As is the case with most schools in Sanders and Mineral counties as the winter high school sports seasons get underway, hope springs eternal.

And nowhere, perhaps, is there more optimism than Hot Springs, where new boys team coach Mike Benson has a solid group of returnees from a team that was often derailed by injuries last season. 

The Savage Heat return several stars from last year, led by 6-4 senior post Nick McAllister, who fought an ankle injury most of last season. 

Gone to graduation from last year’s team, which struggled to a 7-14 season record as the injuries to McAllister and others took a toll, are standout forward Quincy Styles-Depoe, guard Michael Merriman and top reserve Elijah Cambell. 

“We have a good group back for this season,” said new head coach Benson, who previously coached in T Falls and was an assistant last year in Hot Springs. “They guys are in good shape overall and we are looking forward to a solid season”. 

In addition to McAllister, who had an outstanding year as quarterback of the school’s semi-final, six-player football team this Fall, Benson inherits a talented group of guards, led by senior Weston Slonaker, his brother Daniel Slonaker and possibly guard-forward John Waterbury, a homeschool student who is a state finals caliber wrestler with the Plains-Hot Springs co-op team. 

“Waterbury is recovering from an ankle injury and is in the wrestling program at Plains,” Benson said. “Our hope is he will be able to balance both sports, with the possibility he could be a factor in post-season play”. 

Also boosting Benson’s optimism is Ben Aldridge, a 6-1 sophomore who emerged as a solid player last season and also had an outstanding year as a wide receiver for the football team. 

And, among the 16 players who came out this year, Benson has a promising “unknown” in Brazilian foreign exchange student Pedro Vidotti, a 6-3 power forward who could back up McAllister in the post, and more. 

“We may be able to use them both on the floor at the same time,” Benson said with a suppressed grin. 

“We have four returning starters coming off a second place District 14C team,” Benson said. “We also feel we have improved depth over last season”. 

Indeed, defensive drills and work have been paid special attention during pre-season workouts. 

A challenge ahead for the Savage Heat is the district realignment that combined the 13C and 14C schools from years past into a single, 13C mega-conference, which includes Drummond, Philipsburg, Seeley-Swan, Lincoln and Valley Christian. 

Added to that mix this year are traditional 14C powers, Charlo, St Regis and Noxon. 

“This combined district will be tough,” Benson conceded. “The top teams we will face will be St. Regis, Superior, Philipsburg, Lincoln, Drummond and Seeley”. 

Hot Springs opens the season this week at the Hamilton Tip-off tournament Friday and Saturday. The Heat then have a pair of tough road games the following week, traveling to Superior and Drummond. 

The Heat play their first home game of the season December 17 when they face Class B Plains in Hot Springs. 

    Senior post Nick McAllister (left) is guarded by Brazilian foreign exchange student Pedro Vidotti during pre-season practice in Hot Springs this past week. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)