Poplar Boys Aim For Return Trip To State Tournament
The Poplar boys’ basketball squad shoots to be one of the top teams in District 2B again this season.
The Indians placed second at the divisional tournament and won a game at the Class B state tournament a year ago.
Top returning players for the Indians are seniors Kaniel Ricker and Walker Burshia. Ricker was an All-Conference performer last year.
“Bringing back an All-Conference point guard and a true big will be key for our team,” Coach Griffin Ricker said.
The coach says several other athletes saw varsity playing time last season as well.
“We have some young guys who are going to step up,” Coach Ricker said. “These guys were in the gym about every day this summer.”
He said he is looking forward to his first year as the program’s head coach.
“We will focus on our defensive ability. We have a lot of guys who can play good defense,” he said.
He feels the team’s strengths include playing well off the pick-and-roll.
The coach regards the team’s size as being OK. “We have a few guys around 6-2 or 6-3,” he said.
He sees Malta and Glasgow as being among the preseason picks in the league. “We want to be one of the top contenders,” he said.
Poplar Boys’ Basketball Schedule
Dec. 6-7: Tip-off tournament in Great Falls Dec. 10: at Culbertson Dec. 13-14: Class B Tip-off (Lockwood) Dec. 20: at Harlem Jan. 3: Froid/Lake Jan. 11: Wolf Point Jan. 17: at Glasgow Jan. 18: at Fairview Jan. 25: Malta Jan. 28: Culbertson Jan. 30: at Froid/Lake Feb. 1: Harlem Feb. 7: Glasgow Feb. 8: Fairview Feb. 14: at Malta Feb. 15: at Wolf Point Feb. 19-22: District (Glasgow) Feb. 27-March 1: Girls Divisional (Malta) March 6-8: Boys Divisional (Cut Bank) March 13-15: State (Missoula)
