This story is sponsored by Forward Financial Bank
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – The turnover of a roster in all high school sports is natural, but what the Spencer boys basketball team has to go through this season is much different.
The Rockets have to replace a trio of three-year starters and four seniors in all from a team that finished 15-9 overall and 10-6 in the Cloverbelt Conference East Division a year ago, tying for fourth place.
Gone are starters Bobby Pilz, the second all-time leading scorer in program history and a first-team all-conference performer the past two seasons, second-team all-Cloverbelt East forward Calvin Lenz, and honorable mention choice Ryan Busse. Guard Jonny Tomke also graduated.
Junior Jack Bezlyk returns to the starting lineup after averaging 10.5 points and 8 rebounds per game. Junior guard Aaron Pankratz and senior guard Noah Zastrow are also back for the Rockets and will take on increased roles with the loss of the four graduated players.
Junior Jacob Miller saw some varsity time last year and will return, along with a number of newcomers. Juniors Mateo King, Lukas Ellefson and Colin Nieman, and sophomore Nate Karau will compete for playing time along with Austin Bacon, Josh Rudolph and Vladimir Rivera.
“We don’t return a lot of players from last year so we are going to have to work hard and improve every day,” Spencer coach Randy Reckner said. “Our focus will have to be limiting the amount of mistakes we make offensively and defensely. It’s been great seeing the excitement and willingness to get better every day.”