The mini-series on Minnesota high school basketball legends continues with one of the most important girls basketball players in Minnesota state history.  Janet Karvonen-Montgomery grew up in the Finnish town of New York Mills and was encouraged and influenced by her brother to excel at basketball.  She did just that as she became one of the most accomplished female athletes in the sport.  Growing up during the Title IX era Janet excelled on the basketball court bringing notoriety to girls basketball.  

The MN state high school league didn’t put on a girls basketball state tournament until 1976, so Janet almost missed out on being that household name.  Her New York Mills teams won three consecutive state titles from 1977 – 1979.  She graduated having a record as a starter of 99 – 5 and was the state’s all-time leading scorer for boys OR girls.  She went on to play collegiately at powerhouse programs Old Dominion and Louisiana Tech.  During her time in college she played against the likes of Cheryl Miller and attended and played at the same school as Karl Malone.  She then went into broadcasting, hosting her own basketball camp here in Minnesota and ultimately becoming involved in ministry.  

This was a really enjoyable conversation as Janet recalls a lot of great highlights from her career and we touch on things like how her and her teammates sold light bulbs to help pay for new uniforms as well as how to correctly pronounce “sauna”.  

Enjoy this conversation in The Bare's Den with Minnesota high school basketball hall of fame member - Janet Karvonen-Montgomery.