Blackhawks get ready for basketball season

This winter both the boys' and girls' basketball teams are prepping for a thrilling season.

The Lady Blackhawks, which made it to divisionals last year, is buzzing with optimism about their chances of going even further this time around.

"We have a lot of potential for this season not losing any seniors from last year. It's really exciting. I can't wait to get to work," Aubrey Matthew, a senior on the girls' team, said.

Coach David Cahoon is anticipating a strong season, but he knows the girls have a lot of work ahead of them.

"The goal is always to improve. We want to continue building our stack of proof. Our schedule is great and it will test us and help us grow, as long as we embrace it and continue to push," Cahoon said. "The only work that matters is the work no one sees and that work will show itself, good or bad, in the end."

Similar to the girls, the boys are excited going into this season. They have a lot of new athletes coming out to play and even welcomed two home-school players to the team this year.

The boys lost three seniors last season, two of which were starters. The Blackhawks did not make it past districts last year, a setback that has only intensified the team's determination to improve.

Dylan Wilkinson, a senior, said, "We've struggled to make it past district in the past years, but we are not going to lose this year."

Michael Haines, head coach for the Blackhawks, is looking forward to this season, especially with new boys coming out to play.

Both teams start this season with two pre-tournaments, the first in Hamilton on Dec. 6 and 7 and the second at Manhattan Christian on Dec. 13 and 14. Pre-tournaments grant the teams an opportunity to get back into the game before the regular season starts. It also sometimes allows the teams to play other districts and teams they won't play during the regular season.

The regular season starts Dec. 19, with a home game against Charlo and on Dec. 20 both teams travel to Thompson Falls.