NLS Wildcats get a late start because of football

With eight of 15 players in the Prep Bowl, New London-Spicer hasn't had more than half its varsity team taking part in early season practices

BY TOM ELLIOTT West Central Tribune

NEW LONDON — On paper, this should be a really good season for the New London-Spicer boys basketball team.

Reality, however, is that the Wildcats may be headed to a slower start in hoops than most.

“Eight of our 15 players are playing in the Prep Bowl and are missing the first two weeks of practice,” head coach Skip Wright said. “We are excited for our football team and looking forward to getting our whole team back on the court following the Prep Bowl.”

Four starters return from a team that went 6-8 in the Wright County Conference West Division and 14-13 overall. The Wildcats opened Section 3AA play by beating Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 81-36 and then losing to West Central Area 54-44. A key loss from that squad was Peyton Coahran, an all-conference guard who started for three seasons and is now playing golf at Division II Winona State.

Returning are Aeden Andresen, Mason Delzer, Grant Paffrath and Brycen Christensen.

NLS junior Aedan Andresen (right) tries to drive around Montevideo’s Andrew Van Binsbergen during a non-conference game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, at New London.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

Andresen is a 6-foot-1 senior guard. Delzer is a 6-2 junior guard and the starting running back on the football team.

Paffrath is a 6-3 junior forward who earned honorable-mention allconference honors last season.

New London-Spicer junior Aeden Andresen goes up for a shot against LQPV forward Eli Hegland on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Willmar.

West Central Tribune file photo

Christensen is a 6-4 senior forward who made the West Central Tribune All-Area basketball team and was all-conference.

Players to watch this season include Gabe Rohman, a 6-2 senior forward who was the Wildcats’ sixth man last season. Wright calls him an “outstanding defensive player.”

Paul Meier, a 6-6 senior center, Nixon Harrier, a 6-1 senior guard, and Konnor Rohloff, a 6-2 senior guard, are also expected to contribute.

“Our strengths include experience, athleticism and great team chemistry,” Wright said. “With good senior leadership, hard work and a little luck we hope to make some noise this season.”

That is, as soon as most of the Wildcats get back on the basketball court after a wildly successful football season. ◀

NLS sophomore Grant Paffrath moments before scoring his lone two points on a mid-range jumper against LQPV in the Bremer Bank Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Willmar

West Central Tribune file photo