Thanks in large part to the school’s playoff football team, there is a renewed optimism with the Blue Hawk boys basketball team this season.

Since several of their players had key roles on that stellar football team, coach Jake Mickelson and his Hawks like to think they are capable of making some post-season noise themselves this coming winter.

“The kids are getting after it in practice, they seem really hungry,” Mickelson said. “We are thinking that we could do some damage this year.”

By saying damage, Mickelson means winning some games, and he thinks the Hawks will this year, especially after they get a little more time on court playing together.

Whatever direction the season takes, Mickelson will be counting on his all-conference brothers at the guard positions – senior Ryan Schraeder was a first team District 7B all-conference pick and sophomore Nathan Schraeder was a second team selection.

Also back for more are seniors Trey Fisher, Ethan Brown, Nate Wilhite, Trevor Harris, Brad Lantz and Jack Green and junior Justin Morgan.

Mickelson says he expects sophomore Sidney Akinde to also see playing time.

Fisher and Wilhite are both coming off All-State B seasons in football and carrying some of that gridiron intensity with them on to the basketball court. A little too much of it sometimes.

“I had to remind Trey that he has to dribble now, he can’t just take the ball and run over people with it,” Mickelson joked. “But, seriously, he’s kicking the rust off just fine and the football team’s success seems to have carried over to this team as well, and that’s kinda cool to see.”

Mickelson said practice has been a fun place to be so far at TFHS. “This is a really fun bunch and they seem to be a little more confident this year,” he said. “We are anxious to get out there and see what we can do together.”

The Hawks and Lady Hawks open season play with non-conference games in Florence Friday.