BOYS BASKETBALL
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021 | E7
Minnewaska has a new coach Hunter Salathe takes over a Lakers’ team with eight seniors
BY TOM ELLIOTT
Leading the way is Hunter Kostelecky, a 6-foot-5 senior forward GLENWOOD — The Minnewaska boys basket- who scored 19 points in the Lakers’ season-openball team will have a new ing 68-50 loss to Redwood look this season, starting Valley. Kostelecky, who at the top. also had 13 rebounds, figHunter Salathe takes ures to be one of the top over as head coach after post players in the West being an eighth-grade Central Conference this coach the past two seaseason. Also back is Damon sons. He replaces longtime coach Phil Johnsrud, Uhde, a 5-11 senior guard who had 16 points in the who retired after leading the Lakers to a 7-11 record Redwood Valley game. He’s a good 3-point shootlast season, including 6-6 er who will be asked to in the West Central Conbe one of the Lakers’ top ference. scorers. Salathe and his staff, Other seniors on the which includes Ted Hill, roster include Tate RiechNick Danielson, Dan Dahl mann, Ethan Quelle, Alec and Gabriel Eisenbacher, Larson, Noah Danielson, have a roster that includes Andrew Mrnak and Cade Olson. eight seniors. West Central Tribune
Olson is 6-4. Quelle is 6-2. Marnak is 6-1. Reichmann, Larson, Danielson are guards. Salathe, who is from Perham, has a non-conference schedule that includes Litchfield, Paynesville, West Central Area, Osakis, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and St.. James before January 1. Also scheduled are Albany, Barnesville, Jackson County Central, Breckenridge, St. Cloud Cathedral and Pipestone. It’ll help the Lakers see where they belong in the West Central Conference and in Section 3AA-North, which includes a lot of Minnewaska’s non-conference teams including Morris and Eden Valley-Watkins.
Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune
Minnewaska forward Hunter Kostelecky looks for an open teammate from the high post during a West Central Conference game against BOLD on Jan. 19, 2021 from Bird Island.
Things are looking up for experienced Thunder Hawks Montevideo has four returning starters and 10 seniors BY TOM ELLIOTT
VanBinsbergen is a 5-11 guard. Other seniors on the MONTEVIDEO — The roster include Dalton PedMontevideo Thunder erson, Justin Collins, Cole Hawks had one of the youngest teams in the area Augeson, Hunter Strand, Dennis DeJong and Kadin last season. In 2021-22, Fokken. Montevideo will be one of Mason Jerve, a 6-2 junior the more experienced boys forward, also is expected to basketball squads. contribute. After going 5-13 last Derek Webb is in his season, including 2-8 in the fifth year as head coach and West Central Conference, it should be his best. The the Thunder Hawks have four starters back and a ros- Thunder Hawks went 1-25 ter that includes 10 seniors. in 2019-20, 1-22 in ‘18-19 Kaden Boike and Bradyn and 3-21 in ‘17-18. He and his staff, which Schultz return as starters includes Ryan Lalim, Ferfor the third straight year. nando Zamora, Jon Dreyer Landon Stock and Andrew and Erik Boraas, are off VanBinsbergen also are to a good start in ‘21-22. back. Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune Montevideo opened with Boike is a 6-0 guard. Montevideo’s guard Kaden Boike directs the offense during a West Central Schultz is a 5-10 guard. a 67-56 victory over New Conference game against Benson on Jan. 29, 2021 at Benson High School. Stock is a 6-3 forward and London-Spicer. West Central Tribune
The Thunder Hawks still must contend with a West Central Conference that will be tough. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta, led by Augustana recruit Jackson Loge, is a likely top 10 team in the state in Class AA. Melrose and BOLD are expected to be strong, as will Sauk Centre. But the Thunder Hawks like where they’re starting. They have a tough non-conference schedule besides NLS. There is Central Minnesota Christian, which was a state Class A tournament entrant last season, as well as strong MACCRAY and Dawson-Boyd squads. Then, Montevideo opens West Central play with Minnewaska Area on Dec. 17.
