Mom asks, Facebook answers as photo plea for daughter's anticipated milestone goes viral

All Betsy Kneepkens wanted was one picture, of her daughter Gianna, making a basket representing her 11th point scored Friday night in a game played by her Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers at Pine City. For Gianna, No. 11 would be the 3,000th point of her high school career, an accomplishment reached by only 20 other girls in Minnesota basketball history. For her heartbroken mother — 90 miles from a gym where pandemic rules limit seating to 44 people and visiting fans are not allowed — it would mean the world to have the milestone documented. After a much-publicized Facebook plea and some private maneuvering, she’ll get the picture. And be able to witness the expected moment herself. “It’s been resolved,” Pine City athletic director Richard Engelstad said Thursday afternoon. “Mom and Dad are going to be at the game.” It sure didn’t look that way when Betsy Kneepkens went to her Facebook page Wednesday evening. Her daughter had told her the day before that visiting fans couldn’t be at the Pine City game, the latest of many pandemic setbacks going back to the 2020 Class 2A tournament.  » Read More