File photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm Cathedral’s Sam Knowles works the ball inside during a Dec. 28, 2021, home game with Cleveland.

When the New Ulm Cathedral boys’ basketball team welcomed Sam Knowles back into the lineup after missing the first four games of the 2021-2022 season due to injury, head coach Alan Woitas knew the type of talent his Greyhounds were getting back.

The Greyhounds started the year 0-4 without their standout senior, but the team has gone 8-2 since Knowles’ return.

“Sam Knowles is one of the top players in the conference,” Woitas said. “Having him back gives our team a different dynamic on offense and defense. He also brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to help lead our team on the floor and he puts his teammates in spots where they can be successful.”

Since his return, the 6-foot-6 forward has led the team in most key areas. He currently is averaging a team-best 19.6 points per game, 14.6 rebounds per game, 3.3 steals per game and 2.7 blocks per game. His inside presence has also allowed him to shoot 76% from the floor.

That’s not to say the Greyhounds are a one-player team.

Sophomore guard Jevan Wilfahrt is averaging 15.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg and 3.7 assists to lead the team. Senior guard David Wilfahrt is averaging 8.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg also, while senior guard Justin Berg is averaging 5.9 ppg.

Despite the slow start to the season, Woitas thinks that has helped so far.

“We had a slow start to the year with a number of people being out at different times,” Woitas said. “I think it took us some time to gel as a group and learn how to play together early on. Since Christmas break, we have been playing some of our best basketball, and hopefully will continue to improve heading into the section tournament. Playing a little short-handed early on forced some other players to step up and expand their game. I think that experience will be beneficial later in the year.”

After a key win over Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart on Tuesday, the Greyhounds now sit tied for second with BLHS in the Tomahawk Conference with a 6-3 conference mark.

Woitas also said that consistency on offense will be key from here out.

While the Greyhounds have been rolling, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s still sits at the top of the conference and has been unbeatable in conference play so far, with an 8-0 conference mark and a 12-1 record overall.

Knowles’ first game back this season came on Dec. 14 at St. Mary’s High School, where the Knights held him to 13 points and topped the Greyhounds 69-54.

The Knights are also still the No. 1-ranked team in Class A, with their only loss coming to Mankato Loyola on Jan. 13.

Knights head coach Judd Walter said that the success his team has had so far is what he expected to see, and he’s been extra happy with his bench.

“We have been playing pretty well the first half of the season,” Coach Walter said. “In general, I feel like they have played how we expected them to play. One area that I have been very pleased with is our bench play. The last seven games we have gotten valuable minutes and production from a bunch of guys stepping in as non starters.”

The Knights are led this season by Trent Steffensmeier’s 22 ppg, 5 rpg and 5 apg, while Carson Domeier is averaging 18 ppg, 8 rpg and 5 apg. Also for the Knights, Kaleb Wait is adding 13 ppg, 6 rpg and 4 apg, while Will Walter is scoring 12 ppg.

Coach Walter added that he wants to see his team’s defense feed the offense the rest of the season.

“I think we need to continue to get better defensively and let that feed our offense,” Coach Walter said. “Being consistent defensively will be a focus of ours the second half of the year.”

Behind St. Mary’s, Cathedral and BLHS sits Springfield and Cedar Mountain, who are both 5-3 in the conference.

As far as Cathedral and St. Mary’s, these two squads will meet again on Jan. 27 at Cathedral High School.