The Big Lake Hornet boys basketball team began their 2021 season Thursday at home against Delano. Head Coach Tom Critchley has 19 student/athletes participating in his program and the team hopes to improve from its 5-20 record of 2019-20.

Their team motto this year is “Play As One.”

Critchley lost three seniors to graduation from last year’s team and hopes his tall and youthful squad surprises a lot of teams.

Tyler Halvorson is Critchley’s assistant with Sam Dokkebakken coaching JV, Nick Schaub coaching 10th and Chuck McConnel coaching 9th. It’s an entirely new coaching staff for the program with McConnel being the only holdover from last year. 

“Tyler and Sam played for Big Lake in 2014 and are great additions,” said Critchley.

COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in things as the team begins practices and prepares for games. The state and MSHSL have ruled for basketball players to wear masks at all times during practices and games and even on the benches. Despite the “problems” with wearing a mask at all times (breathing normally, seeing, communicating, etc.), Critchley says his kids are on board.

“We are going to adjust by wearing them (masks) the correct way and get used to them as quickly as possible,” said Cricthley.  “I actually have players tell me they are afraid of COVID-19 and prefer to play in a mask.  This is a requirement to play and is better than the alternative which is no season.”

So far, Critchley hasn’t had too much blowback from parents or players in regards to wearing the face protection.

“I believe we lost one freshmen boy who decided not to play,” he said.  “I have had only one email in regards to having to wear the masks.”

The biggest problem for Critchley and his coaching staff will be “reading” his athletes.

“It is tough to see their faces as well as for players to hear instructions  or other communications from their teammates,” he said.

 Critchley will be working through practices to determine who will be his starting five, but he hasn’t completely settled on who those players will be just yet.

“Typically I always say that and it would be ‘coach speak’, but coming into a new program we will continue to evaluate (players) on a daily basis,” he said.

His captains are  seniors Jack Iverson, Wyatt Windhorst and Will Boeckman.

With the season on the cusp and playoff’s future “up in the air” due to COVID restrictions and mandates, Cricthley and his boys are just glad to be back on the court, listening to dribbling basketballs and  squeaking tennis shoes.

“I believe we will have a state tournament, our goal is to be a top three seed and get to the championship game of the section,” he said.   

As long as they “Play as One”.