Area prep boys basketball teams try to make good use of seniors, experienced players
Osseo-Fairchild has 18 players on its roster for the 2024-25 season and it's that kind of depth that may well give them an edge competing for the Large Dairyland Conference title in their first season in the league since 1986.
Independence/Gilmanton found this out the hard way last week Thursday, Dec. 13 at OFHS as the Thunder blitzed their nine-man varsity roster which just eight players suited up and one going out with an injury in the first half 88-51 stay unbeaten and atop the league standings.
"Our coaches want us to go all out when we're in there and easier to do that when we can sub-in a lot players anmd everyone gets their chance to score and make plays on offense and defense which sets up our offense," O-F's Mason Schmidt, who finished with nine points, said.
Of course having good players and a bevy of experience on that 18-man roster helps as well. Jack Steinke, one of nine returning seniors on the team, finished with 25 points and another senior, Cole Schoettle, finished with 11 points to be in double figures along with fellow senior Drake Swett who had 12 points.
Steinke is one of five returning lettermen for the Thunder along with Swett, Schmidt, Tryggve Korger and Devon Soll. Graduating from last season's 15-11 squad which made the regional semifinals. Graduating from that team were cutline Brogan Korger, Lucas Frase, Joaquin Rodriguez, Ethan Abrahm
"I think we would certainly be a competitive ballclub in the Western Cloverbelt this season," O-F head coach Tim Popple said. "We certainly were last year and I think that's helped us transition well to the Dairyland this season."
Popple also also liked the way juniors Drake Vojtik and Noah Sullivan have played so far. But having all those seniors helps with such a big team according to Schmidt.
"They provide a lot of leadership and experience," Schmidt. "They help to make like a big family for all of us. It's a lot of fun."
Nolan Schank had 22 to lead I/G. The Indee Panthers big Carlos Flores had 12 points but was saddled with foul trouble for the entire game the team could ill-afford and while starting guard Angel Reyes had 13 points it couldn't offset the Thunder's depth, especially when it comes to the 20-game conference schedule and multiple-league game weeks all the DC teams have to play. It allowed O-F to meet the challenge provided by Lincoln last week Tuesday, Dec. 10 at home, winning 85-75 in one of their closest league contests so far. The Hornet's Jace Paul scored a game-best 34 points in leading his team back from a 45-26 halftime deficit but the Thunder held their ground in the second half despite the rally.
Popple sees I/G, Whitehall, who O-F hosts this Friday, and Melrose-Mindoro are the teams to beat in the Large Dairyland this season
Fall Creek, 2-2 overall, split last week's contests in the Western Cloverbelt as action got underway in that league. The Crickets beat Thorp on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at home by 54-21 margin led by Miles Schmidgall's 22 points and 10 rebounds and nine points by Jackson Tangley. But FC couldn't hold their halftime lead on the road aganst Stanley-Boyd on Friday,. Dec. 20 and lost 61-58. S-B's Logan Gray led all scorers with 20 points and the Orioles had two other players in double figures. Schmidgall had another double-double 18 points and 12 rebounds while Tangley scored 18 points and Cullen Kramer had 10. Josh Wright finished with seven rebounds and Tangley had three steals.
That the Crickets are just at .500 so far shows the potential and peril for the ballclub this season according to head coach Rick Storlie.
After graduating eight seniors off of last year's team, the Crickets will be looking for underclassmen to step up and fill gaps for the 2024-2025 season. Last year the Crickets posted a 16-10 record and lost in the WIAA Division 4 Regional Tournament championship game to the Durand-Arkansaw. Fall Creek will miss all conference players in Bo Vollrath and Isaac Steinke, both 1st Team members. Also, Jack Walden who was named Honorable Mention. Vollrath was nominated for All State Awards again this season. He finishes his four seasons of wearing a Cricket uniform with 1,706 total points. Good for second all-time in Fall Creek Sports History. Only behind Steve Wilhelm who had over 2,000 points.
Returning will be Juniors Cullen Kramer and Corbin Sell. Kramer saw a lot of varsity action and started 12 games last season. He finished with a scoring average of 4.2 ppg. Sell had an outstanding JV season. As the JV Crickets posted a 21-1 record under the direction of Coach Jaenke. Also, returning is sophomore Miles Schmidgall. He played in all 26 games and started until Vollrath’s return. He finished with a scoring average of 4.6 ppg and led the team in blocked shots as a freshman with 32. Other players will be coming off the JV team and C Teams from last year. Coach Prissel directed the C Team to an impressive 20-2 record. A strong year for both teams
Augusta and Eleva-Strum play each other this Friday, Dec. 20 in Augusta and it's good thing because it will be a much-needed win for two squads struggling right now to get one so far this season.
Augusta went 3-22 a year ago, graduating seniors Eric LaLonde, Cashton Leslin, Kenny Kloss, Spencer Pilgrim and Parker Brost from the squad. The Beavers do return six senior lettermen in Noah and Dimitri Schroeder, Beau Harmer (who has been out with an injury for the past few weeks), Matt Hoff and Michael Smith along with Kyle Taylor. Top underclassmen for AHS include sophomore Owen Lee and junior Bryce Buttke, who has been leading the team in scoring so far.
"I think it's up to our players to understand what their roles for the team are and understand what their potential can be when they know those roles and play with effort and smarts consistently," second-season head coach Byron King said
The Beavers played three games last week with back-to-back losses Thursday, Dec. 13 at home to Melrose-Mindoro 91-55 and Friday, Dec. 14 at Lincoln by a 67-33 score. The Beavers gave up 51 points in the first half to the Mustangs, led by Brady Blaken's 17 points. Augusta outdid Mel-Min in the stat you don't want the advantage in, tunrovers, by a 19-8 margin. Bryce Buttke had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Beavers picking up where he left off against Indy/Gilmanton on Monday, Dec. 9 while teammate Owen Lee scored 12 points and four assists. AHS was outscored badly in the first half at Lincoln 43-15 as Paul finished with a game-best 28 points. No one was in double figures for Augusta as Noah Schroder had seven points to lead the way and Buttke had five.
E-S played just one league game last week, a 78-49 loss at Blair-Taylor on Thursday, Dec. 12. The Wildcats' Ethan Kniseley led all scorers with 28 points and was named WHTL 102.3 FM's Player of the Game. The Cardinal also lost at home Tuesday, Dec. 10 to Arcadia in a non-conference contest 71-31. Calvin Barneson had eight points and Ty Fjelstad seven for Central.
Barneson, a junior and Fjelstad, a senior, both are lettermen from last season's 4-21 ballclub. They're joined by seniors Brody Hanson, Brennan Hanner, juniors Noah Martinson, Russell Hulett, Brayden Olson and Axel Young. But the Cardinals lost their only all-conference player in Carter Gunderson and also graduated Jake Bjerke, Jovanny Stevens and Alex Anderson. They also have a brand new coach in Joe Phillips, who hoped the team can at least provide consistent, all-out effort while the building of a cohesive team and program comes along.
"We know we're in a rebuilding process," Phillips said WHTL radio broadcast before their first game vs. Whitehall last month. "We're going to build this program through hard work and consistency and effort. And we're going to be a program that's built without excuses. Where we are is where we right now but where we want to go and what we want to be a team that fights every game, responds well and is tough under the jerseys and between the ears."
