As Melcher-Dallas’ boys’ basketball team prepares for the season, there are three key seniors to look for that played critical roles at some point last winter. Those three are Steven Krpan, Ryan Krpan, and Lane VanderLinden.

 

Steven Krpan listed a 6’2”, led the team last year in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.8 points and 8 rebounds per game. In 2019-20, Steven had four 20-point games, including out-scoring Orient-Macksburg with a season-high 33 in a 79-32 victory. That game was also his best shooting game, where he shot 13-of-21 from the floor.

 

Steven’s brother, Ryan, also listed at 6’2”, averaged 13.4 points last winter. Ryan led the team in assists and steals last year with 4.6 each. The most impressive stat that Ryan had in 2019-20 was that he had eight games with seven or more steals. His season-high in a game last year was nine in a 59-57 loss to Mormon Trail. His stat line in that game was 22 points, ten rebounds, six assists, and nine takeaways.

 

But of the three, Saints Coach Jim Wells says the player that he is looking to take a huge step forward is Lane VanderLinden.

 

VanderLinden appeared in just ten games for the Saints last year, but made his mark averaging 13 points and seven rebounds a game. Of the ten games he appeared in, he started in four of them. In his first start last winter against Colfax-Mingo, he had 29 points, seven rebounds and eight steals in a 66-56 victory for the Saints.

 

Melcher-Dallas opens their season on Tuesday, December 1 at home against Pleasantville. The game will be streamed on kniakrls.com on the KNIA3 stream.