MUSKEGON – Just imagine what a healthy North Muskegon boys basketball team might accomplish this season.

The Norse, who only graduated one starter from last year’s district championship team, opened the season on Tuesday with a 52-11 blasting of host Muskegon Catholic Central in non-conference action.

That final score doesn’t necessarily reflect what MCC will be like this season. It says more about how good the Norse can be, with a ton of talent and experience on the roster.

North Muskegon’s James Young (23), who scored a game-high 16 points, drives toward the rim. Photo/Jeremy Clark

“We have almost everybody back,” said North Muskegon Coach Chuck Rypstra. “We have everybody back on the perimeter, along with our backup center from last year and a couple of real good guys from the junior varsity.”

The really impressive part is that the Norse were missing two starters on Tuesday due to injuries, as well as two key role players who will be in the rotation this season, and still managed to roll past the Crusaders.

They played without the services of starter Brandon Rypstra, who has a slight knee injury; Sam Gallo, another starter who has a broken nose; Ben Meyers, who started at times last year and is dealing with an ear problem; and Leighton Hunt, who recently twisted his knee.

But they had a great offensive performance, anyway, nailing nine 3-pointers and hitting 21 of 48 total shots from the floor.

Junior Jaxon Lisinski (11), who had four triples in his first varsity game, lets a jumper fly. Photo/Jeremy Clark

All of the injured players are expected back relatively soon, but their absence is creating opportunities for younger guys.

One is junior Jaxon Lisinski, who nailed four triples and finished with 12 points in his first varsity game.

Lisinski will be a valuable addition to the team even when everyone is healthy, according to Coach Rypstra.

“He hit 30 a couple times in JV games,” the coach said. “He’s a zone buster, a pure shooter, just a good offensive player.”

North Muskegon got off to a bit of a slow start but still led 12-2 after one quarter. Lisinski led the way with two three-pointers in the first eight minutes.

North Muskegon’s Troy McManus (1) tries to lay the ball in over an MCC defender. Photo/Jeremy Clark

The Norse turned up the offense a bit in the second quarter, outscoring MCC 15-2 to grab a 27-4 halftime lead. Young scored 10 points in the quarter, including two triples.

Four different players had three-pointers in the third quarter, when the Norse had a 19-4 edge and took a 46-8 lead into the fourth.

The Norse were led by sophomore James Young, who is known more for his passing talents as a quarterback for the NM football team. He finished with 16 points, including four triples, and nine rebounds.

Senior Troy McManus, usually the team’s leading scorer, finished with nine points, five assists and four rebounds.