Big Shoes to Fill: 1A
With teams all across the state trying to replace graduates, 1A schools are no exception. Several all-staters from the class of 2022 moved on, leaving big holes. Here are some guys ready to take on bigger roles in the absence…
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Continue ReadingWith teams all across the state trying to replace graduates, 1A schools are no exception. Several all-staters from the class of 2022 moved on, leaving big holes.
Here are some guys ready to take on bigger roles in the absence of a 1A all-state graduate:
Truman Bailey
Truman Bailey
Derek Hoelting earned first-team 1A Div. I, and fellow senior Damon Redeker was a second teamer for the repeat champions. They won’t be easily replaced, but Bailey was big as a junior, averaging 12 points per game. He was a primary threat from deep for a balanced team. You’ll hardly find a more experienced player in the state, as Bailey played a key role in the back-to-back championships.
Jace Gosch
Jace Gosch
Chance Hilger averaged 17 points and 9 boards en route to first-team 1A Div. I honors. He will certainly be missed, but Norwich returns a ton from the team that went 22-2 and barely lost in the first round of state to Solomon. Gosch was a huge part of that success, averaging 12.5 points and 7 rebounds. He led all scorers in the loss to Solomon, netting 16.
Jorge Lupercio
Jorge Lupercio
Brady Deges was a first-team 1A Div. I choice. Fellow senior Brent Penner earned third-team. They averaged 33 points per game between them. But when state tournament time rolled around, Lupercio was one of the Rebels top scoring threats and rebounders. He averaged 15 points per game in the three-game tournament run.
Josh Zarybnicky
Josh Zarybnicky
Emmitt Jueneman was a first-team 1A Div II pick. His senior teammate Keagan Dimler earned second-team. Along with two other key seniors, they had Hanover at the doorstep of a repeat last winter. But Zarybnicky was a key to that success, averaging nearly 12 points and 8 rebounds a game. In the tournament, he contributed 46 points in three games. He posted 15 points and 12 boards in the loss to Greeley County in the finals.
Jaron Lindsay
Jaron Lindsay
Scott Price averaged 20 points per game en route to first-team in 1A Div. II. He was one of the best small-school guards in the state. Lindsay is a very different player, towering over the state’s smallest classification. He averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds as a junior. He won’t replace Price, but he can step up his production to a higher level as a senior.
Kenton Thalheim
Kenton Thalheim
Bailey Sides was a do-everything, first-team 1A Div. II guard. His diverse stat line included 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game last year. The Huskies lose a couple of playmakers, but they return most of the squad that finished third a year ago, led by Thalheim. The 2023 guard dished out 3.4 assists and scored 11.5 points per contest as a junior. He tossed in 33 points in three games at state.