As Dustin Brodina enters his second season as head coach of the Devils Lake Firebirds, one thing is certain about this team compared to last year, there is more certainty. Coming off a 4-18 record a season ago the Firebirds were a team in flux. A mix of young and old. A team working to find an identity and trying to understand everything new that was being thrown at them. This year, with a solid returning group of 10-12 players that can play on any given night the Firebirds think they have what it takes to have a bounce back season, make a run in the EDC tournament and hopefully, State.
Brodina, has a solid group of returners led by Wylee Delorme, Drew Hofstad, Oliver Wirth and Parker Brodina. They hope to use their mix of speed and length to be successful this season. The Firebirds know all too well that there are no off nights in the EDC and that they just cannot rely on talent alone to win games. Brodina said he hopes to instill the need to bring, “Intensity and enthusiasm day in and day out in order to compete and succeed.”
With a solid returning core and a deep bench, they might be able to realize their goals with players being able to push each other every day in practice to be better. Having that, Brodina believes will give them the competitive edge they are looking for. With this returning experience, Devils Lake hopes that they will be able to execute at a higher level.
When asked what is one thing that might keep them from realizing their goals this season, Brodina responded simply with, “Leadership & Discipline.” He continued that without those two things the team, “…would not be able to realize more than a small percentage of their potential.”
Devils Lake kicks off another exciting year of Firebird basketball Dec. 2 vs. Minot High School in Minot.
