Boys basketball teams across the state are revving up their engines for a long season of basketball. Each of the coaches have gotten a brief look at their teams through practice and scrimmages, and they are ready for the opening games.

Returning starters/contributors

River Falls Head Coach Zachary Turpin: “Returning starters are Preston Johnson and Eli Johnson. Brody Graetz also played a lot of varsity minutes last winter.”

Prescott Head Coach Nick Johnosn: “Returning starters: Kobe Russell, Barrett Temmers (injured right now and out a majority of the season). Strong contributors from last year: Max Monteith.”

Spring Valley Head Coach Rob Bosshart: “Returning starters from last year include Cade Stasiek, Caleb Bartko, and Masyn Wolf. Trevor Forster and Elijah Haug are also returning contributors from last year's team. We are also looking forward to the return of Tanner Dicus sometime during the season as he missed the entire last year with a knee injury.”

Ellsworth Head Coach Brandon Staley: “We have four returning starters: Nash Kuhl, George Rohl, Omar Coulson and Braydon Anderson. Other returning contributors from last year are: Parker Peterson, Gavin Puhrmann, Jack Stoltenburg. A few other guys I expect to contribute more are: Gavin Klos, Derek Johnson and Riley Maher. (Noah Matzek is injured and is not expected back anytime soon).”

EPC Assistant Coach Mike Birtzer: Returning lettermen are Lucas Glaus, Dylan Zelinger, Logan Auth and Brewer Link.

Who are you looking to for team leadership?

Turpin: “Preston and Eli are both seniors and will be leaned on as leaders for our team.  Brody Graetz and Tanner Bottolfson have also done a great job early in the season leading us in practices.”

Johnson: “So far Kobe has been our leader and needs to continue to be.”
Bosshart: “We have a very good group of seniors who have already provided a great deal of leadership to our team. We have a solid core of guys returning, led by Cade Stasiek, Caleb Bartko and Masyn Wolf and will rely on them to play up to their ability.”

Staley: “We have a lot of good kids who I expect to lead on this team, but I expect a lot from our point guards in Omar Coulson, Parker Peterson, and Jack Stoltenburg who will all play some point guard this season. Our seniors; Nash Kuhl, Gavin Puhrmann, Braydon Anderson, Derek Johnson and Riley Maher have also done a great job stepping up their leadership so far in practice.”

Birtzer: “Lucas Glaus and Dylan Zeilnger.  Our only seniors with a lot of varsity experience.”

What do you expect to be the team’s strengths?

Turpin: “We expect team chemistry and communication to be a strength for our team.”

Johnson: “Work ethic, defense, depth, shooting.”

Bosshart: “We have a lot of experience returning to the team and that should help us as we will play a very challenging schedule. We have the potential for a very balanced scoring attack, which will be key for us.”

Staley: “We have some size and athleticism which will be a factor for us this season. We also have a few guys who can really shoot the ball.”

Birtzer: “It is an athletic group and they are very quick.”

What are your goals for this year’s team?

Turpin: “We want to stay in the present and find ways to get better each day. We want to work to be the best versions of ourselves daily.”

Johnson: “Same as every year. Win a conference championship and make a deep playoff run. To be a much better team at the end of the season than we are at the beginning.”

Bosshart: “Our goal is to compete and play up to our potential every time out. If we can do that, we feel like we can compete with everyone we will play.”

Staley: “We have a lot of guys who are bought in and are working hard every day. I expect a lot more out of them this year.”

Birtzer: “To continue to gel as we lost a lot of key players from last season. The goal is to be ready by the playoffs and use our strength of schedule to help us in the tournament.”

Who do you see as conference leaders?

Turpin: “Eau Claire Memorial, Hudson, New Richmond, and Rice Lake all will be very good with a lot of returning talent from last year.”

Johnson: “Our conference is going to be as strong from top to bottom than I've seen in my 14 years as a head coach at Prescott. On any given night anyone will be capable of beating anyone.”

Bosshart: “Durand and Elk Mound are going to be very good again this year, and overall the conference will be better than it has been for quite a few years.”

Staley: “Prescott has had a lot of success lately, they have won it or shared the title the last two years since I've been here and I would expect them to be in the mix again. The conference has so much depth and good coaching, it could honestly be anyone in the mix to win it. I would not expect anyone to go undefeated.”

Birtzer: “Elk Mound, Durand-Arkansaw and Spring Valley.”