WINTER SPORTS
C3
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Sophomore leads Bulldogs into 2021
By JAKE DREILINGER jake.dreilinger @nptelegraph.com
North Platte boys basketball coach Matt Kaminski knows his team isn’t big compared to Class A standards. The two tallest players on the team are both sophomores who don’t have the experience yet to put that height to good use. But what Kaminski does know is he expects his players to continue improving throughout the season, and even for some of them to make that jump from decent to great. “We are a young team but have enough expe- rience and some good senior leaders,” he said. “I think several players will make a big jump this season and we will be a steadily improved team as the year pro- gresses.” The Bulldogs are up for the challenge. Some players have al- ready made the jump. Sophomore River Johnston has been North Platte’s go-to scorer so far this sea- son, averaging 14.3 points per game and shooting a team-high 41 percent from the field this season. “River is one of the most talented play- ers we’ve had in a long time, but the fact that he is one of the hard- est workers and humble makes him pretty spe- cial,” Kaminski said. “He will put a lot of stress on opposing de- fenses and can score at all three levels.” Another player posed for a breakout season is senior Luke Zimbelman. Kaminski said Zimbelman was showing strides last season until an injury kept him out for 10 games and derailed some momentum. Zimbelman is second on the team in scor- ing at eight points per game, and is one of a handful of players to provide another scoring outlet for the Bulldogs. “He is explosive and athletic around the rim and is an excel- lent shooter,” Kaminski said. “He will need to be a consistent rock for us game in game out.” There’s also Kade Mohr, who has become a featured player inside for North Platte. He has only shot six times from beyond the arc this sea- son, and is third on the team with 7.8 points per game. He leads the team with 5.8 rebounds per game.
Telegraph file photo Gavyn Brauer of North Platte celebrates after winning the Class A, 182-pound Championship in February 2020 at CHI Health Center in Omaha. Brauer, Diaz, Ruffin return for talented Dawgs
Schedule Dec. 19....................................................... Norfolk Dec. 29-30....................Beatrice Holiday Tourney Jan. 5....................................................at Kearney Jan. 9......................................... Kearney Catholic Jan. 15............................................... at Lexington Jan. 16........................................................ Sidney Jan. 19.................................................. Northwest Jan. 22................................................. at McCook Jan. 23............................................................ York Jan. 30...................................................... Alliance Feb. 2................................................. Lincoln Pius Feb. 5...................................................at Hastings Feb. 11............................................. at Scottsbluff Feb. 12.................................................... at Gering Feb. 19....................................................... Minden Telegraph file photo Luke Zimbelman puts up a shot against Gering during the 2020 regular season. Head coach Matt Kaminski believes the now senior is poised for a breakout season.
By JAKE DREILINGER jake.dreilinger @nptelegraph.com
If there’s anything the North Platte wrestling team is lacking, it defi- nitely isn’t talent. It’s hard not to notice who the Bulldogs have back this season: » 2019 state champion and 2020 state runner-up Darian Diaz is compet- ing in the 138 weight class this year. » 2020 state runner-up Jaylan Ruffin is out for another shot at the ti- tle, this time in the 132 weight class. » Then there’s Gayvn Brauer, fresh off a 2020 state title in the 182-pound class. They also have other state qualifiers in Cash Arensdorf, Luke Rathjen and Brock Little, all of whom make the Bulldogs a threat in any meet. “I would say any of our guys who are return- ing state qualifiers (are role players),” coach Dale Hall said. “Those guys need to be expected to be counted on.” North Platte also add- ed Vincent Genatone, a state medalist from Wyoming who moved to North Platte. The way Hall’s team is stacking up, it’s looking like the Bulldogs could make a deep run in the state tournament. “I think as a team, we can be one of the best teams in the state,” Hall said. “And that’s regard- less of class or any of those things. The biggest thing is whether or not we want to … injuries, staying healthy, staying eligible. Those things are going to be some of the biggest factors. Based on North Platte’s start to the season, the Bulldogs have backed up Hall’s belief. They currently boast an unde- feated record, picking up wins against Broken Bow in a home dual, then win- ning the Chieftain Duals by defeating Elkhorn South 57-21, Bellevue East 78-4, Gretna 51-19 and Fremont 51-18.
Telegraph file photo Jaylan Ruffin of North Platte wrestles Rylie Steele of Kearney during a Class A 126-pounds state semifinal.
66-59, a close game the Bulldogs closed out by making free throws in the last minute. In their last three games, however, North Platte fell to Millard West, Skutt Catholic and Grand Island Central Catholic. Skutt Catholic and GICC were both No. 1-seeds in last season’s state basket- ball tournament, where Skutt Catholic won and GICC was runner-up. “If we can get out and create some turnovers and score in transi- tion we will be tough,” Kaminski said. “Our schedule is heavy early. We have the opportuni- ty to compete against some top tier teams be- fore January. If we stay healthy and avoid Covid issues, we have the tal- ent and ability to have a winning season and host a district game with a young team.”
“Kade Mohr has got- ten stronger and more confident,” Kiminski said. “The game is slow- ing down for him and he has better anticipa- tion and knows his role well. He has a high bas- ketball IQ.” Other players Kiminski mentioned as taking the next step were Caleb Kinkaid, Ryan Kaminski, Caleb Tonkinson and Carter Kelly. It’s not easy play- ing a Class A schedule. It means far travel distances, most- ly to Lincoln or Omaha, and it usually means a quick turnaround from playing a game at home to waking up early the next day and traveling somewhere else. It has also led to some stiff competition early on. North Platte edged out Northwest in the season opener at home
Schedule Dec. 19. ........................................ at Valentine Invite Jan. 2........................................... North Platte Duals Jan. 8....................................... at Lincoln North Star Jan. 9........................................................at Beatrice Jan. 14......................................................at Kearney Jan. 15-16........ at Kelly Walsh Invite (Casper, Wyo.) Jan. 21................................ Grand Island Northwest Jan. 23......................................... at Lexington Invite Jan. 28..................................................... at McCook Feb. 4................................................. at Gothenburg Feb. 13............................................................District Feb. 17-20..................................... State Tournament
Ethan Jackson (126), Ruffin (132), Diaz (138), Fox (145), Santana Morin (152), Rathjen (160), Arensdorf (170), Brauer (182), Genatone (195), Mason Newland (220) and Jaacob Kohler (285). Hall said if his wres- tlers can buy into the team and what they are doing, there’s little that can stop them from suc- ceeding. “Wrestling’s one of those deals where it’s an individual sport,” Hall said. “But if these guys decide they want to work together as a team and make everyone better, the sky’s the limit. I real- ly believe that.”
There are a few wres- tlers Hall hopes can make the jump to the next level. Following the Broken Bow home dual, Hall praised Ryan Fox (145) and Carson Songster for their match- es before saying he was pleased with how the en- tire team did. “I thought Carson Songster, freshman at 120, it was his first var- sity win,” Hall said. “Hasn’t wrestled a whole lot prior to varsity I guess. That was a good win for him. He battled.” In the Broken Bow dual, Hall went with Kole Weigel (106), Jace Kennel (113), Songster (120),
Telegraph file photo River Johnston (10) is expected to handle much of the scoring duties for the Bulldogs this season.
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