Hanson boys hope to become regulars at state

Today, the Hanson boys’ basketball team will play its first state tournament game since 1989.

Hanson takes on Langford Area in first-round action at the Class B state tournament at 7 p.m. today at the Barnett Center in Aberdeen.

The Beavers’ last state tournament game was an 82-80 loss to Northwestern in the 1989 Class B championship game.

Hanson was accustomed to playing in the state tournament in the 1980s. The team won the 1986 Class A title with a 48-43 win over Beresford.

Now, after a hiatus that lasted more than two decades, the Beavers hope to make trips to the state tournament a habit once again.

“Hopefully, other kids see that it’s possible (and) it improves our program,” Hanson head coach Josh Oltmanns said.

Oltmanns believes that regardless of how the team plays this weekend, the experience of the state tournament will prove to be a motivator in the coming years.

“It makes the players and coaches want to work harder to get back,” he said. “You realize how hard you worked, and you’re not going to work any less the next year.”

The future looks bright for the Beavers, as the team is led in scoring by a freshman.

Jordan Marquardt averages 12 points a game for the Beavers and will be a key component if Hanson hopes to continue its success.

Oltmanns hopes that the team can continue to improve, both for the state tournament and beyond.

“I haven’t had a team that’s improved from day one to now like I have this year,” he said. “These kids are probably the most coachable kids I’ve ever had. Anytime as a coach you just want to help your team improve.”

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