Sting have a new leader at the top

Yellow Medicine East guard Isaac Jimenez guards a Renville County West player on the perimeter during a Camden Conference game on Jan. 6, 2020 from Yellow Medicine East High School. West Central Tribune file photo

New coach Logan DeBlieck relies on upperclassmen for YME’s improvement

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

GRANITE FALLS — Logan DeBlieck takes over as head boys basketball coach at Yellow Medicine East for Jake Suter.

DeBlieck, a YME alumnus, was an assistant last season for the Sting, who went 0-15 in the Camden Conference South Division and 0-18 overall. YME scored 38.7 points per game, while allowing 73.1. Both ranked last in the conference.

DeBlieck believes a roster full of upperclassmen, including four with starting experience, should help YME improve in 2021-22.

“This season YME has a full varsity roster of juniors and seniors,” DeBlieck said. “These players have all played together for a very long time and are exciting players to watch. Our age and experience level should help us a lot this season.”

The big four are senior guards Isaac Jimenez and Nikson Knapper, senior forward Preston Berends and junior guard Cody Dahlager. The fifth starter, Kyle Chase, is a key roster loss from last season, having graduated. DeBlieck believes Knapper and Jimenez are players to watch as the Sting attempt to compete in the rugged Camden Conference, which was filled with top-notch teams last season.

“Nikson is a talented player who can impact the game in several ways,” DeBlieck said. “Isaac is a quick athlete (and) defensive-minded player. “He is also very talented at controlling the basketball.”

Besides 18 losses in 18 games last season, YME went 1-23 in 2019-20 and 4-20 in ‘18-19. The Sting beat Canby 62-51 Feb. 18, 2020 in Granite Falls, then lost their last four games of the season. That leaves YME with a 22-game losing streak heading into this season.

That doesn’t seem to faze DeBlieck, whose assistants will be Matt Johnson, Dylan Lindstrom and Brandon Mensink.

“This is my first year as head coach so my career record is 0-0,” DeBlieck said.

Yellow Medicine East guard Cody Dahlager directs a play in the half-court during a Camden Conference game against Renville County West on Jan. 6, 2020 from Yellow Medicine East High School.

West Central Tribune file photo