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The 2019-2020 season was a learning experience for the Hawley boys’ basketball team. The team needed to replace nearly all of the minutes from the section finalist team of 2018-2019, which caused the team to rely heavily on underclassmen. Cade Carley, the lone senior on the team was a critical leader for the Nuggets. He set a school and state record when he went 7-for-7 on 3-pointers in a game against Breckenridge. The good news is the Nuggets have plenty of players who gained valuable varsity experience coming back for the 2020-2021 season.
“Playing through the tough 8AA and HOL is a tough task with experience, and it was especially difficult with a group getting their feet wet in varsity basketball,” commented Head Coach Nathan Stoa, beginning his seventh year with the Nuggets. The 2020-21 version of the Nuggets will look to play an up-tempo style of offense while looking to return to the pressure style of defense that has helped them enjoy success in the past. This group took their lumps as a young squad last season and must show that they’ve learned from it this season. It will be tough as both the section and the conference are senior loaded.”
Returning letter winners are seniors Alex Bratsch (Wing), Justin Koski (Wing), Blake Manthe (Post) and Cole Sunde (Wing), juniors Hayden Grani (Guard), Brady Gratton (Wing), Carson Brew (Guard) and Ethan Magnusson (Post), sophomore Mason Gratton (Guard) and freshman Brevin Stoa (Guard).
Stoa will be assisted by Travis Haugen and Drew Thompson.
Stoa says Fergus Falls and Perham are the top teams in Section 8AA, with Perham and Pelican Rapids as the favorites in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference.