Prepzone Hardcourt Preview 2017

ST. PAULBOYS
The St. Paul boy’s basketball squad
finished the 2016-17 campaign with
a 10-11 record, but expectations are
much higher entering this season.
Junior center Carson Morgan
will be a force inside for St. Paul.
Morgan averaged 9.3 points and 5.2
rebounds a game last year.
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The Wildcats return nine
letterwinners under head coach
Derek Reinsch, and will look to
make some noise in Class C-1.
“We are going to be a deep,
experienced team this season. For
us to take the next step forward we
need to see us be more efficient on
offense and a better rebounding
team,” Reinsch said.
The Wildcats will rely heavily
on senior point guard Tanner
Wroblewski, who posted 11.8 points
and 2.8 steals a contest as a junior.
Reinsch will also look to seniors
Parker Klinginsmith, Thomas
Mrkvicka, and Mike Allen, as well
as junior Wyatt Placke, to play
significant roles this season.
“We have the ability to be a really
good defensive team by playing
our roles and it will come down to
finishing each possession with a
rebound or steal,” Reinsch said.
The season will get underway for
the Wildcats on Nov. 30 on the road
against Gibbon.
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TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Wildcats
Class: C-1
2016-17 Record: 10-11
Playoff Appearances: 13
Head Coach: Derek Reinsch
Career Record: 22-63
608 Howard Ave
St Paul, NE 68873
MINDEN • KENESAW • ROSELAND • HASTINGS
Kevin, Cody, Denise, Megan, Joelle, Erica and Kristi
Minden • 308.832.2140
ST. PAULGIRLS
MINDENBOYS
The St. Paul girl’s basketball squad
exploded out of the gates in 2016-
17, winning eight straight games en
route to a 16-10 overall record.
And although the season
came to a close with a loss to
Kearney Catholic in the district
championship, valuable experience
was gained under head coach Derek
Runcie, who enters his second full
season at the helm of the program.
The Wildcats welcome back only
five returning letterwinners this
season, meaning some younger
athletes will have to adapt quickly if
St. Paul wants to make some noise
in Class C-1.
“The key to a successful season for
us this year will be leadership and
team chemistry. We lost over 65
percent of our scoring production
from last year and return only two
players with extensive varsity
experience,” Runcie said.
Senior guard Bailey Lukasiewicz
will be relied heavily upon this
season, after averaging 7.6 points,
3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per
game last year.
Runcie will also look for big things
out of sophomore Brooke Poppert,
who averaged 6.9 points and 7.2
rebounds a game as a freshman.
“With so many new pieces to the
team this year, it is somewhat of a
mystery to how your team is going
to respond in tough situations,”
Runcie added. “The other exciting
part is most of these girls, who will
have new roles and responsibilities,
played on the scout team against our
varsity last year. We have a lot of
new pieces to fit into our puzzle, but
I am excited for the potential this
team has. We just have to fulfill it.”
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Wildcats
Class: C-1
2016-17 Record: 16-10
Playoff Appearances: 2
Head Coach: Derek Runcie
Career Record: 16-10
Even though the Minden boys
basketball team is coming off a
difficult 2016-17 season in which
the Whippets finished 5-17, a
bounce back campaign is very
possible under second year head
coach Jordan Reinertson.
Minded struggled down the
stretch last season, losing its
final ten games, but with some
experience back on the roster,
things could be different in 2017-
18.
The Whippets return three seniors
in Grant Edgecombe, Colton
Taylor, and Bradyn Petersen.
Juniors Elijah Lovin, Josh
Denney, and Aidan Wheelock will
also be impact players for Minden
this season.
“I believe our players are
excited and ready to start this
season,” Reinertson said. “We
still have considerable room
for growth in many areas of
the game but our boys showed
more commitment throughout
the summer in improving their
skills and basketball IQ. We
need to continue to focus on the
improvement process each week.”
Minden opens the year on Nov. 30
at home against Southern Valley.
48 2017 Prepzone Hardcourt Preview www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 49
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Whippets
Class: C-1
2016-17 Record: 5-17
Playoff Appearances: 31
Head Coach: Jordan Reinertson