Random area notes regarding winter sports

Former Little Falls high school and St. Cloud State University basketball stand out Nate Miller (point guard) is the new head coach of the Holdingford Huskers boys' basketball team. He is a new special education teacher in Holdingford.

He spent the past four seasons as head coach at St. Cloud Cathedral, where the Crusaders finished 24-6 last year and Section 5AA runners-up.

Former Huskers basketball coach Byron Westrich was at Holdingford for about 20 years but now teaches in Upsala.

The Huskers went 4-22 last season.

In girls' basketball...
Paynesville Area, who is one of the teams at the Benson Tournament this weekend along with the Jaguars, enjoyed one of only 7 winning seasons on the court last year in the 37-year history of the program.

They return six seniors to the squad who have a combined 15 years of varsity experience. The Bulldogs went 14-10 last year and won two games against eventual West Central South Conference champion BOLD.

They run a unique "dribble-drive offense" featuring four wings and one post player.

The Paynesville boys' basketball team graduated 35 of their 47 points per game from their 3-21 squad in 2011-12. Four seniors graduated in 2012, including current St. John's University football stand out Josh Bungum.