Win-E-Mac vs. Mahnomen/Waubun

Noon, Tuesday, March 9

Mahnomen/Waubun keeps losing players but continues to win basketball games.

First it was starter Will Starkey, a junior and a force on the Thunderbirds' football team, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL and meniscus. Then it was 6-3 junior Justin Littlewolf, one of the team's top bench players, with a torn meniscus. Then junior Neegonee Burnett, another rotation player, out with a sprained ankle.

Such losses could decimate most small-school teams. But not at Mahnomen/Waubun, where coach John Clark Jr. acknowledges depth of talent as just one of the attributes that has the unbeaten Thunderbirds (15-0) ranked No. 1 in Class 1A.

The Thunderbirds face perhaps their toughest remaining regular-season test Tuesday against Win-E-Mac (14-2).

Clark isn't worried. He's too busy enjoying the journey with this year's team. "This is perhaps the most fun group of kids I've gotten to coach," Clark said.

Competitiveness, selflessness, versatility and a joy for the game, combined with the team's depth, keep the Thunderbirds on the winning track. 

Senior Payton Keezer, and juniors Tanner Pazdernik and Loden Clark lead Mahnomen/Waubun in scoring, but the Thunderbirds have had six players emerge as single-game scoring leaders this season. Rolando Ellis averages nearly 11 points and Cooper Houdek more than eight.

Keezer, at 6-1, averaged more than 19 points a game last year but his scoring is down to less than 15 per contest this winter.

"He could score 23-24 a game if he wanted," Clark said. "But he wants to get his teammates involved."

It's an attitude on display from the top of the roster to the bottom. "Most of these kids would rather dive on the floor to get a steal than make a three-pointer," Clark said.

A pair of 6-2 seniors, Gavin Walker and Bryer Strom, lead the Patriots in scoring. Walker had 26 points in Win-E-Mac's 84-56 throttling of Red Lake on March 4. Strom chipped in 18 points.