Polar men to take on Lake City in first full-roster game of the season
Junior Keshon Walker shows his ability to dunk at a Dec. 3 practice, his first of the season. Walker and many Polars basketball players are also on the football team, which played in the state championship game on Nov. 29. Photo by David Snoddy Jr.
By Howard Hadley Jr, David Snoddy Jr. North High Intern Reporters
The Minneapolis North men’s basketball team has been to state three out of the past four years. Last year, they lost to Minnehaha in the 2A championship game. This year, with Minnehaha having moved up a class, they plan to take back the title.
This Saturday, the whole varsity squad will play its first game together. The Polars playing in the 2A football state championship kept many players from trying out, practicing for the past two weeks, and playing in the showcase season preview at Patrick Henry High School on Nov. 23.
This weekend’s game is against Lake City at Hopkins High School at 10:30am.
“Saturday, I’m just looking forward to our team playing together, playing at a fast speed, playing with a sense of urgency, and just getting back to the basics,” said senior point guard Jermaine Hardin.
Junior C.J. Brown (front) and the rest of the squad do a defensive drill during a Dec. 2 practice, Brown’s first practice of the 2019-20 season because his football season didn’t end until Nov. 29. Photo by Howard Hadley Jr.
This year’s team is young. Only four of the players are seniors. Despite their youth, the players are talented—and experienced. “You got Willie Wilson, you got Rio Sanders, Meiko Anderson, Jacob Butler and Davon Townley Jr,” said Head Coach Larry McKenzie. “Those are all guys who will play a major role on our squad this year.”
McKenzie says the Polars have “the toughest schedule you can have” this season. He says all of the non-conference games are “don’t miss kind of games.” Lake City is ranked #2 in Class 2A. They’ll play Caledonia (ranked #3 in 2A), Waseca (#1 in 2A), Minnehaha (#1 in 3A), Hopkins (#1 in 4A) and DeLaSalle (#2 in Class 3A).
McKenzie says the team’s goals are “always the same.”
“First and foremost we want to take care of business in the classroom. I want our kids to be student athletes number one.”
“We want to win the section title, and then we want to be state champions,” he said.
Senior Jermaine Hardin (back) and sophomore Jacob Butler run an offensive play during a Dec. 3 practice. Hardin says this week’s practices “should be intense with the little time we have to get prepared due to the fact that a lot of our players just came off of football, because it was the end of [their] football season.” Photo by Howard Hadley Jr.
Tauries Murry Jr, a senior on the team, says early season training will focus on defense: “We want everyone to be on the same page and working as one.”
This year the Polars are looking more focused and ready for any challenge that comes in their path. “We’re just going to need a lot of support. Just come out. Stay with us even if we lose a couple games,” said sophomore Willie Wilson.