Kingsford junior guard Nic Nora was the Flivvers’ best player during the 2021-22 boys varsity basketball season. Nora figures to have an even larger role on next season’s Flivver contingent. The hoopster said he aims to improve his physical strength and his defense, both on and off the ball, during the offseason. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

Nora led his 15-7 team in scoring at 17.3 points per game and added 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals per outing. He was a dead-eye on the free throw line, shooting 85.5 percent, and sank 36 percent of his 3-point attempts. He was also selected to the Great Northern Conference first-team.

Simply put, Nora was one of the best players around. And even more remarkably, he did all that with a broken foot.

Nora disclosed that injury and the fact that he will have surgery in April in a recent conversation with The Daily News.

Q: Had you been to a district final previous to this year (a defeat at Escanaba)?

NIC Nora led the Kingsford boys varsity basketball team during the 2021-22 season in several ways, including averaging a team-high 17 points per game while being named to the Great Northern Conference first team. Nora did all that while playing with a broken right foot, an injury he suffered during football season. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

A: No, that was my first district final. This is my third year up on varsity, we came up short the past two years, so it really felt good to get there, but sucked that we came up short. But we had a really good season. I’m proud of all the guys, we battled, but I’m just happy I’ve got another year.

Q: Going into the season, what were your feelings about the team and its potential?

A: I knew we had potential for sure, we just had to come together as one on and off the floor. We had to have teammate bonding, just getting to know each other. I thought we started to come along at the end of the season and just came up short.

Q: Had this team played together much as unit previously?

A: With my grade we had a lot of juniors, we’ve been together since second, third grade. But we had two seniors. I mean, we’ve all bonded and we’ve all played together at some time or another. I don’t think it was the issue, it was just like sharing the ball, getting to know each other and our tendencies, what we’re good at.

Q: Did your team play differently this year than previous year?

A: Well, we were a fast team this year, we didn’t have very many big guys, so we got out in transition, liked to play fast, good on defense and scrappy.

Q: What did you expect of yourself before the season and did you meet those expectations?

A: Coming into the season, I knew that I was going to have to have a big role this season, being my third year, so i was ready. I played AAU all summer (with Great Northern Elite in Escanaba). All summer I played so I was ready to go and I was prepared. I thought the season went pretty well. I thought there were things I could have done better but I can’t complain.

Q: Did having two previous season as the varsity point guard help you going into this season?

A: I have a lot of confidence in myself. I knew that I could handle the pressure. I’ve developed a lot through those three years, physically and mentally and all aspects. So I knew that coming in I was going to have to be the vocal leader. For me, I feel like I was more advanced, this being my third year.

Q: How do you view your game right now heading into the “offseason?”

A: There’s a lot of things I want to improve on. I know I can do a lot of things well, but there’s always room for improvement. Physically, I want to get bigger. Defensively, I want to focus on that and become a really good defensive player because being good at defense really transitions into your offense and you get a lot more easy baskets for you and your teammates.

Q: What is your typical summer like for you, basketball-wise?

A: This summer I made a premier team down in Wisconsin, but I’m getting surgery on my foot, April 12, on my right foot. I injured it last football season. I have a break in my fifth metatarsal. I’ve been playing on it.

Q: Was there a lot of pain while you played?

A: Yeah, sometimes. I depended how I cut.

Q: You were talking about your summer …

A: Hopefully I’m going to be back by summer and get a few tournaments in with the guys back at Great Northern and then play down with the Crusaders, down in (Appleton/Oshkosh). We’ll see how it goes.

Q: Are you normally in spring sports?

A: I’ve always been a big AAU guy. I love it, I love to travel with the guys. I just like to keep playing. I did play baseball for two years, but this year I was taking it off just to get my foot right and get ready for football. Then summer basketball, team camps with the team, just to get ready for next year.

Q: How do you balance between football and basketball during the summer?

A: All athletes go through this, it’s crazy being busy. Every weekend we’re on the road, whether it’s camps for football or camps for basketball or AAU tournaments. Every weekend it’s something. we’re always on the road. But it’s something I enjoy, I love it and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Q: What are your thoughts about next year’s team?

A: We will be bigger in the post, but losing Mike (Meneguzzo) and Brody (Kopp) is a big loss. Two starters for us, this was Brody’s third year, too, and they were big vocal leaders for us, too.

Q: So your role gets even bigger?

A: Yeah, even bigger. But that’s what I want, I like it.

Jerry DeRoche can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 244, or at jderoche@ironmountaindailynews.com.