MANKATO — Mankato Loyola boys basketball will look to blend the old — senior guard TJ O’Malley — with the new — senior transfer guard Mason Hanel — as the Crusaders prepare for Tuesday’s season-opening clash with Westbrook-Walnut Grove at Fitzgerald gym.
O’Malley averaged 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game a year ago during Loyola’s 12-15 season. Hanel, a transfer from Immanuel Lutheran, put up around 17 points a game on last year’s 25-1 junior varsity team.
“Both have played a lot of basketball, space the floor well and know their roles,” Loyola coach Sam Carlson said. “TJ is looking to be our best defender while Mason looks to spread the floor out and create for others. TJ is going to have more of a spread court than he’s ever had with all the shooters surrounding him he will be able to slash and create plays.
“TJ is a mismatch for everyone defensively because he’s quick and has been in the weight room a lot to get much stronger. Offensively, he’s a slasher who gets out on transition and makes the right play. Mason is a very smart player who has had his dad as his coach his whole life. He can really shoot it from long distance, but I think his passing skills are going to be very important for us.”
Hanel, who along with senior guard Breydon Stoffel (17 points per game) is another transfer who gained valuable experience on last year’s JV, looks to help stabilize a Crusader offense led by sophomore forward Covin Winter, a first team Valley Conference and All-City selection. Winter tallied 14 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks an outing.
“We all work hard together and are getting better together,” Hanel said. “I like to get my teammates involved and I like to shoot, but ultimately passing the ball and finding the open guys is my game. I can find the bigs down low with good entry passes. I need to be quicker and a better defender. I think the way this team plays together means that we can have something special.
“TJ is a great player and strong defender. I hate when he guards me in practice. He’s the kind of player who can do it all and is able to play all over the place.”
Two other players — junior Christian Barker and sophomore point guard Bram Godfrey — are expected to crack the Crusaders’ starting five while seniors Soren Kelly and Mitch Buboltz will add bench depth. Barker produced 9,7 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest while Godfrey chipped in 3.3 points and 3.5 assists an outing.
“Mason is a 3-point specialist who I trust with the ball beyond the arc,” O’Malley said. “He’s a very unselfish player who looks for the open man and gets the ball to the right man. He’s a good all-around player. This year, I am looking to be a leader both vocally and visually. I am trying to be a role model and play good defense. I am experienced so I know what to look for on both sides of the court.
“I’ve learned a lot the past two years from other players and coach Carlson so I am ready to use that experience this year and pass it on. I just stay low on defense and try to stick to the other player. I really push myself to be a good defensive player so I am working hard in practice and looking forward to guarding the other team’s best player. Our team wasn’t fully coordinated since we hadn’t played much together in the past. … We just didn’t do the little things well but this year that is going to change.”