Seniors are the heart and soul of the Superior High School boys basketball team this year.
They make up 80 percent of the varsity team, so when three went down with injuries at the same time, the Superior's hopes for a sustained playoff run took a serious hit.
The injury epidemic hit the Spartans with about a month to go in the regular season.
Rob Kraft, Superior's ace at the arc and second leading scorer, was the first to find himself on the bench. A stress fracture was discovered in the shooting guard's left foot late in January, and he spent the next few weeks wearing a protective boot.
Josh Kimmes, Superior's go-to player in the paint, suffered a shoulder injury at nearly the same time. He wrenched his shoulder during the East Metro Showcase in the Twin Cities but played on at a diminished capacity. Kimmes sat out one game and played reduced minutes in several more.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then, just days after Kraft and Kimmes sustained injuries, Superior lost another perimeter shooter and one of its top defenders when Nathaniel Knutson injured a knee in practice. At the time, Spartan head coach Dave Kontny was uncertain if Knutson would be able to return before the end of the season. The senior was on crutches until recently.
But now, with Superior hosting its opening playoff game Saturday, it looks like Superior will be back at full strength.
Kimmes said Wednesday that his shoulder was nearly 100 percent, and Kraft has scored in double figures every game since his return on Feb. 17. Even Knutson has resumed practicing with the team and is poised to make his return in the playoffs.
"We're ready to go," said senior Dustin Hobson. "We're pretty fired up."
During practice this week, Kraft could see the extra intensity in his teammates. He said the Spartans are playing as well as they have all season -- maybe even better.
When Knutson, Kimmes and Kraft were benched with injuries, the five remaining seniors on the team accepted new responsibilities. Hobson took on a starting role at guard, Darcell Williams and Ethan Anderson kept Superior dangerous from the 3-point line, and Alex Tunell maintained Superior's presence in the post. Joel Lindberg, meanwhile, continued on at point guard and kept the Spartan defense flowing smoothly despite the new faces.
Superior played in a few tight games during the stretch and lost its rematch with Duluth East, but the players think the experience will help them now as they prepare for the playoffs.
"It's a positive and a negative thing," Williams said. On one hand, you want all of your teammates healthy and able to play, but when players are injured the rest of the team is forced to take on additional challenges.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It brings the team and the bench and everybody closer together," Williams said. "You don't take it for granted."
The Spartans enter WIAA play with a 15-7 overall record. Five of Superior's losses this season came to Minnesota teams, but SHS has a chance to avenge its other two losses in the playoffs.
"I think the caliber of teams we've played has really helped us out," Tunell said. "We played a lot better teams this year than last year."
Marshfield, which defeated Superior 49-42 on Dec. 30 could face the Spartans in the first round of sectional play March 10. For a rematch with Milwaukee Riverside, Superior would need to advance all the way to the state tournament.
Williams said Superior won't settle for anything less.
"We know it's our last shot," Kraft said. "We don't want to have any regrets."
"I think everyone believes, but I don't think we're overconfident," Lindberg said.
Superior begins playoff action Saturday with a 3 p.m. game against Chippewa Falls, a team the Spartans defeated just two weeks ago.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I think it's an advantage," to play again so soon, Kimmes said. "We know exactly what worked against them and what they aren't going to be ready for."
Superior fell behind in the first quarter when they last played the Cardinals but took the lead in the second quarter and won 73-66. The difference in that game, Kontny said, was defense, and the Spartans will look to their defensive pressure again Saturday to gain the edge.
Anderson said he expects a sizeable crowd for Saturday's game, and he and his fellow seniors are determined to get a good start to what they hope will be a deep playoff run.
"I think we have a good shot at making it to state," Anderson said. "We've got enough players for it -- all athletes. It's going to be fun."
