Sam is a 36-year-old English teacher and the basketball coach at Willow Creek High School. Struggling with deep sorrow following the tragic murder of his wife, Amy, he views coaching as a distraction from his pain. He initially hesitates to lead the heavily losing Broncs team for another season but is drawn back by the possibility of giving the boys something to root for.

Diana is the biology teacher at Willow Creek High School who volunteers as the assistant coach for the Broncs basketball team. Having relocated to the small town to escape the agonizing guilt surrounding the car accident that killed her young daughter, Jessica, she finds solace in observing nature and moving roadkill off the street out of respect. She is fiercely supportive of the students but struggles with emotional vulnerability.

Grandma Chapman is a resilient widow who takes in her grandson after his parents decide to divorce. She is missing her left hand and frequently wears large hats to show her independence and zest for life. Having survived a highly oppressive marriage, she dispenses hard-earned wisdom and serves as a deeply devoted supporter to Peter and the rest of the basketball team.

Peter is a teenager who moves from St. Paul, Minnesota, to live with his grandmother. Deeply homesick and heartbroken over leaving his girlfriend, Kathy, he initially resists adapting to life in Montana and complains about his situation. Despite his reluctance, his athletic skills make him a crucial addition to the underdog Broncs team.

George is Tom's father, a local man known for his cruel attitude, frequent drunkenness, and abusive behavior. He actively tries to tear down his son's confidence and interferes with Tom's participation in extracurricular activities.

Olaf is a six-foot-eleven Norwegian exchange student staying with Mervin and Claire Painter. Although his extreme height causes the town to view him as a potential athletic savior, he has absolutely no experience with the sport. He is eager to fit in and agrees to let Sam secretly teach him the basics of the game in closed-door sessions.

Tom is a local high school student who has grown tired of the basketball team's endless losing streak. He lives under the oppressive thumb of his abusive, alcohol-dependent father, George, which heavily impacts his self-esteem. He ultimately decides to rejoin the Broncs after seeing Olaf's hidden potential during a private demonstration.

Mervin is a local rancher who hosts the Norwegian exchange student, Olaf. He carries a lifelong bitterness toward his brother, Carl, over a shared past involving their family's antique tractor and Mervin's former sweetheart. Mervin continually bets on the local high school basketball games against Carl, desperately hoping to reclaim his lost pride.

Carl is Mervin's brother who inherited a cherished family tractor and married Mervin's former girlfriend, Maggie. He represents everything Mervin feels he has lost in life and serves as a constant source of friction in Mervin's personal struggles.

Maggie is Mervin's former high school sweetheart who ultimately married his brother, Carl. Her past choices are a source of lingering sorrow and regret for Mervin, defining much of his current bitterness.

Axel is the co-owner of the Blue Willow, the local restaurant that serves as a community hub in Willow Creek. He is deeply invested in the town's morale and desperately hopes for the basketball team to finally break their long losing streak.

Amos is a reclusive man who lives in the foothills and rarely comes into Willow Creek. Despite his isolation, he takes a quiet interest in the town's happenings and becomes a protective, supportive figure for Tom.

Hazel is an active community member in Willow Creek and a close, loyal friend to Grandma Chapman. She regularly supports the high school's basketball team and even helps out with their practices alongside Grandma Chapman.

Andrew is a local resident who harbors a quiet, decades-long hope involving a tandem bicycle left at the Blue Willow restaurant. He is a supportive community member who assists the team by providing resources like new jerseys.

Rob is one of the initial six boys on the Willow Creek Broncs basketball team. He is a dedicated player who steps up to encourage Olaf when the exchange student feels embarrassed and tries to quit the team.

Curtis is a student at Willow Creek High School and a member of the Broncs basketball team. He is an essential part of the small roster and contributes to their hard-fought journey toward success.

Dean is a fast and agile player for the Willow Creek Broncs. Despite the town's history of losing, he works hard alongside his teammates to overcome the overwhelming odds stacked against them.

Sally is a Willow Creek local who cares for her daughter, Denise. She struggles heavily with internal guilt and views her difficult life circumstances through a lens of punishment, keeping herself emotionally guarded from others.

Denise is Sally Cutter's daughter, who has cerebral palsy. She is a quiet presence in the town whom Peter meets shortly after his arrival in Willow Creek.

Claire is Mervin's wife and Olaf's host mother. She is supportive of her husband but aware of the lingering feelings he holds for his past love, Maggie.

Truly is the school principal at Willow Creek High School. He is practical and concerned about the continuous string of losses the basketball team has suffered, initially suggesting Sam step down to spare himself the stress.

Amy is Sam's deceased wife, whose tragic death in a mass shooting haunts Sam and drives him to seek isolation in Montana.

Jessica is Diana's deceased daughter, whose death in a car accident serves as the source of Diana's deep trauma and fear of driving.

Kathy is Peter's ex-girlfriend in Minnesota. Her decision to move on from their relationship leaves Peter heartbroken and resentful of his new life in Montana.