ELK RIVER STAR NEWS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2025 | 23
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Elk River, MN 55330.
Winter Sports Preview 2025-26: Zimmerman boys basketball
ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter
The Zimmerman boys basketball team hopes to be towards the top of the Mississippi 8 conference in 2025-26. The Thunder hope to be a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the section playoffs in the postseason and hope to play a home game.
2024-25 record: 17-10( lost to Fridley in Section 5-3A quarterfinal)
Head coach: Nathan Christensen
Key returning players: Senior Thomas McEachern was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Thunder in 2024- 25. Guards Joe Larson and Lucas Lemke are both juniors. Seniors Ethan Stay and Jacoby Giffen round out the starting five. Important games: Monday, Dec. 1 vs. Pine City; Tuesday, Dec. 16 @ Princeton; Friday, Dec. 19 vs. Big Lake; Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 vs. Willmar; Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 vs. Becker; Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 vs. St. Francis; Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 vs. Chisago Lakes; Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 vs. Princeton; Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026 vs. Monticello
Coach Christensen’ s expectations for 2025-26:“ We’ ve got a lot of returners. We’ ve got a lot of guys that played a lot of minutes for us last year. We’ ll return a lot of size. We’ ll be athletic. [ I’ m ] excited to see these guys go up and down the full court offensively and defensively. It’ s going to be a fun and entertaining year for us. The team chemistry that these guys have... they go and hang out with each other. We’ ve got something good going on this season.”
Mason Spence( left) and Thomas McEachern are returning seniors for the Thunder.( File photos)
Good Luck Teams! We’ re Behind You All The Way!!
Ben Bauman Elk River • 763-241-7900
Dave Stewart Anoka • 763-233-6402
Christie Stang Elk River • 763-241-7900
Jon Griert Elk River • 763-241-7900
Aleida Lee Elk River • 763-428-1573
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