Six players spanning four decades from the 1970s to the 2000s have been chosen for the next Mineral Point Basketball Hall of Fame Class, including three boys and three girls. This class, the fifth, will be inducted on January 6th, 2024 when the Pointer girls host the Prairie du Chien Blackhawks with JV starting at 1 pm and the induction set for in between the JV & Varsity games.
Here is a look at the #PointerNation Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024:
RAEANN (BENNETT) RUFFING – CLASS OF 2008
Raeann was a 2008 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star. She earned First Team All-Conference honors as a Junior and Senior while earning Honorable Mention honors as a Sophomore. Raeann was named Second Team Wisconsin State Journal All-Area as a Senior and Honorable Mention as a Junior. She scored 768 points in her career, grabbed 449 rebounds, and shot 51% from the field hitting on 331 of 646 shots.
JANET JAMES – CLASS OF 1983
Janet was Southern 8 Conference MVP and First Team All-Conference as a Senior. As a Junior she was also First Team All-Conference and was Honorable Mention All-Conference during her Sophomore season. Janet scored 351 points during her Senior season and 752 points during her career at a time when the girls used a boys basketball. Janet played softball at UW-Platteville where she earned All-Conference honors.
LIZ (LAWINGER) LINFANTE – CLASS OF 2008
Liz scored 1,014 points in her career, had 423 career steals, and 399 assists. She earned First Team All-Conference honors three times. Liz was a Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star and earned WBCA Division 4 First Team All-State honors. She was Wisconsin State Journal First Team All-Area as a Senior and Second Team as a Junior. Liz was also named Associated Press Honorable Mention All-State as a Senior. She played college basketball for four seasons at UW-Platteville where she earned All-Conference honors in the WIAC.
BRET MCGRAW – CLASS OF 2000
Bret was a three time First Team All-Conference performer, including his Senior season in which he played the entire year with a torn ACL. He was part of two Conference Champion teams and the 1997-98 Pointers reached the WIAA Sectional Final. Bret was a unanimous selection to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game as a Senior. He ended his career as Mineral Point’s second leading scorer with 947 points. He currently ranks second in career three-point field goal percentage connecting on 159 out of 396 career three-point shots for 40%. He ranks fifth in career free throw percentage making 131 out of 161 free throws (81%) and fifth in single season free throw percentage making 53 out of 64 (83%).
JIM PLUEMER – CLASS OF 1983
Jim earned Southern 8 First Team honors and was named Conference MVP as a Senior. During that season, Jim led the Southern 8 in scoring. He scored 54 more points than the conference’s second leading scorer that season. As a Junior, Jim was Honorable Mention All-Conference. Jim scored 833 points during his career and pulled down 532 rebounds, including 229 in a single season. He had 121 career steals.
JOHN SCHMIT – CLASS OF 1974
John Schmit was a three year starter and a four year varsity player at Mineral Point. He was First Team All-Conference as a Senior, Second Team All-Conference as a Junior, and Honorable Mention All-Conference as a Sophomore at a time when only five players were selected to the First Team. When his career ended, he was Mineral Point’s leading scorer with 847 points. John, who helped lead his team to a WIAA State Runner-Up finish in Class C in 1974, still ranks 4th in career rebounds with 664 boards. The 1974 team also was Southern 8 Conference Champions while the 1973 team was WIAA Regional Champions.