The point guard position is the perhaps the toughest to play in all of basketball. They have to make the transition from defense to offense without turning the ball over, and they also have to feed the big scorers.

Some are even asked to score themselves.

Luckily, there are plenty of quality point men playing at area High Schools.

However, they all take a different approach to the game.

Perhaps the most important to his team’s success is Hayfield junior Tanner Kramer, who is the Vikings’ primary play-maker and ball handler. The 5-10 guard averaged 12.6 points and 4.3 assists per game as a sophomore and shot just a shade under 40 percent from the three-point arc for a Hayfield team that likes to run and gun.

“I look to score, but that sometimes draws attention to me, which makes it easier for me to get the ball into the post,” Kramer said.

Since his successful sophomore campaign, defenses have begun to focus on Kramer. But that hasn’t stopped him from playing his style.

“I see a lot of double teams on my drives,” Kramer said. “I don’t really have trouble with them. I just take it as part of the game and play through it. Although it is tough to get into the lane when you’re shorter than everyone else.”

Much to his team’s philosophy, Kramer is never afraid to pull the trigger if he has an open look.

“If I miss my first seven shots, I’ll keep shooting to get in a rhythm,” he said.

Lyle/Pacelli’s Cody Meyer, who is averaging 10.7 points per game this season, takes a similar approach to the game as Kramer, although he rotates to the shooting guard position occasionally.

“I just go by what the defense gives me. I’m not going to try to force anything,” Meyer, a junior, said. “I like distributing and creating. But it’s nice to score some points as well.”

There are also some point guards in the area who are surrounded with tons of scorers and their job is mainly to be a facilitator.

Austin Moe’s biggest problem with Blooming Prairie is to decide which scorer he wants to set up on the high-scoring Awesome Blossoms, who are averaging 77 points per game and are off to a 3-0 start.

“All you’ve gotta do is have a little command on the court. I’ve just got to get it to our great scorers in Josh Toquam, Matt Zellmer and Israel Clark,” Moe said. “Those guys take care of most of the dirty work. I just get them the ball.”

Moe, who was QB of the Blooming Prairie football team, says he sees point guard as a similar position to playing under center on the gridiron.

“I’ve just gotta keep my head up and find my open guys,” he said. “It’s just like the quarterback position in football, which has helped me.”

Moe, a senior, also saves a lot of energy for the other side of the ball, where he is often used to provide defensive pressure.

“I usually use most of my energy on defense, that’s my strong point,” he said.

Austin’s T.J. Fritz takes the same approach as Moe as he spends more time looking to find Marcus Gunderson, Connor Gunderson, and Will Felten than he does looking for his own shot.

The junior guard is averaging six assists in the Packers’ first two games — where they are off to a 2-0 start while averaging 74 points.

“I just try to lead my team and get them into the position where they can excel. I don’t look to score a lot, but I like assists,” Fritz said. “It can be difficult at the end of the game when the ball’s gonna be in your hands against a press. You’ve just got to control it and do what you’ve got to do.”

Pressure was one thing that got to Fritz a few times last year when he played on varsity as a sophomore. But a little time on the weight room and lots of minutes on the court have helped him adjust.

“Last year the game was so fast, and this year it’s a little slower so I can manage it a little better,” Fritz said.

And the slower the game gets, the easier it is for a point guard.