Negaunee’s Jackson Sager, center, drives between Manistique’s Mark Block, left, and Joey Hoholik in the first quarter of their game played at the Miners’ gym in December 2017. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Manistique boys

2019-20 schedule

All times Eastern

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Dec. 10 — at Newberry, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 13 — at Gladstone, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 16 — Iron Mountain, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 — Gwinn, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 30 — at Negaunee, 6 p.m.

Jan. 2 — Engadine, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 — at Ishpeming, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 13 — Munising, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 – Rapid River, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 — at Iron Mountain, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 — at Escanaba, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 — Negaunee, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Gwinn, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 7 — at Westwood, TBA

Feb. 10 — Gladstone, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 14 — Westwood, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 — at Engadine, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 — Ishpeming, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 25 — Bark River-Harris, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 – at Munising, 7:30 p.m.

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MANISTIQUE — The Manistique boys’ basketball team started off with a bang last season, easing a 43-point defeat against Gladstone by coming back and upsetting the Braves 10 days later.

However, the Emeralds were unable to replicate that success during the remainder of the season.

Cody Kangas, who is also the assistant coach on the MHS varsity football team, stepped into the head coach position after the departure of Bill Boddy. The first-year coach now returns with that year of experience under his belt.

“I was a varsity coach down in (Fife Lake) Forest Area by Traverse City, and I also spent a year at Superior Central (in Eben),” Kangas said. “Going downstate and coaching at a school just outside of Traverse City really opened my eyes to the athletes and where you need to be to reach the playoffs.

“I think it gave me some insight and some things I can bring to the table here in Manistique.”

Kangas was able to see last season’s team in action to start making a plan.

“The nice thing is that I got to watch the team play last season, so I already had an idea of what I wanted to do if I was in that position as the coach,” he said. “So we got the year started off pretty quick here.”

From his observations, Kangas has made two things a priority.

“For us, defense is going to be key,” he said. “I’m a big defense fan, so we’re going to implement multiple defenses to try and keep offenses off-balance.

“Against teams like Iron Mountain, you want to keep those kids off-balance, and you want to keep them off their game early on in the game.

“We’re going to have a style of offense where we attack the basket. We can shoot, so we’re going to attack the basket to try to score some layups and also be able to kick out and shoot 3s.

“With those two things, I think we’re going to see a couple more wins in the win column this year.”

The Emeralds return a few key players, including Schyler Andersen, who averaged 12.5 points per game last season.

“Schyler Andersen is a great athlete who can shoot the ball,” Kangas said. “He’s also a big kid at 6-foot-2 that can post, so he’ll pose some matchup problems. I think he’ll be one of our go-to guys.”

Other key returners include Mark Block and Joey Hoholik.

“Mark Block played last year and played very well,” Kangas said. “Joey Hoholik is another kid who can shoot the lights out when he gets hot.”

Kangas is also hopeful about freshman Bryce Blixt.

“I think he fits in real well with this group of guys,” Kangas said. “He’s taller and athletic, and he can shoot and make things happen. I think those four are going to do some great things for us.”

The roster is rounded out by Sammy Warren, Rusty Schroeder, Jordan St. John, Jerry Jack and Nathan Dechow.

“(Our role players) coming off the bench and finding ways to help out is going to be a (big factor),” Kangas said.

The Emeralds, who open their season next Tuesday night at Newberry, will have plenty of big games early in the season.

“We start off with who I would consider a rival in Newberry. We start off with Newberry right off the bat, so it gets us going right away,” Kangas said. “Then we’ll be up against Iron Mountain in our third game, so going from a rivalry game to a team who made the (state) finals last year will really show us where we’re at and where we need to be come district time.”

Kangas also made sure to set a goal for the team to work toward during the season.

“We would love to have a district championship, but I think everyone starts out at the beginning of the year hoping to win districts. It’s been quite while since we’ve won one here, so that’s always a goal,” he said. “But our regular season goal is 10-10. If we can end the season with seven more (wins) than last year, it would be a great season for these guys, and we just want to be the best team we can be by district time.”