Up-tempo styles to clash Tuesday

Holmen High School’s boys’ basketball team has returned to its roots on offense this season, running an up-tempo, slashing offense, at times at the expense of its half-court defense. Holmen will see somewhat of a mirror image at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when the Vikings host Tomah.

Holmen (2-4) is averaging 67 and allowing an average of 67 points per game, but could be buoyed Tuesday by the return of Brit Bell and Levi Sobkowiak. Both dressed and took part in warm-ups, but did not play in the Vikings 66-47 win over Rochester Century Dec. 22. Tomah (2-5) is also allowing an average of 67 points an outing, but are scoring 59 points per game.

“We’re not going to keep teams in the 50s,” Tomah coach and former Onalaska assistant Brad Plueger said. “We’re getting out and running. We’re going to press the whole game.”

Holmen could b e the bigger team in the game, which has been a rarity for the last three seasons. Tomah’s tallest player is 6-foot-3 Dustin Burkwalt.

“We’re looking to get 72 shots a game,” Plueger said. “Instead of going for shooting percentage, we’re going for attempts. Sometimes when you pass the ball and pass the ball trying to get an open shot, you just turn it over.”

Tomah Journal and Monitor-Herald sports editor Steve Rundio contributed to this article.