(Elk Horn) Exira-EHK returns their entire starting lineup from a 15-win boys basketball team last season.
Spartan coach Doug Newton says not only do they have a lot of experience, but they also have depth. “Probably the biggest thing would be the depth. We have a lot of guys and can throw different lineups on the floor for different situations. We can go big, we can go big, we can go fast. Right now we sure have a lot of options.”
Five players averaged between 8 and 13 points per game last season. They all come back. “We have three seniors with Easton Nelson, Trey Petersen, and Derrek Kommes. Those guys have been the cornerstone for a lot of years.” Newton says, “They had to do a little school of hard knocks when they were younger and now they are not the young guy anymore. They are bigger and stronger. Hopefully they’ll be able to lead us to some pretty good things.”
The junior class also has a lot of talent. “We have a whole slug of juniors. Aiden Flathers shot 46% from three last year. Cash Emgarten is about as good of an athlete as there is in the area. Jonas LaCanne came back out and joined us again and is just an athlete. He runs and jumps and doe a really good job and gives us athleticism. Jackson Radcliff had a really good football year. He’s a guy that can go out on the perimeter a little big. A bigger guy that is coming into his body. He’s worked really hard to play out there and be able to guard out there. Some other guys are Cole Brabham and Quintinn White and Jaiden Pettepier. Jaden shoots the ball pretty well too. Seven juniors we have and they all bring something good to the table.”
The Spartans made the district finals last year. Their 2022-23 season starts next Friday (12/2) at Glidden-Ralston.
