E8 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021
BOYS BASKETBALL
ACGC expects to be improved Though the Falcons return one starter, they have skilled players coming in
BY TOM ELLIOTT West Central Tribune
GROVE CITY — It was an uncharacteristically tough season victory-wise for the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City boys basketball team last winter. The Falcons went 3-14 overall, including 3-11 in the Central Minnesota Conference. The feeling among head coach Terry Miller and his staff is that 2020-21 is going to be better. “We look to be an improved team from a season ago,” Miller said. “Depth and experience will be concerns, but our core appears to be solid and we just need a couple kids to step up and contribute in their role.” Miller is in his 30th season as a coach, including 21 at ACGC. He has a 353-368
career record and an experienced staff that includes Dave Zaeske, John Cunningham, Alex Hendriicks, Samantha Cunningham and Dyle Hoercher. While only one starter is back, there is some talent. Gone are Braeden Pickle, Logan Hoekstra, Levi Lilleberg, Brock Hedtke and A.J. Slinden. Pickle was an All-Central Minnesota Conference selection. The lone returning starter is Bock Denton, a 6-foot2 senior guard. “Brock is a good shooter who will spread the floor with his playmaking ability,” Miller said. Players to watch include Alex Kokenge and Thor Goerish. Kokenge is a 6-3 senior wing. “Alex Kokenge is a strong, physical kid who
can play both inside and outside,” Miller said. “He was also our leading 3-point shooter from last season.” Goerish is a 6-2 junior wing. “Thor Goerish is a player who has put in a tremendous amount of time into basketball and it shows,” Miller said. “Thor is a very good shooter (who) has the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim.” The Falcons hope that trio will help ACGC deal with the rigors of the Central Minnesota Conference, which was won last year by Eden Valley-Watkins. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Kimball and Paynesville also had excellent years and are expected to be strong again.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City’s Braedan Pickle fires a long-distance shot during a non-conference game against Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart on Jan. 7, 2020 from ACGC High School in Grove City. Pickle must be replaced by the Falcons this year after earning all-conference honors.
BBE hopes to build on last season’s success Four starters return for Jaguars from a 16-5 team BY TOM ELLIOTT
champion Nevis in the section semifinals, 59-50. That four starters BROOTEN — The 2021 return, including three Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa first-team all-conference boys basketball season members, and it’s easy to was a really good one and extremely close to being a see why BBE is optimistic. “We return many expegreat one. rienced players from last The Jaguars finished season,” BBE head coach second in the Central Min- Chris Anderson said. “This nesota Conference, going should make our practices 11-3. BBE’s three losses very competitive. were to third-place Kim“We are hoping that ball (42-40) and twice to competitive environconference champion Eden ment will carry over into Valley-Watkins (62-61 and games.” West Central Tribune file photo 49-48). The Jaguars came Leading scorer Kaden Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa guard Kaden Pieper takes back to beat Kimball the Pieper is back. The junior it hard to the basket during a Central Minnesota second time the teams guard was a first-team All-CMC selection for the Conference game Feb. 26, 2021 against Paynesville met 89-54 and then lost Jaguars, who were 16-5 from Paynesville High School. to eventual Section 5A West Central Tribune
last season. Pieper averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Also back is Ashton Dingmann. The senior forward is another firsttime All-CMC pick who averaged 14.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. The other CMC first-teamer back is Luke Dingmann. The sophomore forward averaged 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Also returning is Will VanBeck. The senior guard made the second-team all-conference squad. He averaged 5.5 points and 4.4 assists per game.
All involved must replace three key seniors from last season: Ryan Schwinghammer, Andrew Weller and Peyton Winter. “As a coaching staff, we are very excited to see what this group can do together,” said Anderson, who is in his 15th year as a coach and in his eighth season at BBE. “The goal is to be playing our best basketball in March.” If it all comes together, BBE hopes to earn its first state tournament berth since 2014, when the Jaguars were Class A state champions. BBE also was a state champ in 2012 and a state runner-up in 2011.
