Team: Howells-Dodge
Mascot: Jaguars
Colors: Green, Black, Silver
Class: C-2
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Cole Fischer (6th season) (84-48 record)
2016-2017 record: 10-13 (lost to Battle Creek in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: 4
Overview:
The Howells-Dodge Boys Basketball Team brings back 4 starters from last year's 10-13 team. Head Coach Cole Fischer. "Kind of our floor leader this year will be Connor Blum (6'2). He averaged about 12 points a game last year. He's going to be a senior this year. Everything will kind of run through him. Started since he was a freshman. Was kind of out the whole season as a sophomore with a knee injury, but we expect big things from him. Next will be Dax VanLengen (6'4, SR G/F), he's a 3-year starter as well. He played a little bit as a freshman, and he'll start this year and last year. Kade Hegemann... (5'11, JR G) he'll be a Junior, he's a nice little guard for us. One of our probably 3-point threats. And then in the middle holding us down will probably be Lane Hegemann. He's about 6'5 kid, bigger framed boy. He handles the boards pretty well."
Fischer says Jordon Brichacek (5'11, SR G), Josh Brester (6'0, JR PG), Ryan Macholan (6'2, SR F), and Caden Jackson (6'2, JR G) are all battling for the 5th starting spot.
The talent and experience appears to be in place for the Jaguars to get back to form.
The Jaguars should have good depth and players stayed healthy during football season so that's a good sign.
Howells-Dodge had a great football season, and I look for the success the Jaguars had on the gridiron to carry over to Basketball.
Howells-Dodge has to work extremely hard in practice and in games everyday, and must take things one day and one game at a time.
The Jaguars have to remain humble, and focused on the ultimate goal, a trip to Lincoln.
This is a very proud program that has been to State in the past, and I look for Howells-Dodge to rediscover their form of 4-5 years ago, and make a lot of noise this season.
The Jaguars have to wake up everyday excited and motivated to play the game of basketball.
Howells-Dodge has to practice just as hard as they play in the game, and work on their game and craft as much as possible.
The Jaguars have to dream big, and go out and play for the towns of Howells and Dodge, and make their communities proud.
This is the Jaguars' chance to do something and get back to an elite level.
Howells-Dodge has to take the bull by the horns, and come ready to play great everyday.
The Jaguars can't be scared of or intimidated by anyone.
Howells-Dodge has to play their game and execute the game plan each and every time out, and maximize their potential.
Running the floor, converting easy lay ups, getting good, open looks at the basket, and getting to the free throw line will be important for this team I feel.
Pressuring the ball, creating turnovers, and staying out of foul trouble will be important as well I would say.
Season Outlook:
Howells-Dodge should be able to get back to an elite level this year I would think, and have better seasons than they've had the past two years.
The schedule isn't easy though. The Jaguars have tough games with Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Oakland-Craig, BRLD, and West Point-Beemer before Christmas, and Humphrey St. Francis, Wisner-Pilger, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, North Bend Central, and Lutheran High Northeast after the break.
These teams are good, but the Jaguars are capable of beating them by stepping up their game.
Howells-Dodge figures to be able to knock off a good chunk of these teams.
Howells-Dodge kicks off their season on November 30th at home against Pierce. Fischer says it should be a good battle. "I think it's going to be a pretty good game. I think we have little bit of an advantage being at home, but first game of the year still going to be a lot of mistakes probably on both ends, and I guess who can weather the storm, and knock down maybe some free throws here or there, handle some pressure. And I look for it to be a pretty solid game to start the year off."
The Bluejays took last year's contest 53-34 in Pierce.
The Jaguars suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Battle Creek in Sub-Districts last year. Fischer says that's something his team hasn't forgotten. "Yeah that's kind of our motto this year is even throughout the summer is we return the 4 starters off that team, and that's going to kind of be our fuel throughout the year, is we were in control of that game the whole time, and we let it slip away. So if that doesn't fuel them through this year I think that's a pretty good reason to supply a little fire in us. And I think that's always going to be in the back of our mind. And hopefully that motivates us a little bit. At the same time you got to let it go, but a little extra motivation never hurts."
The Jaguars lost 55-54 to the Braves in the final seconds.
That has to serve as fuel and motivation to have a great season.
Howells-Dodge has to think of the pain they felt every time they take the floor this season.
The game has to serve as a reminder that no game is over until it is over.
The Jaguars have to give it their all at all times.
At no point can Howells-Dodge let up or be complacent or satisfied.
The Jaguars have to keep improving and getting better, and must keep wanting more.
Howells-Dodge is in Sub-District C2-4 with the likes of LHNE, Battle Creek, Stanton, and Wisner-Pilger.
It's a sub-district that is tough, but is up for grabs, in my opinion.
The East Husker Conference figures to be tough again this year too, but I think the Jaguars will compete well within the conference.
2017-2018 Howells-Dodge Boys Basketball Schedule:
11/30/17 Pierce
12/01/17 @ Stanton
12/05/17 @ Aquinas Catholic
12/07/17 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
12/09/17 @ Oakland-Craig
12/12/17 West Point-Beemer
12/15/17 @ BRLD
12/16/17 Clarkson/Leigh
12/21-12/22 (To Be Determined) Knight Holiday Classic Midland University
12/29-12/30 (To Be Determined) BRLD Tournament Lyons/Bancroft
01/05/18 @ Humphrey St. Francis
01/06/18 Plainview
01/12/18 @ Wisner-Pilger
01/20/18 Pender
01/23/18 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/27-02/03 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/08/18 North Bend Central
02/09/18 @ Wakefield
02/16/18 @ Lutheran High Northeast
Team: Howells-Dodge
Mascot: Jaguars
Colors: Green, Black, Silver
Class: C-2
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Scott Polacek (26th season) (366-193 record)
2016-2017 record: 25-3 (Won Class C-2 State Championship)
Returning Starters: 2
Overview:
The Howells-Dodge Girls Basketball Team returns a couple of key players from last year's State Championship Team. Head Coach Scott Polacek. "I know that we have two returning letterwinners. Erin Prusa (6'0) is our Junior Post, and Macey Kulhanek (5'5) is our Senior Guard. Those two will be starters. They had contributions in the State Tournament last year."
Other players vying for starting spots include Seniors Katelyn Steffensmeier (5'5, G) and Jordyn Brester 5'5, G), and Juniors Tonya Brester 5'8, G) and Jessi Brester (5'9, JR F). Polacek says Junior Grace Dvorak (5'8, C) should also contribute this season.
It will be interesting to see who gets the rest of the starting spots and who comes off the bench.
I wonder how much depth the Jaguars will have this year. It will be interesting to see if Howells-Dodge goes 9-10 deep or so, or if they just play like 7 girls.
The Jaguars have to build off the success they've had in recent years, and these new girls have to make their own name in Howells-Dodge Girls Basketball lore.
Things have been very competitive in practice, according to Polacek, with every girl fighting for a starting spot really wanting to start.
I think that competitive spirit and fire is only going to lead to big and great things for this team.
Offseason workouts are an expectation at Howells-Dodge, and the Jaguars don't mess around.
There's a reason why Howells-Dodge is a successful program year in and year out. They work hard and get the most out of one another.
Kulhanek and Prusa have to step up and be team leaders for the Jaguars.
They are Howells-Dodge's two most experienced players, and have to step up and lead this team by example.
Teamwork is going to be very important for the Jaguars throughout the course of the season, in my opinion.
Howells-Dodge has to set aside any personal feelings towards anyone else on the team, and play for the common good of the team.
A lot of people think this is going to be a rebuilding year for the Jaguars, but don't be surprised if Howells-Dodge overachieves.
The Jaguars are the defending Class C-2 State Champions for crying out loud. Come on now.
Season Outlook:
Howells-Dodge looks to continue the success they've had in recent years.
I think the Jaguars can definitely be good again, but Howells-Dodge lost an awful lot from last year.
Almost all of the Jaguars' games are tough this year so it will be interesting to see how Howells-Dodge stacks up against some of the best.
The Jaguars have to play with fire, passion, intensity, mental and physical toughness, grit, aggressiveness, and tenacity each and every time they take to the floor.
Howells-Dodge has to work the ball around the perimeter and get it inside to their post players for easy baskets.
Getting good open looks, getting to the free throw line, and converting close to the basket will be important for the Jaguars as well I would say.
Howells-Dodge also has to play tough, in your face defense, and must pressure the ball and create turnovers.
The Jaguars get their year started at home on November 30th against Pierce. Polacek says his team has their work cut out for them the first few contests. "Pierce, and we play them in Dodge the first night. They have a lot of their team coming back. They have a nice inside post. And then we have to go to Stanton the next night, who has been very successful these last couple of years, been a great Volleyball team. And then we have to go to David City Aquinas that next Tuesday so it is just stacked top to bottom right off the bat."
The Jaguars topped the Bluejays 68-49 on the road to open up last season.
It doesn't figure to be easy for Howells-Dodge to win games this year, but I think the Jaguars have a chance to surprise some people.
You don't win a State Championship for nothing.
Howells-Dodge has to bring the same kind of effort and attitude the teams of the past few years brought.
I think the teams of the past have laid a great foundation for success for Jaguar Girls Basketball, and now these girls have to go out there and live out what's been blueprinted for them.
Howells-Dodge knows what it's going to take to be successful I'm sure, and anything less than hard work doesn't figure to get the job done.
We will find out a lot about this Jaguar team in the early season I think.
I think it might take a little bit for Howells-Dodge to get things going, but the Jaguars should get stronger as the season progresses I would say.
2017-2018 Howells-Dodge Jaguars Girls Basketball Schedule:
11/30/17 Pierce
12/01/17 @ Stanton
12/05/17 @ Aquinas Catholic
12/07/17 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
12/09/17 @ Oakland-Craig
12/12/17 West Point-Beemer
12/15/17 @ BRLD
12/16/17 Clarkson/Leigh
12/29-12/30 (To Be Determined) BRLD Holiday Tour. Lyons/Bancroft
01/05/18 @ Humphrey St. Francis
01/06/18 Plainview
01/09/18 Lutheran High Northeast
01/12/18 @ Wisner-Pilger
01/13/18 Columbus Scotus
01/19/18 @ Tekamah-Herman
01/20/18 Pender
01/23/18 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/26-02/03 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/08/18 North Bend Central
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