Winter came on like a fast break and means we're that much closer to everything that the hardwood will include! Every season has it's own flavor but with new additions to the local scene & significant turnover from last year to this one the 2022/2023 season will be a ride all it's own.
In preparation for the first games this edition comes courtesy of coach Nathan Stoa talking about Hawley boys hoops.
Before looking ahead, what are the best memories from last season?
There were many good memories from last season. Two that stick out were: 1a) Coming back from down six in the last couple minutes to force overtime in Barnesville. We won 69-65 in the last game played in their now "old" gym. 1b) Brady Gratton and Hayden Grani combining for 46 points on 9 of 13 from 3 in our home playoff win. Both guys played a ton of minutes in our program. They went through quite a few ups and downs because they were asked to play early in their careers due to low numbers in the classes ahead of them. It was fun to see them cap their home careers with big games.
Your team was division champs at Concordia's camp. How did they benefit from that experience?
The Concordia Team Camp is a well run event. We were able to get three games. The most telling and worthwhile of the three games was our opener against a tough Central Cass squad. The Squirrels shot it very well and yet we made enough unselfish plays in transition after forcing one shot possessions to win the game. Central Cass will play deep into the Region 1 playoffs this season, so that's a good game for our guys to compete in regardless of the outcome.
Did any players surprise you with what they showed during the workouts?
I was very happy with the growth of all of our guys that showed up throughout the Summer. Whether it was our experienced trio of Mason Gratton, Sam Senske, and Brevin Stoa expanding their lead roles or some of our younger guys stepping into play against other varsities for the first time. I'll never keep or care about our records in the summer, I just want us to play against quality teams that allow our guys to grow into and/or expand their roles within our teams.
Did your team do any other workouts?
Most of our guys were in the gym 3 mornings a week in addition to speed and strength and summer tournaments. We have had a group of guys leading some pickup ball since football and cross country ended.
Sam Senske has been identified as a player to watch in the region, how have you seen him improve? How might he continue to progress?
Sam deserves to be a player to watch in the region. He was one of our two unanimous all-conference selections. Sam has a great knack for scoring from a variety of spots on the floor and using his footwork to create advantages. Last season Sam showed an increased motivation to rebound and displayed very good floor vision. I believe that Sam's offensive game will continue to grow and if his defensive game grows he'll be in the conversation as the top player in our league.
Who are some of the players you anticipate will help fill-in for the ones that departed? What do they bring to the roster?
Derek Tibbets, Sr - Derek is athletic, strong, and runs the floor very well. Last season, he expanded his range. I expect him to play a big role for us this season doing "dirty work" on both ends of the floor.
John Vetter, Sr - John missed his junior season after ankle surgery. He will provide a strong athletic body that can dominate the boards and score at the rim.
Landon Bakke, Jr - Landon is a cagey guard that displays good footwork in the paint and can shoot the ball at a high percentage from three. Cole Bratsch, Jr - Cole uses his length to disrupt the flow of our opponent's offenses and is willing to rebound on both ends of the floor. We are looking for him to step into some of the stopper roles that were vacated thanks to graduation.
Jack Justesen, Jr - Jack will be looked to as a solid position defender that can knock down kick out three-pointers.
Noah Nelson, So - Noah worked as hard as anyone that wears maroon and gold in the weight room this summer. His season as QB1 should only help his confidence as he becomes a top rotation player for us. At 6'5, he'll need to be able to compete on the glass to make us better.
Is there a certain aspect of the game that you think will be the strength of your team? To boil it down, what would make the upcoming season a successful one?
These two questions are one in the same for us. I believe that we can score with (about) anyone, but will be able to dig in and make stops in the half court is the big question.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about your program or players?
Mason Gratton, Sr - returning all conference player - he has started all but a couple games (due to injury) since his freshman season. He is usually tasked with guarding our opponents top wing. Getting downhill with the ball and back cutting have always been his strengths. This year he'll look to expand his range to make him even harder to guard.
Brevin Stoa, Jr - returning all-conference player - last season he expanded his role from a shooter off of the bench to a point guard that controlled the game and made those around him better. He led the Heart O'Lakes Conference in both assists and steals after leading the league in three point percentage as a freshman. He will need to continue to make winning plays for his teammates on offense, but expand his leadership and grit on the defensive end. He made those strides this summer, but needs to prove he can do it when the lights are bright this winter.