It’s the Cole Hennings project.”
For weeks Hennings was left in mystery, until on his birthday the project was revealed as a video montage.
“It’s taken it’s own persona now,” Hennings said.
The senior has no plans to continue basketball after college but is looking at attending the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota.
Cole Henning (13) makes a drive to the basket. Photo by Chris Juhn
First Report
Senior forward Cole Hennings scored 19 points to lead Orono to a 71-55 win over Waconia in a Wright County conference matchup at Orono High School on Friday.
Orono (14-4, 2-2) led 28-27 at halftime, but Hennings scored 16 of his points in the second half, giving the Spartans, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A by the Minnesota Basketball News, the win. Hennings averages a team-best 19.4 points per game for Orono.
Waconia (8-9, 2-1) led by as much as 25-16, in the first. Senior Roch Wittaker and junior Josh Rands each scored 13 points to pace the Wildcats.
Junior Sam Sustacek added 13 points for Orono.
