Eight letterwinners return to lead WP boy’s basketball

    The Wauneta-Palisade boys’ basketball team will look to turn around its fortunes on the court behind a group of eight letterwinners.
    Seniors Garrett Hanna, Ruel Malcolm and Grant Walker saw action in each of WP’s 23 games last year. Classmate Aidan Kennicutt also started after returning from injury.
    Joining that group are juniors Kyle Jutten, Jacksen Littrel, Michael Duvel and senior Laiden Lawler.
    Hanna was WP’s second leading scorer in 2020-2021, after averaging 7.5 points per game.
    Kennicutt was second on last year’s team with 4.7 rebounds per game.
    The Broncos’ season begins at home Thursday against Wallace. Friday WP will travel to Cambridge.
    The Cattle Trail Tournament will kick off Tuesday with the Broncos facing off against Dundy County Stratton at 7 p.m. in the Graff Events Center at MCC.
    WP will also play Friday at 7 p.m. against either Maywood-Hayes Center or Arapahoe. With a Tuesday night win, WP will play at MCC, with a loss the Broncos will be at the senior high.
    The tournament will wrap up Saturday.
    The Broncos jump up to Class D1 this season.
    Subdistricts will be played Feb. 21, 22 and 24 at the highest seeded team.
    Also in the D1-11 subdistrict are Cambridge, Dundy County Stratton, Maywood-Hayes Center and Southwest.
    This year’s state basketball tournament will have a new look. Both the girls’ and boys’ tournaments will run simultaneously, March 7-12, at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Devaney Sports Center and six Lincoln High Schools.