When Austin assistant girls basketball coach Blake Harris lines up against Dover-Eyota this Saturday in Winona State University, he’ll be competing against his father Brian Harris, who is the head coach at Dover-Eyota. It’s a familiar theme in sports as family connections often run amongst teams and rivals alike. Austin head girls basketball coach Eric Zoske said that he’s seen plenty of family connections since he started coaching the Packers eight years ago. “I think that’s the greatest part about sports in general is how it brings families together, whether it was mom or dad, grandma or grandpa or a sibling. They wear that uniform and they represent their family. Addi Walsh wanted to be number 22 for a reason this year. She wanted to have the same number as (her sister) Olivia,” Zoske said. “Blake is in his third year for us and he’s a great basketball mind, coming from a coaching family. He is really knowledgeable with the sport and he can make quick in game adjustments.” When family members compete with each other, it often helps the team play better. Hayfield head boys basketball coach coached his son Ethan to two state championships in Class A in recent years and Grand Meadow head girls basketball coach Ryan Queensland has coached three of his daughters to high level high school runs. Just recently, Lyle-Pacelli honored their first ever team to go to the state tournament. That group included coach Brad Walter and his daughters Courtney (Walter) Bollingberg and Brooke Walter. It’s also interesting when siblings and family members go against each other. Just last year, Blooming Prairie softball coach Cam Rutlege had to coach against his alma mater Hayfield, a team on which his little sister Kenna Rutledge played on. No matter, if they’re on the same side or against each other, sports brings families closer together and if it’s done right, they’ll get along, no matter the result. Players and coaches will also remember those matchups with or against family members a little more than the other contests.   The post Hulne: Family bonds add a fun twist to the sporting world appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.