After coming off of last year’s 15-12 record, the BSM boys’ basketball team looks to improve this season. “It was definitely tough losing to Waconia last year in the section semi-finals. We really thought we could get to state. This year we want to keep getting better and look to make a push for state,” Schmitz said.

With the team losing seven seniors, many of whom played crucial roles on the team, the new players will be forced to step up to fill the void. “This year we are a lot more talented individually, but we are going to have to work as a team to be able to win,” senior guard Jay Patnode said.

The team also faces bigger and more competitive schools, leading to a much tougher schedule. The Red Knights have once again been challenged with a season filled with tough conference and non-conference games. Two of the teams biggest games this season are non-conference games against Hopkins and the two-time defending state champions DeLaSalle.

With losses against Minneapolis South, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Bloomington Kennedy the team is hoping to bounce back in their upcoming games. “We started off a little slow and we have to work on some things as a team but we’ll come back and finish the season strong,” senior forward Isaac Schmitz said.

Senior captain Jake Cassens has done a lot to get the team ready for the season. “We’ve been working hard during the offseason and working to get better so we’re hoping that the training we’ve done outside of BSM will help us during the season,” Cassens said.

The Red Knights have big goals for this season, and they possess the talent and the determination to achieve them. “We’re hoping to make a push for state. I think we have the talent, but we just need to fine tune the little things in order to get there,” Schmitz said.