Plains Horsemen stay sharp during off-season

PLAINS – Most of Plains High School may be on vacation for the summer months, but a group of student athletes are taking some time during the summer to gear up for the upcoming sports season.

One of the school’s athletic teams holding practices and competing in pick-up games and tournaments during the summer is the boy’s basketball team.

Horsemen Head Coach Carl Benson noted the atmosphere surrounding the summer season is not nearly as competitive as regular season competition for the players and the coaches.

Nevertheless, the first year coach believes the offseason practices and scrimmages show positive dividends once the winter sports season rolls around in late November.

“The boys are working hard and the team is looking good,” Benson said.

The summer season began shortly after the school year ended with practices and scrimmages beginning early in June.

The sessions for the summer season are open to all students who will be eligible to play during the winter.

Students from next year’s senior class and youths who will be entering high school all partake in the summer training.

Right now the team has 13 students on their roster, including a few incoming freshmen student athletes.

The Horsemen played their first summer tournament in Superior last month and were able to play a handful of games over the two-day tourney.

The Plains boys won their first two games on the first day of competition and lost the last couple matchups on the final day of the sporting event.

The Horsemen won their first two games on the first day of competition and lost the last couple matchups on the final day of the sporting event.

Benson was still positive talking about the tournament, noting a lot of young players were given an opportunity to play and at this point of the year it is more about picking up experience than winning the game.

Benson said the preseason offers a lot of benefits to the youngest members of the team, who will get their first taste of high school competition once the regular season begins.

“It gives them an opportunity to learn what we are trying to run and how we play as a team,” Benson said.

The coach remarked the chance for the youngest players to practice and play on a regular basis offers them an excellent opportunity to learn.

Giving the young basketball players an early introduction to the offensive strategy and defensive schemes the Horsemen plan to run once regular season play commences.

“We don’t have a lot of numbers, but the players we do have are working their butts off,” Benson said.

The Plains Horsemen will play the St. Regis Tigers at home in a scrimmage on Tuesday evening.

“The team has a lot of youth but they are coming along well,” Benson said.