The 2018-19 Manistique boys basketball team. Names unavailable. (Photo submitted)

Manistique boys

2018-19 schedule

All times Eastern

Nov. 29 — at Gladstone

Tuesday — at Iron Mount., 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 — Gladstone., 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 — at Gwinn, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Engadine, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Negaunee, 6 p.m.

Jan. 4 — Ishpeming, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — at Big Bay DN, 6 p.m.

Jan. 7 — at Munising, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 — Escanaba, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 — Iron Mountain. 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Newberry, 7 p.m.

Jan. 25 — at Negaunee, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Gwinn., 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 — Westwood, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 — at Westwood, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 — Engadine, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 15 — at Ishpeming, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 — at Bark River-H, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 22 — Munising, 6 p.m.

By MARK 

JOHNSON

Escanaba

Daily Press

MANISTIQUE — Bill Boddy is the new varsity boys’ basketball coach at Manistique, taking over this summer for veteran coach Ed Marietti.

Boddy, a 2010 Iron Mountain High School grad, coached the Emeralds jayvee football team this fall to four victories.

He is in his second year of teaching at Manistique and has been involved in youth basketball coaching and was a U.P. high school referee.

Coaching is in the family with his dad, Scott Boddy, a long-time varsity high school football head coach at both Calumet and Iron Mountain. His grandfather, Fred Boddy, is a member of the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame for his athletic and coaching accomplishments.

“My dad was in coaching for 30 years and I grew up around coaching,” said Boddy.

“I have Josh (Nicholson) as assistant coach and he played on the last Manistique conference champion team.

I had some of the players coaching them in football and the players believe in us and have been working hard.”

Manistique returns four starters from last year’s team that was 2-19 overall and 0-12 in the Mid Pen Conference.

According to Boddy, the most important player on his first team at MHS will be sophomore point guard Wyatt Gierke.

Gierke (6-0) transferred last year from Gladstone and played on the Braves’ varsity as a frosh in 2017-18.

“He (Wyatt) is what makes us go,” said Boddy.

“He is our most talented player and where we go, a lot is on his shoulders. He does it all and he is not selfish – he will get the ball to our shooters. And everybody on our team can shoot.”

Starters returning for the Emeralds include: Joey Hoholik (6-0, junior), Mark Block (6-1, junior), Kanton Louzon (6-2, senior) and Schyler Andersen (6-2, junior).

“We need all our returning players to play well and Kanton we need to rebound and to defend the best big guy,” said Boddy.

“We expect a lot out of Kanton this year.”

Last year’s leading scorer for Manistique was Andersen, and Boddy wants improvement and rugged play to continue for him.

“Schyler is our most physical player and inside he was most effective last year.”

Block will add to the back court depth and be the off-guard to Gierke and senior guard Alex Oas (5-10).

Oas is back playing basketball this year after playing hockey in 2017-18.

“Alex is athletic, a hard-worker and will be coming in when we press,” said Boddy.

“He is hard-nosed, a scrappy player.”

Jerry Jack (5-11, junior) played football quarterback and will be a solid player for the Emeralds and their deep back court.

“Like Alex (Oas), Jerry is hard-working and athletic and he knows the game. He can play anywhere for us,” Boddy said.

Other players on the Manistique roster include first year varsity players Hunter Twardorkous (5-11, junior), Patrick Zajda (5-9, junior), Sammy Warren (5-11, sophomore) and Igor Marine (5-11, senior) a Spanish foreign exchange student at MHS.