Viking head coach Colin Everson stops practice for a moment to go over a drill with his players at a recent practice. The boy’s first home game is December 2 against Lakeview Christian. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
Viking head boys’ basketball coach Colin Everson welcomed 22 boys out for the start of practice. This year’s team features a veteran line up returning four starters coming back as seniors.
Leading the squad will be Jordan Porter, a 6’ 2” forward, Adam Dorr, a 6’3” guard, Pete Sutton, a 6’ 2” guard, and Ray Gordon, a 6’ guard.
The hole left by 6’ 3” graduating senior guard/ forward Will Ramberg will be tough to fill. Last season Will averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds per game. He was a do-everything player who could be counted on to make the big basket, grab the big rebound, block a shot, or find an open man with a nifty pass. Will is attending college this year in Montreal, where he will play basketball for McGill University.
“We need some of the younger guys to step up and fill some of the holes,” said Everson.
The conference looks to be pretty even this year, as do sections. Northwoods Grizzlies graduated most of its starting lineup, which means it should be wide open for any team to advance to state.
Defensively the Vikings will play mostly man-to-man, said Everson. “We’re teaching the kids to play some zone defense, but we want to put as much pressure as we can on the offensive team, so will mostly use our man defense.”
On offense, the Vikings will play four men out, spreading the ball around the perimeter, looking for a seam to dribble or pass through.
“We’ll use a lot of ball screens, pop-out screens, space the floor, and allow our kids to drive to the basket or penetrate and pass the ball out to an open shooter,” said Coach Everson.
If attacking the basket doesn’t work, all four of the returning starters are capable of having big nights from beyond the three-point line. Ray Gordon has a nice mid-range jump shot, as does Pete Sutton. Jordan Porter can shoot it long or play underneath the basket, and Adam Dorr is an excellent floor general who had some big nights scoring the ball last year. All of the returning starters are a year older, stronger, faster, and quicker than last year. With a nice bunch of eager younger kids pushing the older kids for playing time, the Vikings should be on course to have a good season.
Also, noted the coach, “We have 28 middle school boys out for basketball this year, which is encouraging.”
The boys’ first game of the season is at home on December 2 against the Lakeview Christian Lions. The varsity will take the floor at 6:30 p.m. Come out and cheer for your Vikings!
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