After a difficult 5-23 campaign last winter, the Hermantown boys basketball team enters the new season with cautious optimism, a strengthened young core and a belief that last year’s growing pains may finally be behind them.
The Hawks closed last season with a 73-56 loss at Hibbing in the Class 3A, Section 7 semifinals and finished last in the seven-team Lake Superior Conference at 1-8.
But head coach Andy Fenske says the group is far better positioned this winter, with nearly the entire roster returning.
“We only graduated two players from last year and had a fantastic summer with our players,” Fenske said. “We have had a great few days in the gym so far. The guys are there and giving us everything they’ve got.”
Hermantown expects to lean heavily on underclassmen frontcourt leaders Sawyer Senst and Corbin Petcoff, both poised to take on major roles immediately. The Hawks also feature a bevy of talented guards.
“We will rely heavily on some of our returning varsity players to shoulder the burden early on until everyone else gets up to speed,” said Fenske. “Now that we're starting to split into our teams, we're excited to start honing in on our strengths and get our schemes rolling for the start of the season.”
Health was a major hurdle last season, something Fenske hopes the Hawks have already weathered.
“We're hoping that within the last year, we've gotten all of our injuries out of the way and can get through the season in relative good health,” he said.
Hermantown opens the 2025-26 season Saturday, Nov. 29, at Princeton. The home opener is Tuesday, Dec. 9, against Proctor.
Below is Hermantown’s full regular-season schedule:
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
2:00 p.m. — Away vs. Princeton, Princeton High School
Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
7:15 p.m. — Away vs. Hibbing, Lincoln Elementary School
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025
1:15 p.m. — Away vs. Caledonia, Minnehaha Academy
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025
7:15 p.m. — vs. Proctor, Hermantown High School
Friday, Dec. 12, 2025
6:00 p.m. — Hermantown Invitational, Hermantown High School
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025
12:30 p.m. — Hermantown Invitational, Hermantown High School
Friday, Dec. 19, 2025
6:00 p.m. — Away vs. St. Paul Harding, Harding High School
Monday, Dec. 29, 2025
8:15 p.m. — Away vs. Cambridge-Isanti, UMD Romano Gym
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025
3:00 p.m. — Away vs. Esko, UMD Romano Gym
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026
5:30 p.m. — Away vs. Kasson-Mantorville, Kasson-Mantorville High School
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026
7:15 p.m. — vs. Duluth East, Hermantown High School
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
7:15 p.m. — vs. Cloquet, Hermantown High School
Friday, Jan. 16, 2026
6:15 p.m. — vs. Grand Rapids, Hermantown High School
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026
7:00 p.m. — Away vs. Duluth Denfeld, Duluth Denfeld High School
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026
7:15 p.m. — vs. Duluth Marshall, Hermantown High School
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
7:15 p.m. — Away vs. Cloquet, Cloquet Middle School
Monday, Feb. 2, 2026
6:00 p.m. — vs. Mounds View, Hermantown High School
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026
7:15 p.m. — vs. Rock Ridge, Hermantown High School
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026
7:15 p.m. — Away vs. Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids High School
Monday, Feb. 9, 2026
5:15 p.m. — Away vs. Chisago Lakes, Chisago Lakes High School
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026
7:30 p.m. — Away vs. Bemidji, Sanford Center
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026
7:15 p.m. — vs. Duluth Denfeld, Hermantown High School
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
7:15 p.m. — Away vs. Rock Ridge, Rock Ridge High School
Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
7:15 p.m. — Away vs. Superior, Superior High School
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026
6:45 p.m. — vs. North Branch, Hermantown High School
Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
7:00 p.m. — Away vs. Duluth East, Duluth East High School
