My boys basketball season starts tonight with the Brainerd vs. Pequot Lakes game at Brainerd High School. It's an odd beginning to the season with three new coaches. It's going to be hard to get used to not seeing Lynn Peterson, Kurt Stumpf and Wade Haapajoki on their respective sidelines. I enjoyed working with all three coaches and felt the later two could have created something similar to what Peterson enjoyed for so many years in Staples.
It's also a year that doesn't have a real clear front runner for best team or best player. For years we were spoiled by Pequot, Crosby-Ironton and Staples-Motley. Pierz had a great run that unfortunately paralleled Braham's great teams.
Pillager had three good state teams and of course Dan Kornbam and Little Falls amazed us all for three straight years.
So my question to the readers. Who are the players of the year this year? Who is the best player in the Dispatch coverage area? Which team has a chance to make it to state?
Good luck to everyone this season.