Moving forward, the Hawks boys basketball team will look to continue on the success it enjoyed the last week and a half including a resounding 97-67 victory last Tuesday at nonconference Princeton, Coach Andy Fenske said.
Hermantown (2-4) visits Hibbing (0-4) on Tuesday and plays host to North Branch (4-1) at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Hawks have won two of their last three and are looking every bit like the two-time defending Section 7AAA champions.
“We got some guys clicking and finding each other that had miscues early on in the season,” said Fenske. “It’s been nice having a few practices to get into a groove once again rather than a game every other day.”
Outside of senior power forward and rising college prospect Abe Soumis continuing to do great things (27.7 ppg and 16.5 rpg), Hermantown has had many shining moments from other guys on the team, Fenske said.
“Nathan Hill, who is scoring at a clip of a little more than 13 points per game, has stepped up and shouldered a lion's share of the load on both ends of the floor,” said Fenske. “Seniors Brayden Lundeen (9.2 ppg, 1.5 spg) and Peyton Menzel (10.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 5.3 apg) are also clicking great at the moment. Rounding out our top players as of late are Lance Janson (9.5 ppg), Alex Schott (lockdown defender, usually tasked with stopping the No. 1 offensive opponent) and Blake Sundland. We've had opportunities to get some other freshmen and sophomores in the games which has been great for building for the future as well.”
Hermantown will face Delano and Monticello in the Delano Holiday Tournament on Dec. 28-29.
“Delano will be another top-10 opponent,” said Fenske. “That will be another great test to see how far we've come in the last few weeks.”