Olsen, Bohm lead youthful Bears

A senior-heavy roster did the majority of the scoring in 2015-16, leaving the Bonduel boys basketball team searching for new scorers this winter.

Senior Brandon Olsen and sophomore Parker Bohm are the only returnees who played in each of the team’s 23 games last year. Olsen and Bryce Engel are the only seniors on the team

“We just need to find our scorers,” Olsen said. “We need to bring our younger kids up and have them comfortable with going to hoop as scorers, knocking down 3s when they can.”

Head coach Duke Copp said the competition is wide open for starting spots and supporting roles.

“They are going to have to perform in practice and games to play,” Copp said.

Copp understands the transition may take time for his new players, which will include Wyatt Erb, Canon Sozorek and Dalton Cairns, among others.

“I think our young guys are really good basketball players,” Copp said. “I don’t care what you say, JV up to varsity is a big step. It’s going to take them a few games.”

Copp also hopes to get a larger contribution from Riley Allen, who had 14 rebounds and six assists in 14 games last season. He will be working with Olsen and Cairns in the post this year.

“Riley Allen is a good post player. He’s skinny, but he’s a pretty wily kid,” Copp said. “I’ve been waiting for him. Last year, I had him on varsity some, but I didn’t really get to play him.”

Copp believes this year’s team has the talent to create a strong core for years to come.

“We have some young kids who are going to be pretty good here in a few years,” Copp said.

Bonduel, which went 9-14 last season and 5-9 in the Central Wisconsin Conference-8, fell to Clintonville in a WIAA Division 3 regional quarterfinal, 63-60, in double overtime.

Graduated seniors Peyton Czarapata (20.6 points per game), Trevor Pedersen (13.4), Gage Petcka (7.8) and Preston Robaidek (5.4) accounted for the vast majority of scoring for the Bears last year.