Boys Basketball Story

Slug: boys’ bball

By Phil Smith

With the 2007-2008 Boys Basketball season approaching, expectations from players are high as they are getting ready for the season. Senior captain Bobby Johnson and junior Will DeBerg played considerable time last season. They have been friends since and now they push each other.
“Our team has been working hard and playing together in open gym. We are looking to make a statement this year,” said DeBerg.
With conference games against Minnetonka, Hopkins, Armstrong and Cooper, the team looks to their experience from last year.
“Our team got a lot of experience last year and we are young. Hopefully that experience transfers over for this year,” DeBerg said.
This off-season, the injury bug bit. Johnson tore his ACL. “I hope I can be back for the season opener, I’ve been coaching our fall league team so it’s been good to build our team chemistry,” said Johnson.
Senior Jeff Moon broke his finger and junior Ben Biewen had mouth surgery, sidelining them all of them for considerable time. All are expected to recover and add to the team. “It’s important that Bobby recovers quickly from his torn ACL because he gives us a great inside presence,” said DeBerg.
With Moon’s and Johnson’s injury questions, Biewen seems healthy and poised for a break out.
Johnson and DeBerg both agree. Ben Biewen will be the break out player for the team. He’s been working hard and recovered from his injury. He should be a surprise at shooting guard. They both expect Ben Biewen to step up big time because he has been working hard and always gives his all.
Coach Pat Dorsey was unavailable for comment. DeBerg and Johnson feel that he understands his team, “We feel comfortable with our coach and he gets the team ready to play. He played college basketball so he has a good player connection,” DeBerg said.
“Dorsey is a great coach. He has a good relationship with players, and it’s nice to have a coach who worries about the on and off court issues,” said Johnson.
With experience and recovering health the boys basketball team hopes to win the conference. “It was tight to see the football team win the conference, and that’s our goal. We feed off the crowd like the football team, so it’d be a nice to have huge crowds for the games,” Johnson said.