The Madison Rams will open a new basketball season on Friday night at home against traditional rival Shelby at Wayne E. Miller Gym.  The Rams will hit the hardwood with a new varsity coach in Tim Mergel who stepped in for former coach Doug Rickert who stepped away for family considerations last spring.  On the opener against the Whippets, Mergel says Shelby like the Rams, may have been hit by graduation, but they still have two very good players in Grant Fenner who can play inside or out, and Austin Rhode will probably run the point in place of four year starter Garrett Arnold.

For his part, Mergel says the football players are in the fold and for now everyone appears to be healthy.  The coach says he'll be leaning on Alex Smith, Kobi Johnson, Brett Shields, Cory Peterson and Bryce Luckie when the ball goes up on Friday.  He also comments that the Rams will have to bring their "A" game on Friday if they hope to stay with the Whippets.  Last season Madison lost to Shelby in overtime 68-57 at Joe Yohn Gymnasium.