After Bounceback Year, Denfeld Boys Ready to Go Further

Lost to Hermantown in 2022-23 Section 7AAA Championship

DULUTH, Minn.- After a combined four wins in two years, the Duluth Denfeld boys basketball team had a major turnaround in 2022-23 with 16 wins. Now with nearly all of their top players returning, the Hunters want to take another jump this season.

On Monday, dozens of students filled Denfeld’s court for the start of basketball season. The Hunters had a late-season surge in 2022-23, winning eight straight games before losing to Hermantown in the Section 7AAA Championship. Now that they’re familiar with the taste of winning, head coach Phil Homere were focused on getting even better during the summer.

“We were constantly — every single day — getting in the gym, understanding the weaknesses from last year.” This will be the Hunters’ third year with Coach Homere at the helm. While he’s still relatively new to his current role, he’s coached many of these players before they entered high school.

“We’ve got Coach Phil, who’s been our coach since sixth grade, and from there, he’s been teaching us how to play basketball from the years we’ve been with him…We’ve won championships with him.” said senior DaShawn Moore.

“I love Coach Phil, he’s like a father figure to me,” said Marnaries Ferguson, who led the Hunters in scoring last season. “I really appreciate him being around, and without him, I don’t know where I’d be at right now.”

The Hunters will begin regular season play on Friday, December 1 against Kasson-Mantorville.