Long break is not what SHS wanted

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

The Saratoga High School boys basketball team may as well be coming off winter holiday as it heads into Thursday’s game against Hanna Elk Mountain Medicine Bow.

After a host of games were canceled due to weather and no plans to reschedule them have emerged, the HEM game is Saratoga’s last chance to prepare for the conference tournament.
“We will know on Thursday what we need to work on,” Saratoga coach Rex Hohnholt said. “I try to get the kids in game-like situations, but when you’re just playing one another, you know, our kids know all the plays.”

Hohnholt said he is lucky to have players who give their best in every practice. Although the Panther seniors were disappointed not to participate in senior night, which was scheduled during one of the canceled games, they are ready for their final regular season game.

Tipping off at 8 p.m. in the HEM gym, Saratoga expects to face its opponent’s best effort. Panther coach Rex Hohnholt pointed out that he has one 6-foot-3-inch player who can match up with one of the “big guys” on the Miner team, but his team’s lack of height leaves him with a poor pair when trying to cover the other half of the Matt Larson-Justin Palm duo.

The county rivals may not be well matched in terms of height, but even with the discrepancy, Saratoga has managed to come out on top in prior meetings this season.

Saratoga leads its conference as the No. 1 seed going into the conference tournament, which starts on Thursday, Feb. 21.