What a special season the Mandan boys basketball team experienced last year. They qualified for the state tournament for the first time since the 2012-2013 season.
The Braves took the hard way to get there. After losing in the first round of the WDA tournament to Jamestown, they defeated Bismarck High and then knocked off the then-reigning three-time defending state champs Minot.
Mandan loses their all-time leader scorer and rebounder Trae Steckler and his brother Camren Steckler, who broke the 1,000-point barrier, but they still expect the same results as last year.
“Every one lost some big on their team,” junior forward Elijah Klein said, “Just like we lost a few, but we also have a lot coming back. So we have big expectations for this year, too.”
Mandan opens the season Friday when they play at West Fargo Sheyenne.
