THE WARM-UP: Bertrand boys replacing all five starters
The Bertrand boys basketball team will be getting an overhaul this year.
Coach Craig Newcomb, in his 28th year, returns four lettermen from last year’s 12-10 team that graduated all of its starters.
“We don’t have as much returning experience or size as we have had in the past, but we have some kids that could develop into some pretty decent players if they keep working,” Newcomb said.
He added that the kids who went to camp in the summer “started to develop some good chemistry.”
Returning lettermen who will be counted on to shoulder much of the load for the Vikings this year are 5-9 senior guard JC Kehr, 5-10 senior guard Dawson Newcomb, 6-1 junior forward Marcus Hernandez and 5-10 sophomore guard Thunder Nelson.
Newcomb said the team will be athletic and has some quickness and he expects the Vikings will be a solid defensive team. However, the Bertrand squad may be a little inconsistent on offense while developing a depth and a cohesive lineup.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Bertrand girls will be counting on four returning starters to improve on last year’s 2-17 record.
The Vikings will be under the leadership of first-year head coach Trey Stutheit.
Veterans who saw the majority of playing time last year are junior guard Brooklyn Evans, sophomore guard Addison Andersen, junior center Emma Brown, senior forward, Libby Kugler and sophomore guard Katelyn Evans.
Brooklyn Evans, Andersen and Brown averaged five points per game with Brown snagging 5.7 rebounds per game.
Bertrand High School will, after a gap of nearly 10 years, host a wrestling meet tonight.
The Vikings, no longer part of a cooperative team with Loois, will open the season hosting a quadrangular.
“I am looking forward to getting this season underway,” coach Colby Gardine said. “Bertrand will have a lot of young talent that will take some time to develop, but I am excited to see where we stack up.”
Bertrand has just one returning letterman from last year’s Loomis-Bertrand team, sophomore Dylan Wendell.
The Vikings will have one senior, Gabe Bojorquez, but the rest of the roster are freshmen and sophomores competing for the varsity for the first time.
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