Encore?
We’ll have to wait and see.
 
The Beaverton boys basketball team had a season for the ages last year, winning Jack Pine Conference and district championships and 24 games in a row before bowing out of the state tournament with a loss to McBain in the regional final.
 
Standout point guard Spencer Johnston has graduated, but the Beavers have reloaded for another run this season.
 
Junior Carter Johnston will see action at both the point and at shooting guard. Senior swing man Hogan Hayes is back in the starting lineup, along with senior center Braedon Wolfe, who supplies size and strength in the post. Senior forward Daniel Beierschmidt did not see much action last year but is coming on as another threat under the basket.
 
Clare finished 12-2 in second place in the Jack Pine Conference last season, with the only league losses to Beaverton. The Pioneers went 15-6 overall and bowed out of the Class B district tournament with a loss to Big Rapids in the first round.
 
This year’s edition will feature a balanced scoring attack led by Travis Vida, who averaged 10 points a game last season, and Camden Dice and Max Swan, who each averaged 8.0 per game. “I believe we have the type of team that can compete for the Jack Pine championship,” said Pioneers coach Rob Wise. “We have a bunch of talent, we just need to play together as a team.”
 
A talented, deep, and experienced senior class has Gladwin thinking big this season. The Flying G’s went 14-9 last year and placed third in the Jack Pine Conference before reaching the district final, only to bow out with a loss to Essexville Garber. Not too shabby, but the plan is to improve on that.
 
“We have a very strong senior class returning,” said Gladwin coach Kirk Taylor. “We have high potential,  but we still have a lot of work to do.”
 
Tyler Boylen is back for his third season on the varsity and will provide outstanding defense at either the guard or the forward spot.
 
Mason Nash played in the back as the goalie for the Flying G’s Final Four soccer team, but he is a forward on the hardwood. He is another third-year senior and is “one of the top two rebounders we’ve ever had,” according to Taylor.
 
Another soccer standout is senior guard Keagan Hover. “He is the best combination 3-point and mid-range shooter, who can finish at the rim, that we have had since Chris Smalley,” Taylor said.
 
Senior Jordan Tuch is an excellent passer who can also score from his spot at point guard, while senior Andrew Redman brings a touch from the outside at either shooting guard or small forward.
Junior forward Javan Medema is another threat from the outside. He’s heading into his third season on the varsity.
 
Meridian was fourth in the Jack Pine last year but has some starters to replace this year. “We return some players but not a lot of production,” said Mustangs coach Mitch Bohn. “We will attempt to run and space the court. We have some good skill, and we hope to use that to our advantage.”
 
The top returning player is senior guard Nick Lueder, who averaged 8.4 points per game last year. He will be joined in the back court by junior Brett Bohn. The forwards will be juniors Matt Hall and Taylor Woodcock, along with 6’3″ freshman Lucas Lueder.
 
Harrison was 3-11 in the league last year and has three starters back, with ideas of moving up in the standings. “We’ve got some experience, and we should be competitive,” said first-year Hornets coach Joe Ashcroft. “It really depends on how well the boys come together as a team. We’ve got some athletic ability, but there is a new coach and a new system, and we’ve got to keep working hard to put it all together.”
 
Senior Adam Scherrer is a 6’4″ slasher, who is back in the starting lineup at forward. “He does a little bit of everything for us,” said Ashcroft.
 
Senior Blayne Fowler is back to run the show at point guard, and he will be joined in the backcourt by senior shooter Kenny Haskell. 
 
The construction project continues at Farwell, where Jason MacLean is heading into his second season as the head coach. The Eagles did not win a game last season, so figuring out how to get that done is a top priority. “We haven’t had a lot of success,” said MacLean, “but the kids are starting to understand my philosophy. We have a long way to go, and it’s hard to get there. We have to be focused on making progress one day at a time, and I think everyone realizes that, if we complete the process, it will become evident in our record.”
 
Farwell is led by senior Austin Maxey, who had to do it all last year. His assignment hasn’t changed much. “He played in 20 of 21 games for us last year and, in 13 of them, he didn’t come out,” MacLean said. “He’s a gritty, hard-working player who is a great student and a great kid. He’s the consummate high school athlete. He’s our primary ball handler and scorer, and he’s been my one constant since I got here. He’s the kind of kid you want to have in your program.”
 
Jake Risse is the top returning player at forward. “He can give us 20 points any given night,” MacLean said. “He’s a slasher, and he’s a good shooter, too, but he can be streaky. He missed a lot of games last year after he was involved in a snowmobile accident and, even though he’s fine now, he needs to regain his confidence from the outside.”