Larimore: Season Intro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are here to talk Polar Bear Basketball! It will be the beginning of a new era of hoops in Larimore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Polar Bears have a new head coach and North Dakota is moving into the 3 Class System this season. Larimore did not win a ton of games last year, but they bring back experienced ballers and they have a 6'8" post player. Anyone in Class B with that size will be a problem! The Polar Bears could sneak up and surprise some people this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">See below for team stats, player stats, a Q&amp;A session with coach <em>Kleven</em>, and the Polar Bear schedule. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong> Larimore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mascot:</strong> Polar Bear</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> <em>Kyle Kleven</em> (1st Season)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assistant Coach:</strong> <em>Thomas Trostad</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class:</strong> B</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region:</strong> 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District:</strong> 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1634111" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">2022-23 Team Stats</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GP: </strong>22 <strong>PPG: </strong>45.4 <strong>FGM:</strong> 397 <strong>FG%: </strong>37 <strong>2FGMPG:</strong> 14.3 <strong>2FG%:</strong> 42 <strong>3FGM:</strong> 82 <strong>3FG%:</strong> 24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FTM:</strong> 124 <strong>FT%:</strong> 60 <strong>OREB:</strong> 202 <strong>RPG:</strong> 27 <strong>APG:</strong> 11.1 <strong>SPG: </strong>9.3 <strong>DFL:</strong> 122 <strong>eFG%:</strong> 40</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top Statistical Returners </span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2277114' first='Jace' last='Collison']</strong> - 9.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1. SPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2237846' first='Baron' last='Burns']</strong> - 6.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.6 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Russell McLean</strong> - .8 ppg, .3 rpg, .1 apg, .1 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dyllan Retheimier</strong> - .7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, .6 apg, .2 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brison Falch</strong> - 3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .6 apg, 1.3 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2276981' first='Avery' last='Gratton']</strong> - 7.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.4 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1843211' first='Michael' last='Myers']</strong> - 14.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg, .5 apg, .6 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with coach <em>Kyle Kleven</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Could you sum up last season for us?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Summary of last season: Record 5-17 (Region 3-12). The polar bears fought hard each night, but we were very young and inexperienced, and at times it showed. The Bears played with a lot of underclassmen. Three of them started, including an 8th grader, and two more played a lot of minutes off the bench. There were a lot of 1-2 point ballgames that just didn't fall our way due to some of the inexperience.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did the off-season go for the Polar Bears?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Offseason: The boys played all summer long, whether it was the Grand Forks Summer League, the Skillz camps that<br>the coaches put on, open gyms, or just any other individual camps that they could find. The boys also spent a lot of time in the weight room this summer and it shows.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are some of your top players to watch this season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1843211' first='Michael' last='Myers'] (2024) |6'8 C|</strong> – "<em>Mike has the size to be a force down low. There are not many guys his size in our Region. He has a good touch around the rim and can step out and shoot a jumper as well.</em>" (All-Region 2 last season)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2277114' first='Jace' last='Collison'] (2025) |5'10 G| </strong>– "<em>Jace is one of the starting guards and one of our better shooters. He's not afraid to be the one to go get us a bucket if we need one.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2276981' first='Avery' last='Gratton'] (2025) |6'2 SG|</strong> – "<em>Avery is another one of the leaders of this team. He has a good basketball IQ and can also create his own offense. Whether it's from behind the three-point line or getting to the bucket. He's been starting since 8th grade and I'm looking for him to really lead this team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are some of your up-n-comers?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2237846' first='Baron' last='Burns'] (2027) |5'9 G|</strong> - "<em>Baron started as an 8th grader last year and I am looking for him to step into a more prominent scoring role. He did a great job facilitating last year and controlling the floor for how young he was.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reed Gratton (2027)</strong> – "<em>Reed is a Freshman this year who will be pushing for some varsity minutes. He has a great work ethic and could be a weapon on the defensive end of the floor.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Case Knudson (2027)</strong> – "<em>Case is another big, strong Freshman kid who could push for minutes this year, and is definitely someone to watch in the coming years. He's got the size and frame to be a force inside once he gets used to the speed of the varsity game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What style of basketball will you play?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Style of Play: I would like to play a hybrid style. What I mean by that is, it will depend on who we play. If we feel as if we can push the ball against that certain team, then that's what we will do. If we feel like we maybe need to slow the game down and be a more half-court-oriented team on that particular night, then that's what we will do. Tough/Relentless on the defensive end is also what I would like to see from this team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are some of your team goals?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Team Goals: 1. Top 4 in our district regular season 2. Have a record above .500 3. Make it back to the Region tournament.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who do you see as the top few teams in Region 2?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Top Teams in Region:</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>"<em><strong>North Prairie</strong> – Just from watching their football team, they have a lot of talented athletes. They return a lot of experience and they always seem to be right in the thick of things come tournament time.</em>"</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>"<em><strong>North Star</strong> – I believe they are one of the teams to beat as they are very experienced. The Hagler boys and the Simon twins are tough matchups for a lot of people and their experience will be big for them.</em>"</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>"<em><strong>Nelson County </strong>– This could be a team that could sneak up on some people. Lakota was a very good team last year with a lot of talented athletes and they did not lose much. Now you add in Jeramo and Anderson from Dakota Prairie with the co-op and it makes for another very experienced team. They will be a tough out come tournament time.</em>"</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>"<em><strong>Warwick</strong> – Returning State Tournament team from last year. Tough to count them out.</em>"</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800","fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Best of luck to the Polar Bears this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2277088,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6525.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6525.jpeg?w=821" alt="" class="wp-image-2277088" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2276965,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Lpolarbears.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Lpolarbears.jpeg?w=960" alt="" class="wp-image-2276965" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->