O-F boys basketball looks for wins

by Bridget Cooke
Editor

Coming off quite a successful year with a shared conference championship and a loss to a tough team in the semi-sectional of the playoffs for the 2013-14 season, the Thunder boys basketball team is eager to get back onto the court and prove they still have what it takes to go far.

Osseo-Fairchild had a rollercoaster of a season last year. The boys started out in a much lower position than they had hoped to be all while adapting to a new style of play, one which required much more endurance and fast-paced precision. 

Starting out, the Thunder season looked to be going downhill fast. Six games and zero wins, including two close bouts with conference opponents Chippewa Falls - McDonell and Fall Creek, was a disheartening sight for the promising team. 

Then, something clicked.

Carrying on to an 18-7 overall record for the season, the Thunder boys decided they enjoyed the taste of winning and continued after their first victory--a 67-47 victory over Altoona on the road--to a streak until they faced the Railroaders once more, slipping up a bit with a loss at home. 

Still, with big wins over West Cloverbelt opposition such as Thorp, Regis, Cadott, Fall Creek and Stanley-Boyd, the O-F boys team was well on its way to playoffs in good standing. Ending their conference season, the Thunder shared the title of conference champions with rival Fall Creek before eviscerating the Crickets in the regional finals.

Unfortunately a rough loss to the Mondovi Buffaloes ended the dream of obtaining a trip to state competition. Though this year, they hope to make it back to that spot where they lost in the semi-sectionals, and maybe even beyond.

Cody Carlstrom, a senior, said the success of last year motivates not only his fellow seniors and captains Kyler Hagen and Parker Rongstad, but everyone on the varsity squad.

“I see a lot of potential to continue the success we had last season,” Carlstrom said. “We kind of had a slow start, we expected that, but by the end of the season we had everything rolling the way we wanted to, so I think we’ve got the pieces we need to keep that going.”

Head Coach Tim Popple was hopeful to continue the path from last year’s success with seniors who have seen playing time at the varsity level and are more adjusted to the quickness of style for the Thunder.

“The kids got a glimpse of what it’s like to play in some of those bigger games and they want some of that now,” he said.

However, the coach noted there would also be the opportunity for younger players to step up during their first time in a varsity game.

“We have a lot of ball players, which is always good for the style of ball we play,” Popple said. “There’s going to be some juniors that have to play varsity this year for their first time. The one factor that’s really a plus for them is that they’re all pretty good athletes in pretty good shape.”

Victories are the main drive behind the team’s performance this season over everything else, for both players and coaches. 

Popple said now that the team has an established idea of the quick play and are able to play harder because of the adjustments they made last year, he is sure they will see more Ws on their record.

“They’ll have a pretty good understanding going in, they won’t have to learn the whole thing in the first six weeks of the year,” he said. “It’s still hard work and a tough style to play, but they don’t have to wonder what it is. Right from the beginning, they’re understanding that we’re going to push the ball and we’re going to press.”

Though they will have to account for a few missing faces on the varsity squad. 

“Last year, we lost some key players so we have to see who can fill those spots,” Hagen said.

Waiting to see who will take the place of high-scoring seniors from last season will be a challenge, but the players said they will be happy once they have everything in place.

“Once we figure that out, the wins will take care of themselves,” Carlstrom said.

As the most experienced players at the varsity level, the key players said they look forward to taking the reins of the team and shifting the squad toward success. 

“It’s your chance to lead the team and see where you can bring them,” Hagen said.

The seniors this year are set to fill those spaces themselves, taking on the role of mentors to younger players looking to improve their game. As players who spent time at the varsity level playing the high-endurance style of game from last year, they are also the teammates with the most to offer those looking for direction.

“Cody Carlstrom is a natural leader,” Popple said. “Parker and Kyler played a lot of varsity ball for us last year, so they know what it takes to get to the next level. I look for those three especially to step up and help our younger kids understand what makes a winning program.”

While there is a definite focus on results, Popple said another important element besides statistics and hard work is a factor for success in his team. 

“It has to be fun,” he said. “Keep it light, practices aren’t so serious you can’t smile once in a while, and you play as a team instead of individuals. When you start playing for the guy next to you, the game changes.”

The Thunder boys basketball team start off their season with a home game against Eleva-Strum scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday night.