Young Wildcats aim for a good season

NLS sophomore Mason Delzer (middle) pokes the ball away from Montevideo’s Mason Jerve for a steal during the first half of a non-conference game Friday, Dec. 4 at New London. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

NLS returns Christensen, Coahran and has talent around them

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

NEW LONDON — Two starters are back and both of them are very good. Two sophomores figure to start and both have some upside. There’s a strong supporting cast as well. T

he New London-Spicer Wildcats hope it all adds up to a successful 2021-22 boys basketball season. “We’re going to have some growing pains,” NLS head coach Skip Wright said. “But I think if we can be strong on the defensive side of the ball and come together as a team, we’re very hopeful of competing very well.”

Returning starters from a 9-11 squad that went 4-9 in the Wright County Conference’s West Division are Brycen Christensen and Peyton Coahran. Both are multi-sport stars.

Christensen, a 6-foot-4 junior, averaged 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks per game last season, earning West Central Tribune All-Area second-team honors. He’s also a standout football player.

“He’s a very versatile player,” Wright said.

Coahran, a 5-11 senior guard, is a four-sport athlete who also excels in football, golf and track.

“He’ll be one of our leaders,” Wright said.

The sophomore starters are Grant Paffrath and Mason Delzer. Paffrath is a 6-3 forward. Delzer is a 6-0 sophomore who was a standout running back on NLS’ football team that made it to the section final.

Also starting is Aedan Andresen, a 6-0 junior who saw plenty of key minutes last season. Brady Gerhardson, a 6-1 senior, scored 14 points off the bench in the Wildcats’ season-opening 67-56 loss to Montevideo. He’ll be a key contributor.

Kelb Smith, a 6-1 senior forward, and Paul Meier, a 6-6 junior center, also are being counted on. Gabe Rohman, a 6-1 junior forward, Konnor Rohloff, a 6-1 junior guard, and Nixon Harrier, a 6-0 junior guard, also factor in for varsity playing time. Harrier runs cross-country and golfs.

“It’s a good group of kids,” said Wright, who is in third season as head coach and in his 18th in the program.

Wright sees Annandale as a potential top-10 team in the state and likely the best team in the Wright County West Division. He’s also high on Rockford, which beat Burnsville, a Class AAAA school, 91-50.

“Watertown’s got a good junior class and they’re coming off a good football season,” Wright said. “I expect them to be tough.” The goal is to make NLS be tough, too.

New London-Spicer's Aedan Andresen (11) goes up for a layup attempt during the first half of Wright County Conference game against Glencoe-Silver Lake on Feb. 26, 2021 at NLS High School in New London.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune