This stuff never gets old. With the high school football playoffs in full swing, the beginning of high school basketball season is just around the corner. It is always an exciting time for our coaching staff. Trying to determine which players we can count on and how they fit into our system. Planning what new wrinkles to add to our system to take advantage of our talent, and the coaches meetings with all of our coaches from 4th grade on up really add to the excitement of another basketball season.

On paper this year looks to be one where we feel we will be highly competitive. We lost 3 players from last year, Kyle Behrens, Dan Wimmer, and Tommy Brown who had a big impact on our season and will be difficult to replace. But we return 5 of our top 8 players from last year. Leading the way is our leading scorer and 1st Team All-Conference selection point guard Kirk Emmer. Kirk is a three year starter who not only will be counted on in all facets of the game but will also be looked upon to give strong leadership both on and off the court. This year's team should have more balance than we have had in the past few years. We are hoping to have a little more size and inside presence which should make us more effective on offense getting points around the basket. Where it should help the most is defensively ? with more favorable size match ups. Led by Kirk, the strength of the team will be our perimeter play. This team could be one of the best 3-point shooting teams we have ever had. We will have great depth with a good combination of returning seniors to go along with a strong junior class.

The Little Ten conference should be more balanced than in the past. WISCO will be the favorite but will not be as over-powering as in the past. They lost a lot through graduation, but always have talent coming through the ranks. Beaver Dam has three outstanding players returning from a team that made the sectionals last year and Oconomowoc and Watertown return many starters and quality players from last year. Where does that leave the Owls?

We think we can be serious contenders. Chemistry and understanding roles, we believe, are two important keys to winning teams. Players have to genuinely enjoy each other on and off the court. There has to be a mutual respect for each other and desire to achieve a mutual goal, in this case winning. Understanding roles is difficult because everyone wants to be the leading scorer. Unfortunately, there is only one basketball, and your best players have to have it most of the time. Others need to find and understand what they can do to give their team the best possibility to be successful. We feel very comfortable with the group of guys we have coming in that they will do whatever has to be done to battle for a conference championship.

It could to very a fun and exciting year around here. One thing I know for sure is that we have guys who like to play and are competitive - two important ingredients to be successful on the court. If you get a chance, come out and see us play this season. I don't think you will be disappointed. And hopefully when it is over that first boys basketball Little Ten championship will be a reality. Thanks for your continued support and GO OWLS!