Things are looking up for experienced Thunder Hawks

Montevideo’s guard Kaden Boike directs the offense during a West Central Conference game against Benson on Jan. 29, 2021 at Benson High School. Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune

Montevideo has four returning starters and 10 seniors

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

MONTEVIDEO — The Montevideo Thunder Hawks had one of the youngest teams in the area last season. In 2021-22, Montevideo will be one of the more experienced boys basketball squads.

After going 5-13 last season, including 2-8 in the West Central Conference, the Thunder Hawks have four starters back and a roster that includes 10 seniors.

Kaden Boike and Bradyn Schultz return as starters for the third straight year. Landon Stock and Andrew VanBinsbergen also are back. Boike is a 6-0 guard. Schultz is a 5-10 guard. Stock is a 6-3 forward and VanBinsbergen is a 5-11 guard.

Other seniors on the roster include Dalton Pederson, Justin Collins, Cole Augeson, Hunter Strand, Dennis DeJong and Kadin Fokken. Mason Jerve, a 6-2 junior forward, also is expected to contribute. Derek Webb is in his fifth year as head coach and it should be his best.

The Thunder Hawks went 1-25 in 2019-20, 1-22 in ‘18-19 and 3-21 in ‘17-18. He and his staff, which includes Ryan Lalim, Fernando Zamora, Jon Dreyer and Erik Boraas, are off to a good start in ‘21-22. Montevideo opened with a 67-56 victory over New London-Spicer.

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.