Boys basketball: A team in transition

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It looks to be another year of transition for the Farmington boys basketball team.

Missota Conference champions two years ago, the Tigers said goodbye to four senior starters that provided the bulk of their scoring and rebounding after the 2008-09 season. The team managed to go just 7-20 in 2009-10 as four seniors — Kyle Winkelman, Justin Lavey, Connor Duffy and Mike Jolliff — once again combined to score 43 of the team’s 60 points per game.

Those graduation losses leave the Tigers with 10 returning letter-winners, but just four who saw regular varsity action last season and just one — Alex Michels — who was a starter.

“I think we have a hard-working and unselfish group. I think we’ll really play a true team game with this group,” Farmington coach Shane Wyandt said. “I don’t think we’re great at any particular phase of the game, but I think we can be solid across all areas.”

Wyandt expects to play as many as 12 players in his varsity rotation, compared to nine or so in past seasons, but Michels should be the team’s go-to weapon. The senior had a breakout second half of his junior season, emerging to score in double figures 14 times in his final 19 games. He averaged 11 per game, led the team in rebounding and was named honorable mention all-conference.

“We expect Alex to have a big year for us. He improved a great deal last year throughout the season and had a great off-season with us. He was an Ironman, which means he didn’t miss a single basketball or weightroom session over the summer, which we feel will pay off for him,” Wyandt said. “He has a pretty good all-around game, which means he can play the post but can also handle and shoot the ball from the perimeter. Defensively, he’s one of the best shot blockers we’ve had.”

Other returning varsity players include Sebren Baer (3.9 PPG), Darren Beenken (4.8 PPG) and Josh Ruthenbeck (3.8 PPG). In last weekend’s scrimmages, Baer and Elliot Fenske saw a lot of time at the guard spots, Beenken and Ruthenbeck manned the forward positions and Michels was penciled in at center.

Other returning letterwinners competing for time include guards Zach Wallace, Alex Chadwick and Austin Bassett, forward Sam Hanson and back-up post player Andy Born. Several other players are also in the mix for time, according to Wyandt.

“We have several young players who will be given an opportunity to contribute throughout the year,” he said.

The Tigers open the 2010 season tomorrow night with a home game against Rochester John Marshall at 7:30 p.m. at Tiger Gym. The Tigers won last year’s opener against the Rockets, 67-62, in Rochester.

Tags: boys basketball, sports, farmington, tigers, prep