Howells-Dodge Boys and Girls look for successful seasons

Team: Howells-Dodge

Mascot: Jaguars

Colors: Green, Black, Silver

Class: D-1

Conference:  East Husker

Head Coach: Cole Fischer (4th season) (64-19 record)

2014-2015 record: 8-16  (lost to Mead in Sub Districts)

Returning Starters: 3

Overview:

The Howells-Dodge Jaguars hope to be successful this season as they return three starters off last year's 8-16 team.

Howells-Dodge brings back Tyler Polacek, Connor Blum, and Mitch Prusa as returning starters.

The Jaguars will have to make up for the loss of Jesse Faltys, but figuring to help do that will be newcomers Nolan Lund-(6’4, 12, F) and Tyler Brichacek-(6’1, 12, PG).

Howells-Dodge went through some growing pains last season, and didn't have the kind of year they are accustomed to having. However, the Jaguars had a really difficult schedule.

Head Coach Cole Fischer says look for his team to be aggressive and attack at both ends of the floor. "We will look to push the tempo and try to match up the best we can defensively. Our transition will us get into the flow of the game and hopefully lead to some easy baskets. We like to pressure the ball all over the court and our defense needs to lead to our offense."



Fischer says his team's strengths are being fast and athletic. "Our speed and athleticism will be our team strength. And much like years past we will take pride in our defense and that will hopefully provide us with some quality wins."

Fischer adds that height and build could be weaknesses. "Size may be an issue for us. But we have some dynamic players that can hold their own inside while stepping outside and hitting some shots."

I look for the Jaguars to rely on their perimeter game while using their driving ability to convert easy baskets.

Scoring wasn't an issue for Howells-Dodge last season. Defense was.

The Jaguars have to do a better job of stopping people if they want to turn things around this season.


Season Outlook:

Howells-Dodge hopes this season treats them better than last year did. Fischer says the Jaguars expect to be successful. "We have high expectations every year. We look to be competitive in a tough East Husker conference and make some noise when it comes to sub districts and districts. However, we have to take one day and one game at a time and grind through the season."

That will definitely have to be the case as Howells-Dodge has a tough schedule, especially early on.

Pierce, Stanton, David City Aquinas, and Clarkson/Leigh are tough opponents to begin the season. West Point-Beemer won't be easy either.

Fischer says his squad has to keep improving throughout the season to be successful at the end. "We have a tough/competitive schedule early and hopefully that will help us as the season progresses. We have to get better every day and every game. We need build some depth and have some young guys step and hopefully that puts us in a position to make a run in February and March."

Humphrey St. Francis, Wisner-Pilger, and Bancroft-Rosalie are three of the tougher teams the Jaguars will face in the second half of the season.

I think you could see Howells-Dodge get off to a slow start, or at least see them lose a couple of games early.

However, I think this team will win some games before Christmas, and make a nice run in January and February.

I think you will see this team get back to winning the way they are accustomed to. I don't see the Jaguars having another season below .500.

Howells-Dodge opens up the season at home on Thursday against Pierce.

Projected starting lineup (Height, Grade, position, how many years starting experience)
Tyler Polacek-6’0, 12, PG, 3 Year
Mitch Prusa-6’2, 12, F, 1 year
Connor Blum-5’11, 10, G, 1 year
Dylan Kucera-6’4, 10, F, 0
Luke Renter-6’1, 12, G, 0


2015-2016 Howells-Dodge Jaguars Boys Basketball Schedule:

12/03/15	Pierce	C1
12/04/15	@ Stanton	C2
12/08/15	@ Aquinas Catholic	C1
12/10/15	Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family	C2
12/12/15	@ Oakland-Craig	C2
12/15/15	West Point-Beemer	C1
12/18/15	@ Lyons-Decatur Northeast	D1
12/19/15	Clarkson/Leigh	C2
12/22-01/04	(To Be Determined)							Knight Classic	Midland University
12/29-12/30	(To Be Determined)							Homer Holiday Tournament	Homer
01/08/16	@ Humphrey St. Francis	D2
01/09/16	Plainview	C2
01/15/16	@ Wisner-Pilger	C1
01/23/16	Pender	D1
01/26/16	@ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder	C1
01/29-02/06	(To Be Determined)							East Husker Conference Tour	TBA
02/09/16	@ Bancroft-Rosalie	D2
02/11/16	North Bend Central	C1
02/19/16	@ Lutheran High Northeast	C2

Team: Howells-Dodge

Mascot: Jaguars

Colors: Green, Black, Silver

Class: D-1

Conference:  East Husker

Head Coach: Scott Polacek (24th season) (320-183 record)

2014-2015 record: 22-7 (placed third at state)

Returning Starters: 3


Overview:

The Howells-Dodge Girls hope to have the same kind of success they had last year when they went 22-7 and earned a third place finish at the state tournament.

Returning as starters for Head Coach Scott Polacek's squad are Sam and Kalli Brester, and Kelly Cech.

Newcomers who could make an impact are Chelsea Bayer (5’7”  G  11) and Macey Kulhanek                  (5’5”  G  10).

The Jaguars are post-oriented and play mostly a man-to-man defense, according to Polacek.

He adds last year Howells-Dodge played solid team defense, but will have to see how this year goes.

Polacek says players have to develop to give him some options off the bench. "We will need several young girls to put their game up a level to give us some depth."

Staying fresh and having fresh legs at all times will be critical for this team. There are certain players you want out there all the time if possible, but everyone needs a break every now and then.

I think the Jaguars can be good again, but it's going to be difficult. Howells-Dodge has a really tough schedule, and will be tested by quite a few teams they play.

The Jaguars are going to have to be sharp on offense and defense from the get go if they want to be good. Teams will be gunning for Howells-Dodge, there's no doubt about that.

I look for this team to have success this season, and gear up for another deep postseason run when the time comes.

Season Outlook:

Howells-Dodge certainly feels they could have been in the state championship game last year, and Polacek says winning it all is all that's on their mind. "The girls have only 1 goal...to get to Pinnacle Bank Arena and win there. We felt that we let Dundy-County Stratton get away in the Semifinals, so we want to get back down there for another run."

The Jaguars will be tested early against the likes of Pierce, Stanton, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, and West Point-Beemer.

The second half of the season appears to be a little easier, but challenging games with Humphrey St. Francis, Tekamah-Herman, and Pender loom.

Howells-Dodge figures to be a contender in the East Husker Conference Tournament.

Polacek says the Jaguars will be playing teams with quite a bit of experience. "Our schedule is absolutely brutal. Of 16 regular season opponents, 13 have at least 3 starters back. 7 teams have 4 or 5 starters returning, and our December is a challenge, for sure."

While the schedule is definitely a challenge for Howells-Dodge, the Jaguars are seasoned veterans themselves. That should help them when going up against some of the tougher teams on their schedule.

If Howells-Dodge wants to be the best, they have to beat the best. And certainly the Jaguars have some high expectations of where they want to be at the end of the season.

Given last year's success and the run these girls made in volleyball, anything is certainly possible.

Howells-Dodge has to believe, and keep their heads held high at all times.

The Jaguars have to play good basketball the entire season to get where they want. Howells-Dodge has to avoid a struggling period if at all possible.

The most important thing though will be playing their best basketball in February and March. The Jaguars have to be on top of their game at the end of the season to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the state championship.

Howells-Dodge opens up the season at home on Thursday against Pierce. 

Projected starting lineup (Height, Grade, position, how many years starting experience)

10   Emily Ritzdorf                     5’4”    G   11

12   Kalli Brester                       5’9”   G   11    2 years

14   Sam Brester                       5’9”    F   11

24   Tessa Brester                     5’9”    G   11

30   Kelly Cech                         5’10” C   12


2015-2016 Howells-Dodge Jaguars Girls Basketball Schedule:

12/03/15	Pierce	C1
12/04/15	@ Stanton	C2
12/08/15	@ Aquinas Catholic	C1
12/10/15	Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family	C2
12/12/15	@ Oakland-Craig	C2
12/15/15	West Point-Beemer	C1
12/18/15	@ Lyons-Decatur Northeast	D2
12/19/15	Clarkson/Leigh	C2
12/29-12/30	(To Be Determined)							Homer Holiday Tournament	Homer
01/08/16	@ Humphrey St. Francis	D2
01/09/16	Plainview	C2
01/12/16	Lutheran High Northeast	C2
01/15/16	@ Wisner-Pilger	C2
01/22/16	@ Tekamah-Herman	C1
01/23/16	Pender	D1
01/26/16	@ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder	C1
01/29-02/06	(To Be Determined)							East Husker Conference Tour	TBA
02/09/16	@ Bancroft-Rosalie	D2
02/11/16	North Bend Central	C1