Boys Basketball Season Tips Off; Coach Williams Getting Owatonna Ready

The Minnesota high school boys basketball season opened Thursday. Owatonna plays its first game Tuesday, November 24, at top-10 ranked Mankato East.

Owatonna went to Buffalo on November 14 to scrimmage against some top Twin Cities-area programs. Coach Josh Williams says the Huskies looked really good at times, but also faded a little by the end.

The Huskies have a tough draw to start the season, and a rugged early season schedule that will put them on a bus frequently. The opener is at No. 4AAA Mankato East on November 24. The Cougars have a highly regarded transfer student that makes them a contender in the Big Nine Conference. The game will be heard on KRFO AM 1390, and on the free RadioPup app. The Cougars won their opener Thursday night 70-40 over New Ulm.

Owatonna's home opener is Tuesday, December 1, versus Rochester Mayo. OHS will play five of the next six games on the road, including a pair against top 10-ranked teams.

Section 1AAAA opponent Lakeville North is ranked eighth to open the season. Defending Big Nine champ Rochester JM is ninth. Northfield, who drops to Section 1AAA, is rated seventh.

The season starts Friday, November 20, for Blooming Prairie, who plays Kenyon-Wanamingo at 6PM at the Triton tournament. The Cobras faces Schaeffer Academy afterward. Medford plays Friday at St. Peter. NRHEG begins its season Saturday night at Redwood Valley with the varsity game at 5:30PM.