Sauk Rapids -Rice
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS
Big things on horizon Size, speed, experience spark high hopes on court
to be. They do of the games standards,” Bauer said. that for this team we’ll be in dur- “This main varsity group not only on the ing the regular has been playing together court but off the season,” Allen for a while, and we play court.” said. “We’ve as one. We have to play The Storm been getting unsel sh basketball. If BY TOM FENTON are coming off some good we play as a whole, we’ll STAFF WRITER an 11-16 season hype from high have a great chance to that showed school basketsucceed in March.” It did not take long ashes of promball media, but Allen said the comJason Allen, for second-year head ise, though getone thing I exbination of his team’s head coach coach Jason Allen to ting everything plained to them size and speed will help establish intensity in the to click at once is it doesn’t defensively, but he added rst practice of the Storm proved challenging. For matter how much hype that is not the only key boys basketball season. the second straight year, you’ve got if we don’t to success on that side of About 30 seconds to SRR saw its season end come to the court and the court. They need to be exact. on rival Tech’s home play defense. My job is talk, then talk some more. The rst sprint of court in the section semi- to make practice hard but “We have the ‘lift’ preseason workouts did nals. also where they see them- that we need to be able to not live up to Allen’s Returning captains selves getting better.” play defense the way we high standards, and the Logan Bauer, Keller Omoke brings a want to play,” Allen said. chatter in between was Hanson, Austin Kunz slashing presence to the “I like to switch back a no-no. That led to an and Hudson Omoke all offense, and Hanson is a between man-to-man and extra line sprint on the bring leadership and sharpshooter while Kunz zone, but where we have Sauk Rapids-Rice High athleticism to the oor. and Bauer bring a bit of to get better at defensiveSchool gymnasium oor. Those traits were on dis- everything. ly is being more vocal. A If the team is to ful- play during a successful The Storm will have team that is vocal when ll the high expectations summer campaign that size inside with 6-footall ve guys are talking of both Allen and his saw the team win every 7-inch junior Spencer — that’s intimidating.” players, wasting time in Breakdown tournament Swenson and emerging Though he admits practice is not an option. in which they competed. freshman Isayah Cook, intense practices can be “We’re really exThose performances, whom Allen said is one enduring, Kunz said it is cited for our season,” Allen said, raised eyeof the top players in the what this team needs to Allen said. “We’ve got brows area-wide about state at his age group. reach their goals. four varsity guys coming this team’s potential. “High expectations “Coach really pushes back, and all of them are “The guys have been are a great thing to have, us to be better,” Kunz captains. They’ve done a battle-tested throughand I believe with that said. “He gets what we good job setting the tone out the summer, which comes big responsibility need to get things done for how practice is going should help them in some so we can live up to our even though it’s not al-
PHOTO BY TOM FENTON
The 2023-24 Sauk Rapids-Rice boys basketball team captains are Austin Kunz (front, from left) and Logan Bauer; (back, from left) Hudson Omoke and Keller Hanson. The Storm are coming off an 11-16 season in 2022-23.
ways fun. But you know and it boosts our con what is fun? Winning dence when he believes games, and that’s what he in us.” helps us do. … He makes Boys basketball us strive for greatness, page 3C
Check out previews for Storm winter sports Boys basketball .....................................1C Gymnastics .............................................2C Girls basketball ......................................3C Boys swim and dive/ Wrestling........4C
Boys hockey ...........................................5C Dance ........................................................6C Girls hockey ...........................................7C Nordic ski .................................................8C