By Staff
INMAN – Looking to put back-to-back winning seasons, the Inman boys basketball program will enter the 2022-23 season with a bit of a target on their back as they have been ranked as high as number four in Class 2A by ‘Sports in Kansas’ in their preseason rankings.
Despite getting a late start in practices due to football playoffs, head coach Brett Froese guided the Teutons to an overall mark of 17-6 in 2021-22, losing in their sub-state semifinals to eventual state champion Hillsboro by just seven points.
Like last season, the Teutons will be getting a late start on full practices due to playing in a state championship football game just six days before their season opener.
First up will be to find someone to replace three valuable graduates as Jace Doerksen, Kendyn Blank, and Dawson Mannebach have moved on and as coach Froese noted, “They were all very good players for us that we have to replace.”
What coach Froese will have to work with will be Tanner Heckel, now a five-foot-eleven junior who has had back-to-back seasons with all-league and all-state honors. Joining him in the Teuton backcourt will be seniors Josiah Buller, and Harrison Brunk while six-foot-four senior Eli Brunk and six-foot-two junior Zachary Martisko will carry much of the load under the basket.
Joining those five in the mix for playing time will be five-foot-eleven junior TJ Froese, junior Kellen Schrag and sophomore Brody Froese.
Coach Froese finished his pre-season reflections by adding, “Hopefully we keep everyone healthy through football season. We will be a fun team to watch, and we have a good nucleus and I think by the end of the season we could be a tough out for someone.”
Regarding the schedule, Teuton coaches mentioned how the league will once again be very good from top to bottom while they will also have a very tough non-conference schedule again as well.
The Teutons kick off the 2022-23 season on Friday, December 2 on the road at Minneapolis before returning home on Tuesday, December 6 for their home opener with defending state champion Hillsboro.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)