The Littlefork-Big Falls boys basketball team returns a lengthy list of players from last season, which head coach Jeff Maish wants to improve upon the 11-12 overall record and opening-round tournament loss.
At the top of Maish’s list is a player who already has more than 1,000 career points for L-BF, senior Garrett Larson.
As the team’s leading scorer and rebounder from last season, Larson earned All-Conference honors and also received All-State honorable mention. Shortly after the season concluded, he played in an All-Star game in Duluth and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Also returning is the Vikings’ defensive player of the year in 2010-11, senior Tyler Vork, an All-Conference honorable mention player who held many teams’ best scorers below their averages.
Maish said other top returning players include:
• Taylor DeLack, a sophomore with “great court vision.”
• John Reller, a junior known for “great ball handling and shooting.”
• Jeffery Fry, a senior who is a “great team player” and “plays well in the post.”
• Bryce Burmeister, a junior who is “hard working” and “rebounds and hustles.”
Maish said L-BF’s strengths this season include “quickness, ability to get up the court and (scoring) in transition.”
In addition to seeking the Northern Lakes Conference title this season, Maish said the team goals include seeking a top-three seeding in the Section 7A playoffs and advancing beyond the opening round of the playoffs.
He said his biggest concern in 2011-12 is having the players stay healthy.
Maish said the teams to look out for this season include Deer River in the conference, Bigfork in both the conference and Section, and Section teams North Woods, Mesabi East, Chisholm and Ely.
L-BF opens the season at home next Friday against Chisholm.
