The West Central Area boys basketball team held their annual awards ceremony on March 27, 2023, and handed out awards to their players and head coach Kraig Hunter gave thanks to the players and the people who made the season possible
The Knights had success on and off the court this year. They finished with an 18-8 record, won the Pelican Rapids Holiday Tournament for the sixth-straight season, were West Central Conference runner-ups and were a top-five seed in Section 3AA despite being one of the smallest teams in Class AA.
WCA held opponents to 39 percent shooting this season and held opponents to 51 points per game. WCA also forced 490 turnovers.
Senior Jacob Strunk played a big part in the team’s defense and was recognized for it. He earned the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player award, Chairman of the Boards award, and was an All-West Central Conference selection.
Senior Cole Anderson, along with junior Bryce Kjesbo, was also an all-conference selection, while junior Mitch Dewey was an all-conference honorable mention.
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Kjesbo finished with the best free throw percentage on the team and split the hardest worker award with Dewey.
Anderson was named the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player and was the assist leader for the team.
Sophomore Sam Hanson and junior Nas Dotts took home awards as well as Hanson was named the Most Valuable Teammate, and Dotts won the Mr. Hustle Award.
Anderson, Strunk, Hanson, Dotts, and Kjesbo were letter-winners on this season’s team, along with seniors Brett Amundson, Isaac Kreft, Roman Mihailovschi, Damon Sanstead, juniors Brady Lindquist, Cam Anderson, Dane Anderson, and sophomores Ben Bye, Cash Nelson and Owen Sanstead.
The Knights won the Section 3AA Academic title and had 23 players in the program win Spotlight on Scholarship Awards.
At Monday’s banquet, Hunter thanked the seniors for their contributions to the program.
“Roman, Damon, Brett, Isaac, Cole and Jake will all be successful in life,” Hunter said. “They’ve given a lot to our basketball program and we thank them dearly for all of their commitment and contributions. They are all great people.”
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Cole Anderson, Kreft and Strunk were presented with captain awards at the banquet.
Kreft earned one of the Minnesota State High School League’s Triple A Awards for Region 6A, along with Sebeka’s Maci Lake.
The Triple A award is given out each year to a senior who displays excellence in academics, athletics and the arts/activities.
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