It’s been a crazy start to the year for new Plum City/Elmwood Coach Adam Sticht and his team.

First of all, they’re getting to know each other in face masks among a pandemic. Sticht has been at the helm of the team that went 12-12 and won a playoff game “for all of a few weeks now,” he said.

They played their first game last Tuesday against Gilmanton and made it one to remember.

“We won our first game on a last-second shot. It was a little more nerve-wracking than I would like, but a win is a win.”

The team was down to seven players with half the squad home under quarantine.

“We like a challenge, so there’s always that,” Sticht said.

Sticht comes to Plum City/Elmwood with a solid coaching resume. He’s been an assistant varsity football coach and assistant varsity softball coach at Alma-Pepin for about a decade.

“I’ve been following the team, and I applied when the job came open. I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Sticht said his team features some experience and a lot of promising young players that should mix together well and offer some exciting games.

“I expect us to be competitive in most of our games. They’re coming off a 12-12 season with a home playoff game and a win. We’ve definitely got the ability to build on that,” he said.

It’s been an adjustment to playing with COVID restrictions, but the team is adapting.

“No one’s too thrilled about having to play in masks, but it’s this or they don’t get to play,” said Sticht. “It’s a hard-working group. They show up. They bust their butts. We couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Sticht is looking to the leadership of Maggie Glaus, a junior who was second-team All-Dunn-St. Croix Conference as a sophomore, as well as senior Anna Blanford and juniors Hailee McDonough and Hannah Baier.

“We’ve got some experience coming back, and we’ve got a really good sophomore class that we expect a lot from. We’ve got a good mix of experience and potential coming up,” said Sticht.

The Dunn-St. Croix is always a tough basketball conference and this year is no different.

“I think Colfax is going to be the team to beat. Elk Mound and Mondovi will be really good teams. Our goal is to be able to play with anybody. The rest of the conference is no slouch either. It’s going to be a lot of work, but the girls are up for it,” said Sticht.

Plum City/Elmwood takes on Colfax on the road Thursday before hosting St. Croix Central Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Wolves roster consists of seniors Anna Blanford, Brandi Parker and KayLee Krogstad. Juniors are Hailee McDonough, Maggie Glaus, Halle Gilles, Hannah Baier and Emily Bleskacek. Sophomores Allyson Fleishauer, Isabella Forster, Hannah Forster, Lily Webb and freshmen Kenzie Bauer look to bolster the roster with depth.

In their first game at Gilmanton High School, Blanford and Baier led the Wolves with 13 and 12 points, respectively. The pair also contributed 19 rebounds in the 37-36 win.