Wolves Returns Starters, Expect Strong Boys’ Season
Wolf Point’s boys’ basketball team returns a strong core back as the Wolves look to contend for a high placing in District 2B this season.
Returning starters for the Wolves are senior Richard Campbell, senior Sean Hamilton, junior Zandon Calder, junior Roper Flaten and sophomore Jett Azure.
Calder, a powerful inside presence, averaged 14.5 points and 12.5 rebounds last season. He was a second team All-Conference selection last year.
Hamilton and Campbell each averaged more than seven points a game. Campbell averaged five rebounds and Hamilton averaged four rebounds.
Flaten averaged six points and two rebounds last season and Azure averaged three points, four rebounds and three assists per contest.
“There’s a ton of leadership here. They really came on strong toward the end of the year by winning two out of our last three games of the regular season and one against a team that played in the state semi-final,” Wolf Point Coach Cole Hanks said. “They are getting used to playing together and had a great off season. It will be a really fun group to watch!”
Other players with a good amount of varsity experience include sophomore Cole Holen, freshman Andrew Williamson and freshman Reed Garfield.
“All got solid experience last year and look to add more to our line-up with speed and scoring,” Hanks said. “I’m really excited about the young guys and their work ethic even the young fellas that won’t be on varsity are working hard to improve and make a huge impact either this year or in future years.”
Wolf Point’s turnout included more than 35 players to open practice on Thursday, Nov. 20.
“The kids are hungry to improve and bring our program to great heights. We’ve had great numbers for several years which I think is a huge strength for us! The more kids that are interested, the better and stronger our program becomes,” Hanks said. “They all push each other during practice as well as during school hours in the gym. We will also have a big group of eighth graders coming up this year from our junior high as well as from Frontier who are well developed by the coaches out there.”
The coach anticipates the Wolves to play at a faster pace this season. The Wolves lost only one senior from a season ago. “Our guards are experienced and put a ton of work in last summer in the weight room and in the gym all summer. They have really improved so I’m looking forward to seeing them mesh this winter,” the coach said.
Areas that need the most work include defense and outside shooting. “Our goals are to be one of those teams to compete at divisionals. I thought we really improved last year from the beginning of the season to the end of the season even though our record didn’t show it,” Hanks said. “But we competed well and made huge strides in experience which will come in big this fall. We played a ton of young guys mostly sophomores and freshmen last year mixed in with some eighth graders as well as couple juniors with not a ton of experience, but they really came together well at the end of the year. I’m really looking forward to seeing them earn some respect this year.”
Hanks sees Harlem as one of the favorites in the league. “Glasgow returns some good size and an All-State player and will have a relatively new starting squad as well as Malta, but they will all be super athletic. Poplar will be really young, but super athletic and will compete. Fairview will have some size and some seniors to lead them,” Hanks said. “I don’t know much about Plentywood other than they lost a lot from a talented squad last year and will have a new coach, but I am sure they will be ready to go this winter. It will be a fun winter for sure. I know Malta returns some really talented young guys and what they lack in size they make up with lights out shooting and speed. I can’t wait to get started.”
Wolf Point Boys’ Basketball Schedule
Dec. 5-6: Native American Classic (Great Falls) Dec. 12-13: Class B Tip-off (Lockwood) Dec. 19: at Fairview Dec. 20: Glasgow Jan. 2: at Scobey Jan. 9: at Harlem Jan. 10: Poplar Jan. 16: Plentywood Jan. 17: at Malta Jan. 23: Fairview Jan. 24: at Glasgow Jan. 30: Scobey Feb. 6: at Poplar Feb. 7: Harlem Feb. 13: at Plentywood Feb. 14: Malta Feb. 25-28: District 2B tournament (Malta) March 4-7: Divisional tournament (Shelby) March 11-14: State tournament (Bozeman)
