 After two straight years of one and outs in the Class A state tournament, the Red Lake Boys basketball team finally got over the hump last year, winning their first game and taking fourth overall. Now the Warriors are back, eyeing a four-peat at state. Three straight state tournaments has changed the culture within the Red Lake Boys basketball program. It's really invigorating the basketball community and our fans, it's been really good for us. And with that change program has come some high expectations, especially this season, as the Warriors chased their fourth straight Class A state birth. This year's team, just like last year, just like the previous three, the years before that, we're looking to make a big run at state again this year. To get back to state, they're going to have to rely on their defense, anchored by seniors Rob McClain and Robert Bolio, who stand 6'6 and 6'7 respectively. You can't teach height. If you've got a couple of big kids, it's great. I'm fortunate I have three of them this year. It makes a big difference on the rebombing and a defensive and defensive schemes you can do. And with threats all over the court on the offensive end, they feel they can match up with anybody because of their size and their ability to shoot from the outside. You can feed it, take a score, and when the defense crashes, play on defense on a big man, you can just kick it out and shoot. Having that height, having the ability to rely on anybody on the court at any situation, it's a big difference maker. And with the roster teaming with experience, the Warriors are confident they can make it back to state, but no, it's going to be a tough road. I'm pretty on positive that we can go back to state, but it's going to be a tough play. Teams are better, and so we can't rely on what we've been in the past. We've got to work hard and practice and get better. Of course, the kids want to get back there. I would like to get back there too, but it takes a lot of hard work.