Sports

Braves return experience in 2013-14

By Tyler Ohmann

12/03/2013

After a 4-17 finish in 2012-13 with a largely inexperienced group the Bottineau Braves basketball team looks to improve this season.

This season’s group is an experienced bunch, including five players who started at various points of last season.

“We were able to get away with using that as an excuse last year,” stated Braves head coach Nate Simpson. “We have five kids back that started last year and another that had varsity minutes. We have experience playing, hopefully it’ll translate into some W’s this year.”

One of those returning is last year’s leading scorer and lone All-District player Garrett Pollman. The senior will be leaned on for leadership this season.

“Well, I’ll look to all five kids who started last year to be our leaders,” Simpson stated. “The primary leader has to be Garret Pollman. He’s played the most for us the last three years and I look for him to lead us this year.”

Other returning starters include seniors Philip Neubauer and Jake Carroll, junior Christian St. Claire and sophomore Parker Engelhard.

However, filling in depth will be a few new faces to the varsity level including: Garrett Lynnes, Cody Beaver, Alex Bristol and Brody Moum.

“There are a lot of kids that are getting looks for playing time at the varsity level,” Simpson stated. “One concern we have is a lack of depth to start the year. All the kids vying for playing time have been really receptive to what we’re doing and they are competing hard for minutes. ”

Consistency will be key for the Braves in 2013-14 according to Simpson.

“We need to have a consistent energy from quarter to quarter. At times, we were able to really compete last year,” Simpson stated. “A let down in intensity and energy seemed to come at terrible times last year in some important games.”

“Hopefully we can have that from start to finish this year,” Simpson added.

The Braves were ousted on the second day of the District 11 Tournament as the eighth seed falling in the first round to eventual champion Rugby and then to Velva in a six-point defeat.

The Hoopsters preview has the Braves picked to finish sixth in the district.

“We also need to be way more disciplined offensively when we need to,” Simpson stated. “We are a team that can run no problem. When the time comes to slow it down and play a half court game, we seem to be out of our element.”

“We’ve really worked on trying to become a more disciplined half court team,” Simpson added.

Bottineau opened their season last night as they hosted Rolla, but scores and stats were unavailable by press time.

The Braves next contest will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Mohall as Bottineau takes on the Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Mavericks.