Area girls? basketball season begins in earnest next week

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

This winter will have a different feel to it with both the boys and girls basketball teams playing their seasons simultaneously. A year ago at this time, the Michigan High School Athletic Association was playing regional tournaments. It also could be very interesting keeping up with both teams, not only locally, but in all Michigan communities. It?ll take some extra glances at the schedule to not miss any games. One thing that will differentiate the two will be the offset start dates as the girls getting going first.

Under the leadership of second year coach Paul Stempky, the Hurons will begin their season with a road contest at Hillman. Stempky expects to start three seniors and a young backcourt. The coach looks to run a more up-tempo offense and press on defense. ?I have pretty good speed,? said Stempke. ?Defensive-wise we should be pretty good.? Hillman has a new head coach, but they?re expected to stay with bread-and-butter play, the pick-and-roll. The JV begins the action at 6 p.m. The first home game is a week from Friday against Newberry.

THE POSEN BASKETBALL program is coming off its fourth straight r

egional tournament appearance, but are on the heels of graduating a couple of their best players ever. They also have new coach Karl Momrik taking over for Tom Schellie, who won four district titles and two North Star League championships in six years. The Vikings play Alcona in the first game Wednesday (November 28) at home. ?We think that gives them a little bit of an edge because they?ve played one game before us, but that gives us an edge because they have to play back-to-back road games. Plus, we have a chance to see them the night before,? said Momrik at practice. He said both teams lost a lot to graduation.

The starting line-up of the Vikings, and the make-up the squad, will be as different as the change in the seasons. Game number two will be against Mio next Friday. A preview story about the Hurons? and Vikings? will be forthcoming in the winter sports preview, which will be available with the regular weekly publication of The Advance on December 6.