Noxon basketball teams set to begin this weekend

Last year the Noxon Lady Red Devils were one of the surprise teams of the 14C District tournament.

Without a senior on their roster, the Lady Red Devils still managed a third place finish in conference action with a 3-2 mark. For the year, the were 8-11.

Among the top returnees for the Lady Red Devils is senior Chelsea Vohs, a talented guard who brings floor leadership to the team. Other top returning players are junior Riley Richter, a star with this year’s volleyball team, and sophomore Emily Brown.

Coach Cortney Vohs is also hoping for good things from sophomore Avery Burgess, a 5-foot-11-inch forward/post player who saw considerable playing time last season as a freshman. Burgess, along with junior Vanessa Horner, are hoping to be ready for the season opener after battling illness and injuries earlier this year.

“Last year we did not have any seniors,” Vohs said. “What has hurt us is having Avery and Vanessa not being able to play (limited so far) due to injuries and illness. I anticipate full recovery from both of them and having them playing before the end of the season.”

Burgess started off this school year with standout performances on the volleyball court as the Lady Red Devils surged toward the end of the season.

Vohs is hoping for an even better outcome this year.

“They are becoming more of a unified team this year,” she said. “Last year we placed fourth in the district. We are looking at being at our peak performance-wise by the end of the season with a full roster.”

In what has already been a Covid-delayed and altered start to the new basketball season, the Lady Red Devils are scheduled to open the 2021 campaign at home against Troy, Friday, Jan. 8. They then travel to Charlo the next evening for a game against the defending district champion Lady Vikings.

On the boys side, Noxon had two tall seniors, including 6-5 all-conference selection Rylan Weltz. Both graduated, leaving behind a solid core of returnees.

The boys team will be looking to fill the large void left due to the graduation of Weltz, a multi-sport standout who was a force in the post the past several seasons.

Also graduated from last year is 6-foot-2-inch forward Michael Antonich, as an experienced group of returnees look to better last year’s 2-3 conference record and 6-10 overall mark.

Expected back are senior Cilas Hay, a 5-foot-10-inch forward last year, and Brody Hill, a senior guard.

The Red Devils will be looking to their junior class for starters and depth, which they hope can be provided by Nathan Kano, Derik Christiansen and forward Wyatt Lackner.

Like their counterparts on the girls team, the boys’ squad has been battling illness issues in this year’s pre-season practices. The boys hope to open with a home game versus Troy, Friday, Jan. 8, followed by a road trip to Charlo the next evening.