This is the year for which Noxon boys’ basketball fans have been longing and waiting.

A talented senior class that has been heralded since they were freshmen is now in control. 

Now, staying healthy is a major focus as the team prepares for the opening of the 2024-25 Class C boys basketball season, which arrives this weekend. 

The Red Devils, coming off a 6-11 season last year that saw one of their best players battle injuries, are primed and ready to have a “the” season of their dreams. 

But, as was the case last year, the injury bug has already raised its ugly head and struck down one of their two best players, 6-1 forward extraordinaire Ricky Williams, who will be out for at least the first two weeks of this season due to a broken clavicle (collarbone) he suffered in a football game near the end of the season. 

That makes the health and talent of 6-4 senior post Shane Murray even more critical to the team’s early success. 

There were seven members of the promising class of 2025 on the Red Devils roster last season, and many are back this year. 

Gone to graduation from last year’s team are Sam Christensen, Aiden Currie and Autumn Lodl.  Currie was part of a “twin-tower” line-up last year when the 6-5 center/forward was on the court with Murray. 

And Christensen was a fan-favorite, dive-for-loose-balls scrapper who was an important part of the defense. 

The Red Devils will have good size this year with several six-foot-plus players and a solid group of quick guards. 

But all eyes will be on Williams, the athletic forward with superior leaping ability who last year fought a leg injury that sidelined him during most of the sports season. 

Expected to battle for minutes at guard are senior Brian Risch and junior Justice Kayser, who was the Noxon quarterback during the recently concluded season. 

The Red Devils are scheduled to open the season this Friday and Saturday at the Hamilton Tip-off tournament.  They then have a pair of road games, traveling to nearby Clark Fork, Idaho for a December 12 game, followed by a long road trip to Valley Christian two days later. 

Noxon makes its first home appearance December 21 when they host Victor, a member of the newly formed 13C conference that combined teams from the 14C and 13C into one, 12-team conference known as the 13C.