Into the unknown . . .
The winter sports seasons for Nebraska High Schools begin this week for most schools. Just like the fall season, it begins with many unknown factors facing because of the COVID pandemic, and, of course, that winter weather factor.
We have a little more information on the teams and schedules.
First off, to start the year off, a word of caution concerning spectators at the ball games. L-N has limited attendance to family members only. From what I understand, other schools may have other requirements, like maybe just parents only. A person may be wise to check what the policy is for the ‘Away’ games.
Games for most nights include both boys and girls games. However, not all the times of the games have been released, so it is best to check with the school for starting times. This week, at Red Cloud on Friday are JV games at 4:30 and 5 p.m. with varsity girls at 6:15 and boys to follow. On Saturday, the first home game with Tri County has JV games starting at 1 and 2 p.m. with varsity games at 3 and 4:30.
A summary:
Boys: With the boys playing in Class D-1 this year, the schedule promises to be interesting.
Several of the boys are going to miss the season because of football injuries, but the boys return a solid core to play this season.
The leading scorer from last year, junior, Logan Menke, returns. He averaged 11.6 points a game last year. The exact starting lineup is not determined yet, but many of the team’s upper classmen received a good dose of varsity playing time last year and are ready to contribute at an even higher level of play this season.
The team will lose a little height because of graduation, but should have a scrappy group on the floor at any one time.
The roster:
Seniors: Cole Troudt 5’11”, Connor Cannaday 5’9”, Trevor Biltoft 6’0”, Peyton Mazour 5’10”, Blake Janda 5’10”, Blake Wroughton 6’4”, Keith Miller 5’11”.
Juniors: Theo Kathman 6’2”, Logan Menke 6’2”, Wyatt Brockman 6’0”.
Sophomores: Devyn Zikmund 5’7”, Toby Kotinek 5’10”, Tyson Kotinek 5’10”, Krayton Kucera 5’8”, Erik Wheeland 5’9”, will Dougherty 5’9”, Keaton Mazour 6’1”.
Freshmen: Connor Janda 5’8”, Nolan Ostdiek 6’0”, Clay Williams 5’10”.
Girls: The Lady Raiders will have an interesting year. They play in Class D-2 this season and enjoyed a visit to the state tournament last season and ended the year with a 25-2 record. The current squad will miss the five seniors that graduated.
However, the 2020-2021 team will be a “bigger” team. Height wise that is. In comparing heights, the current Lady Raider members are each one inch taller than the number listed last year. How much difference that make remains to be seen, but it is a positive step.
Last year’s top four scorers and top three rebounders graduated. The girls do have a solid core of players that gained a lot of varsity experience last season and are set to increase their contributions to the team this year. Emily and Alex Miller and Emma Epley are all back and were in the next level of contributors last year. The 2020-2021 squad is as follows:
Seniors: Emily Miller 5’9”, Alex Miller 5’9”, McKenzie Ostdiek 5’7”, Avery Mazour 5’8”.
Juniors: Elsa Jorgensen 5’5”, Emma Epley 5’7”, Aleah Heikkinen 5’8”.
Sophomores: Katelyn Mazour 5’6”, Emily Troudt 5’7”.
Freshmen: Sydney Biltoft 5’7”, Bailey Ceder 5’6”, Riley Funk 5’9”, Jessica Sole 5’5”, Danyelle Church 5’7”.
2020-2021 L-N Schedule:
Dec. 4 – at Red Cloud
Dec. 5 – Tri County
Dec. 11 – Franklin
Dec. 12 – at BDS
Dec. 18 – Friend
Dec. 22 – at Shelton
Dec. 29 – 30 – Holiday Tournament at Hershey, Nebraska
Jan. 5 – McCool Junction
Jan. 7 – at Giltner
Jan. 12 – at Rock Hills, Kansas
Jan. 15 – Kenesaw
Jan. 16 – at Axtell
Jan. 19 – Deshler – Girls only
Jan. 21 – Diller-Odell
Jan. 22 – at Parkview Christian at York College
Jan. 26 – Blue Hill
Jan. 29 – Silver Lake
Jan. 30 – Feb. 6 – TVC Tournament at Hastings College
Feb. 9 – Harvard
Feb. 12 – at Superior
Feb. 19 – Deshler – Boys only
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