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(NewsDakota.com) The Oakes Public School has announced the hiring of Dr. Brian Dethlefsen as the new head coach for the High School Varsity Boys Basketball team.

Dethelfsen, a practicing chiropractor in Oakes, was a three year starter for the Tornadoes and was a graduate of the class of 1986. He previously served as an assistant coach for the team from 1998-2002 and has worked with area youth basketball teams.

Dethelfsen takes the reigns from Brandon Bata, who resigned earlier this year when he was named High School principal. Bata took Oakes to the Class B Region I Championship game in 2014, the Class B Region III Championship game in 2015 and was named Class B Region III Coach of the year in 2015.

The first 2016-17 regular season game for Oakes is Friday December 9 at Lisbon. Coverage of Oakes Basketball can be heard on KDDR-AM 1220/95.9 FM and NewsDakota.com