North Borders's Matt Greendahl's a record setter -- in family, school and co-op

WALHALLA, N.D. -- Shortly before the Class B boys high school basketball season began last December, Matt Greendahl pulled out his father’s old high school scrapbook from a storage box. He’d seen it before. This was just a refresher.

“I’ve always looked at it,’’ Matt Greendahl said. “It was cool to see his records. I knew he was a 1,000-point scorer. It was something I always wanted to do.’’

Matt Greendahl got his 1,000th point as a junior. His senior season has been spent leaping up the career scoring charts in his family, in the North Border boys basketball co-op and at Walhalla High School. In all three categories, he is now the record holder, finishing his career with 1,440 points.

“Matt’s had a pretty exciting year,’’ North Border coach Dany Moore said. “He likes to put goals out in front of him. They’re carrots dangling out in front of him that pushed him. They were attainable goals; his mindset was that he was going hard after them.’’

The first leap was into No. 1 scorer in his family. His father, Randy Greendahl, scored 1,097 points in his prep career at Fosston, Minn., from which he graduated in 1984. Matt had 1,048 points entering the season. It took only a few games to pass his dad.

“Right after that game, I told my dad, ‘It was pretty easy to beat your record,’ ’’ Matt said.

“Matt gave me a cheesy smile and nodded his head at me,’’ said Randy, a long-time basketball coach here. “It was exciting for me. I was proud when he did it. We’ve worked on basketball a lot together.’’

Next up was co-op record holder Dennis Delude and his 1,203 points.

Finally, the senior scored 19 points on Feb. 20 in a game against Hillsboro-Central Valley for the Walhalla school record. Greendahl finished the game with 1,391 points; 1994 graduate Brian Johnson held the record with 1,390.

“His record was the highest goal for me,’’ Matt said. “He and my dad are good friends. He used to be our neighbor before he moved to Grand Forks. It felt good to get that one, to be the top scorer in your school. It felt pretty cool.

“Brian sent me a card congratulating me on getting the record. That was super nice.’’

Success came with what coach, father and athlete all describe as “old school’’ basketball.

Matt Greendahl was always tall. He learned a lot of post moves working with his father in the family’s driveway.

But now, at 6-foot-2, Greendahl isn’t towering in height. He’s an inch shorter than Jaden Lee, the team’s starting point guard. But Greendahl still relied on those post moves.

“Dad’s taught me everything I know about the game,’’ Matt said. “He worked with me on our driveway, working on post moves and stuff like that.

“I’ve worked on (a post game) since I was a little kid. It’s old school -- backing down the defense, turning and getting off a fadeaway. A lot of players don’t like to bang down low. But that’s where I belong.’’

And Greendahl now belongs atop the scoring record books -- in his family, in the North Border co-op and in his high school.

The following area basketball players finished the 2019-20 season with more than 1,000 career points and/or 1,000 career rebounds.

1,000 career points

Callie Ronningen, Langdon-E-M, 2,115

Carlee Sieben, Grafton, 1,544

Latasha Bellile, Four Winds-Minn., 1,362

Kendra Prouty, St. John, 1,353

Jes Mertens, Devils Lake, 1,279

Kenzie Hughes, Thompson, 1,161

Carly Lippert, Dakota Prairie, 1,112

Elizabeth Schanilec, Midway-Minto, 1,043

Myona Dauphinais, Four Winds-Minn., 1,020

1,000 career rebounds

Callie Ronningen, Langdon-E-M, 1,142

1,000 career points

Katie Borowicz, Roseau, 2,460

Keylee Dahl, Northern Freeze, 1,742

Jenna Pahlen, Red Lake CC, 1,622

Jackie Lynn Taflin, Clearbrook-Gonv, 1,297

Emma Borowicz, Crookston, 1,260

Lindsey Kurz, Climax-Fisher, 1,154

Lindsey Espeseth, Win-E-Mac, 1,148

Rylie Mortimer, Warren-A-O, 1,088

Shelby Durand, Warren-A-O, 1,086

Sydney Lloyd, Sacred Heart, 1,070

Kia Bachand, Red Lake CC, 1,061

Ivy Edwards, Sacred Heart, 1,051

1,000 career rebounds

Jenna Pahlen, Red Lake CC, 1,007

1,000 career points

Carson Henningsgard, Hillsboro-CV, 1,744

Tyler Loe, Dakota Prairie, 1,627

Matt Greendahl, North Border, 1,440

Andre Carrier, Cavalier, 1,400

Avery Thorsgard, Hatton-Northwood, 1,149

Grant Romfo, Langdon-E-M, 1,070

Grant Nelson, Devils Lake, 1,058

Doug Yankton, Four Winds-Minn., 1,034

Jackson Neidlinger, Lakota, 1,030

1,000 career points

Julian Benson, EGF Senior High, 1,584

Sam Votava, EGF Senior High, 1,562

Jarrett Kujava, Kittson CC, 1,556

Derek Peterson, Red Lake CC, 1,447

Brandon Miller, Warren-A-O, 1,173

Jonny Hamnes, Clearbrook-Gonv., 1,081

Caden Osborn, Crookston, 1,071

Tanner Nordlof, Lake of the Woods, 1,062

Storm Manning, Thief River Falls, 1,050

Nathan Willett, EGF Senior High, 1,041