EXPERIENCE A STRONG POINT FOR BASIN HOOPSTERS

By Danny Rogers

The Copper Basin High School boys and girls basketball teams face the 2011-12 basketball season with one thing in common: they both have experience on their side. Both teams return 3 starters from last year’s squad, and in the case of the girls team, they will have their two leading scorers returning.

Coach Craig Green, returning after a 3-year hiatus from coaching, following Amy McGowan’s recent departure, will have senior wing players Brianna Hyatt and Haley Buchanan back. Both averaged 12.9 points per game last year and will be counted on to be the clutch players this year.

The other starter for the Basin girls, point guard Nikki Trantham, got some solid minutes last year and will be counted on to do the same this year. Backup roles at the wing will be filled by Kayla Hemming and Cassie Hyatt, while senior Allison Allen and junior Lindsey Brackett will come off the bench at the point position. Inside players for the Lady Cougars will include juniors Tristan Hedden, Caitlyn Hyatt and Rocky Payne. According to Green, there is a possibility that some freshmen might be thrown into the mix before the season is over if they keep progressing.

When asked about strengths and weaknesses, Green said, “One team strength is that they really like to play basketball. Obviously, the coaching change right before the season is a big obstacle. How quick the team can accept the change and proceed forward is a major concern. Our weaknesses right now are rebounding, defense, execution of plays and defensive schemes. These should become strengths though as the season progresses.”

Offensively, the Lady Cougars will try to run and gun and play off their pressure defense, according to Coach Green. “But I have had little time to develop a good offense that fits the players’ talents. We will have to find what’s best as the year goes on. I want to play a pressure man to man but zones are essential to stop some teams. I like to control the game tempo with full court presses. I want to apply the ten-ten rule as much as possible, scoring ten or more points per quarter while holding the other team to less than ten points”, Coach Green added.

Green will be assisted by Amy Green this year, who has three years of coaching experience, one year at the high school level and two at the middle school level. “Becoming the head coach just before the season starts is a very daunting task. Thankfully, I have a good assistant coach, (his daughter)”, Green concluded.

Coach Tim Kidd also has three returning starters on the boys team in seniors, Jake Dilbeck, Matt Ray, and Jake Cooper. Dylan Boggs and Brice Nicholson, after a year’s absence, will also be counted on to contribute immediately.

“Jake is a three-year starter and leader on offense while Matt is a four-year starter and our team leader”, Kidd commented. “Jake Cooper had a great summer and could be one of our best shooters. Off the bench, we will have seniors Seth Womble, Caleb Collins and Deven Love, juniors William Taylor and Bubba Buchanan. We also have a starter who is presently injured, Stephen Spargo who hurt his knee in the Lookout Valley football game. We hope to get him back really soon.”

In commenting on his team’s strengths Coach Kidd stated,” Our strengths are senior leadership, experience, strength (physical) and team speed.” Kidd emphasized that the team’s weakness will be size and inside scoring. But Kidd also said that the nature of his team this year will permit many different combinations that can be put into the game.

“We have many good players that can come off the bench, and we will run a type of offense and defense where all the players are interchangeable. And, having senior leadership will add to our depth and experience.” Coach Kidd added that due to their size the pace of the game would be slowed down.

“We will run a passing game and our pace may be slow and we will try to take advantage of every possession. We will be very aggressive on defense. We will help and attack the ball. This means we will need a lot of help on defense. We must pressure the ball and be very aggressive”, Kidd stated. Go-to players for the Cougars this year will be Jake Dilbeck, Matt Ray, Dylan Boggs, and Stephen Spargo. According to Coach Kidd, they all offer something different but so far have worked very well together. The coach stated that the only goals they have set are to play hard defense, box out on every possession, and hustle. “If we do these three things, I think everything else will take care of itself.”

Copper Basin plays in the very tough District 5-A which consists of perennially powerful teams like CSAS, Grace Academy, and Silverdale Baptist Academy. Both coaches agree that all these teams are the main obstacles to their winning a district championship