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Coming off a season in which they went 2-25 the BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Team is hoping to build off a tremendous learning year. The Gators did not lose a player to graduation and are confident that this continuity and the growing pains suffered last season will translate into a more competitive team which in turn will lead to more wins.
BGMR shuffled through several starting lineups last year and come tournament time had one of the youngest and least experienced teams in school history to ever start a playoff game. The Gators at one point started two seventh graders, one eighth grader, and two juniors. BGMR was simply outmanned in many of the games they played last season but showed great resiliency and heart.
With their sights set on the new season, playing time continues to be wide open on the Gator varsity. Seniors Masen Swenson and Taylor Davy look to have the inside track on 2 of the five starting spots. Swenson was the Gator’s leading scorer last season at 10.0 ppg and Davy the leading rebounder at 6.0 rpg. Juniors, Averil Augustson and Tryg Olson saw extensive playing time last year and will compete for two of the remaining three starting spots and also compete for playing time.
The Gators have several individuals in their sophomore class out for basketball and many of them saw playing time last season. Austin Przekwas, Levi Olson, Will Foss, Alec Beito, Levi Wahl, Bennett Bertilrud, Andrew Consungcad, Payton Gust and Brock Sikorski are all sophomores who hope to compete for varsity playing time. Foss has bulked up and was one of those who got extensive varsity minutes last season. The Gator’s coaching staff is relying on Foss to provide sound leadership and scoring punch. All the sophomores have their individual strengths but all also have many areas of their game that need to see dramatic improvement.
Micah Wahl, Chase Lorenson, Spencer Brichacek and Deegan Hanson headline the freshmen class. Lorenson got varsity minutes last year and started a few games. His quickness is his strength and when he wants to, he can be a shutdown defender. Wahl has looked good the first few days of practice and he has got the attention of the coaches. Brichacek and Hanson are tenacious inside bodies that are desperately needed by the Gators.
Eighth graders Ty Grinsteiner and Adrian Nelson started for the Gators last year towards the end of the year. Both played well but being a seventh grader and now an eighth grader is difficult to match-up physically with older and more experienced kids. They have talent and could again see a lot of varsity time if they continue to improve. Eighth grader Carson Stauffenecker has a never die motor and plays hard. Briggs Bertilrud has shown flashes of being solid and Aiden Thompson can be a dominant force when he puts his mind to it.
The Gators are very optimistic about their progress this past offseason and are excited to get out and compete against some of the best teams in Section 8. The Gators have a grueling schedule but one in which they hope will make them better and playing their best come playoff time.
BGMR opens their season on the road December 3rd when they travel to Kimbell Arena to take on an experienced Stephen-Argyle Storm team. The Storm will provide a variety of challenges for the Gators but if BGMR can focus on what’s in front of them they will be able to compete with any team.
The BGMR Gator’s Boys Basketball program would like to invite the public to come and enjoy the fun as they take the floor, and play an enthusiastic style of basketball. The team will be one in which the communities can be proud of.
