By JON ALLEN
Daily Inter Laker
The Glacier Wolfpack boys basketball team enters a new chapter in 2024-25.
Evan Epperly takes the helm after the retirement of Mark Harkins following last season. Epperly is just the second Wolfpack boys coach in school history.
While it may be a change at the top, there is still chemistry between the coach and players as Epperly spent the past two seasons as the Glacier junior varsity coach.
“I’ve had the privilege of being an assistant under Harkins the past couple of years,” Epperly said. “I’m fortunate to take over the program from him.”
The Wolfpack come off a 10-11 season where it came up just short of a berth to the state tournament, falling 58-56 to Butte.
Epperly says his team isn’t focusing on that or looking too far ahead this season.
“I think every team has those goals (of going to state),” Epperly said. “We are going to focus on the process and the other things will take care of themself.”
As for the team taking the court, Epperly returns four seniors who played in 17 or 18 games as juniors: Liam Ells, Luke Nikunen, Easton Kauffman and Slate Burrington.
Fellow seniors Ben Winters and twins Garrett and Hayden Endresen join the varsity squad.The Wolfpack also feature junior Bigfork transfer Asher Knopik, who averaged 15.6 points per game for the Vikings a season ago.
“We are going to be a team that does it by committee,” Epperly said. “I think we have a competitive group of kids, a group that is fun to coach and excited to see how we can grow during the season as a team.”
The Wolfpack open their season at home Friday against Great Falls CMR.