2011-12 Wauneta-Palisade Broncos boys basketball team: Front row from left, Jacob Maris, Weylin Davis, Landon Jutten, Reese West and Lorenzo Cavanaugh. Back row from left, Coach Dave Kuhlen, Wes Anderjaska, Jack McGraw, Hayden Pollmann, Logan Bischoff, Connor Kayton, Bo Fanning and Assistant Coach Seth Alberts. Not pictured: Chris Carl.

By Carl Williams

The Wauneta Breeze

With 2011-12 high school basketball upon us, lacking depth and experience will create Coach Dave Kuhlen’s 14th season a work in progress.

He will work with a squad of 12 players with only two returning senior starters; Bo Fanning and Reese West, from last year’s state runner-up team.

With an over all .700 career winning percentage Coach Kuhlen, joined by Assistant Coach Seth Alberts, knows what it takes to win, having won state five years ago.Kuhlen said this year’s team will continue his pressure defense.

Returning are five juniors: Logan Bischoff, Jack McGraw, Jacob Maris, Weylin Davis and the addition of Conner Kayton; plus four sophomores: Landon Jutten, Hayden Pollmann, Wes Anderjaska and Lorenzo Cavanaugh. One freshman, Chris Carl, rounds out the 12 man roster.

Kuhlen got an early look at his team during last Saturday’s exhibition play against Ogallala. It showed our weaknesses, and I saw a lot of them, said Kuhlen.

With the upcoming travel game with the Brady Eagles Friday, Dec. 2, they expect to face a better team than the one they beat last year.

The Wallace Wildcats will visit Wauneta-Palisade Saturday afternoon Dec 3.

Coach Kuhlen said one thing you’ll see is hustle and hard play with his full court zone press from the opening tip-off.

Wauneta-Palisade High School Basketball 2011-2012 Schedule

Dec. 2 Boys & Girls at Brady 3:00/4:00

Dec. 3 Boys & Girls Wallace 3:00/4:00

Dec. 9 Boys & Girls at Cambridge 3:30/4:30

Dec. 13 Girls Only at DCS 5:00/6:00

Dec. 16 Boys & Girls South Platte 3:00/4:00

Dec. 17 Boys & Girls at Hayes Center 2:00/3:00

Dec. 27-28 Boys & Girls at Brady Tourney TBA

Jan. 2-3 Boys & Girls at Cambridge Tourney TBA

Jan. 6 Boys & Girls at Hitchcock Co. 3:00/4:00

Jan. 7 Boys & Girls Southwest 3:00/4:00

Jan. 13 Boys & Girls Perkins Co. 3:00/4:00

Jan. 14 Boys & Girls at Garden Co. 2:30/3:30

Jan. 19 Boys & Girls at Paxton 3:30/4:30

Jan. 21-28 Boys & Girls RPAC Tourney TBA

Feb. 2 Boys & Girls Medicine Valley 3:00/4:00

Feb. 3 Boys & Girls at Sutherland 3:00/4:00

Feb. 7 Boys & Girls at Chase County 4:00/5:00

Feb. 10 Boys & Girls at Maywood 3:00/4:00

Feb. 13, 14, 16 Girls Subdistricts at Imperial

Feb. 17 Boys Only DCS 5:00/6:00

Feb. 18 Boys & Girls at DCS

JV Tourney 9:00/10:00 a.m.

Feb. 20, 21, 23 Boys Subdistricts at Imperial

Feb. 24 Girls District Finals TBA

Feb 28 Boys District Finals TBA

Winners of Subdistricts set the sites for District Finals.

March 1, 2, 3 Girls State Tournament

March 8, 9, 10 Boys State Tournament