MONTAGUE — It wasn't always the most fun ride for Montague boys basketball last winter, as the Wildcats lacked experienced ballhandlers and were overwhelmed at times by a deep and talented West Michigan Conference Lakes. This year, though, the 'Cats are hoping to bring some of the fight back in the direction of their opponents.
Montague is now armed with players who know what varsity defense looks like and are ready to attack it, including guards Noah Raeth and Cole Herremans. Herremans in particular has grown several inches, potentially making him a bigger headache for opponents. Fellow guard Karter Johnson put in a lot of time in the offseason to get better and it could pay dividends this season.
Playing fast has been a point of emphasis in early practices, as well as in offseason work. Coach Nick Thaler brought in local legends Sophia Wiard from Oakridge and Harrison Sorrelle of Grand Haven - Thaler worked with Sorrelle in his prior coaching gig as a Buccaneer assistant - to work on shooting and pushing the pace.
"We want to play fast, so we're going to push the pace," Thaler said. "We're trying to increase the number of possessions that we're getting in a basketball game, so we need to obviously be in shape to play. When you're watching us in practice, we're getting after it. We're getting up and down. That's what we are preferring to play this season."
Because of the pace, Montague will probably utilize a deep bench; if all goes well, the 'Cats will be going too quickly to keep guys on the court for 32 minutes straight. The team has also showed off a determination to compete, a quality Thaler wanted to see more of from last season's group.
"The competitiveness with this group, I think, is going to push us to get better," Thaler said. "Honestly, if you're not competing in our practices, you're going to get passed. There are guys that are coming after you. They want your minutes. They want to be on the court, not only for Montague and for the community, but for saying they played varsity basketball."
Guard play will be all the more important for Montague because the post position, the area where it was most experienced last season, now has reversed spots with the backcourt and lacks in experience. However, Thaler is optimistic what the big guys lack in experience can be made up for with the gains many of them have picked up from strength and conditioning work with the football program.
"Honestly, the progression that the football team had throughout the year is good for us," Thaler said. "The connectedness between these guys right now is far surpassed where it was last year. Even though we're working hard, the guys are having fun and they're getting after it, and that's the type of culture that we want to see."
Thaler feels the program is in a healthy spot, as participation numbers continue to rise and the addition of a freshman team has helped get more players minutes as they develop for varsity play. Excitement is high to play the Wildcats' first season in the new gym, and Thaler thinks its different layout from the previous gym will actually provide an advantage as visiting opponents get used to the different sight lines - not to mention the atmosphere he hopes his team can help create.
It should be a competitive year in the WMC Lakes; Thaler pegs Ludington as the favorite in the league, as a lot of the same players that paced the Orioles to an undefeated regular season in football lead them on the court as well. However, he views every other spot in the standings as up for grabs, and the hope is the Wildcats can get in the race. The league games and competition with non-conference foes like Grant will get Montague ready for another rugged district that again includes Spring Lake and Fruitport, as well as, of course, rival Whitehall.
However it shakes out, Montague plans to make opponents work - just as it has since last March.
"Our guys are working hard and able to maintain that with our culture," Thaler said. "The expectation is that when you're out there, you've got to risk it all and play hard for your teammates, because that's what they're wanting from you."
