2021-22 PANTHER BOYS BASKETBALL - Front, from left: Ben Schoenrock, Charlie Nissen, Daxter Lee, Porter Peterson, Connor Nelson, Sam Olson. Back row: Brady Schlaak, Tyrone Wilson, Jack Olson, William Tuttle, Jaxon Beck, Coach Isaiah Lundberg.
Photo by Eli Lutgens
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
They used to do it on a consistent basis, but still, every once in a while, the NRHEG Panthers boys basketball program rises up and competes for a Gopher Conference title.
Let’s hope this is one of those years.
Led by returning All Conference Honorable mention players Porter Peterson and Daxter Lee, along with three other returning letter winners, the Panthers enter their fourth year under head coach Isaiah Lundberg, hoping to better last year’s record of 5-13 and 5-9 in conference play.
The Panther’s graduated two year captain Kordell Schlaak and Ashton Johnson from last winter and return letter winners Benjamin Schoenrock, Jaxon Beck, and Jack Olson. The rest of the roster includes: Sam Olson, Connor Nelson, Tyrone Wilson, Charlie Nissen, Jaxon Beck, William Tuttle, and Brady Schlaak.
Coach Lundberg is assisted by Hunter Eustice and 2016 NRHEG graduate, fourth year coach, and also recently engaged, Tyler Schlaak.
Team strengths?
“Experience,” coach Lundberg said. “One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that the strength of your team really comes down to the players. We have guys coming back that will be playing their third season at the varsity level. That’s a big thing.”
Lundberg said another strength of this team is it’s athleticism, which may make up for a lack of height.
Team weaknesses?
Although there is some height within the roster, Lundberg knows the Panthers will have to hustle to compensate for an overall lack of height.
“That’s our weakness,” he said. “Overall size. We do have a few guys with height, but lack overall bulk with that size. The guys are strong, but teams that have some big post players could present some issues.”
Expectations?
“I expect us to have a better than 500 record and be competitive in every game this season,” Lundberg said. “I expect us to finish in the top 3 in our conference and top 3 in our subsection.”
The key to success for the 2021 Panthers?
1. Defense. “We have to be able to guard people and teams in the half court.”
2. Rebounding. “The last couple of years we have struggled to rebound on defense. If we can do a better job of doing that, we should be able to be a formidable opponent.”
3. Outside 3 point shooting. “Last year we led our conference in 3 point percentage at 30 percent, but we need to improve on that and have the ability to make 3’s in games.
The Panthers have a history of successful play runs over the past decade with their best finish a consolation championship in the state tournament five years ago when they finished 30-3.
Lundberg likes Maple River or Hayfield as conference favorites. Within the district, he likes Maple River or St. Clair.