Grizzlies look to retool after losing six to graduation

Having lost six seniors to graduation from last season’s 13-15 team that won a game at the state tournament, the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies face a bit of a rebuilding project this season, though the cupboard is far from bare.

Lost to graduation are Bryce Haslem, Hudson May, Cole Minchow, Lafe Files, Tucker Jackson and Alex Hedges. There are no seniors on this year’s squad, and the varsity roster consists of three juniors, seven sophomores and two freshmen as the season gets underway. Playing junior varsity or freshman ball will be an additional three freshmen.

“Practice is going really well,” head coach Pat Winland said. “We have been implementing our offense we ran the past couple years and adding some new wrinkles in there for who we think needs to have the ball at certain points. We’re really working on putting Mason (Moss) in some good spots, and also with Cooper (Winland), getting him the ball and basically having options for all of our kids. But I think at the start we’re going to rely a lot on Mason and Cooper for some offensive production.

“It’s a three out/two in offense where we’d like to throw the ball inside and work inside out, and we want to be able to adapt. So we have multiple offenses that we’ll probably need to use throughout the year. I’m anticipating we’re going to see some zone. Our outside shooting is probably not going to be where it needs to be at the start. So we’ll make those adjustments as we see fit.”

On defense, the Grizz will play both man and zone.

“We’re going to play some man to man, but with our size, we’re going to need to play some zone. We’re big, but we’re probably not as athletic as we have been across the board.”

Asked about team strengths, Winland noted the team’s size and talent.

“Strengths include our height,” he said “We’re going to start 6-5, 6-5, 6-4, and we have two kids coming back with some quality varsity experience (Moss and Winland) that we can build around.

“I think kids like Kellan, Travis, Evin and Jaxson are out to make a name for themselves,” he added, referring to juniors Kellan Jackson, Travis Crosby and Jaxson Miller and sophomore Evin Clendenen. “They’re hungry.”

Winland listed challenges as varsity experience, outside shooting and “figuring out what our rotation might be,” noting, “The kids are going to find out real quick what it takes to compete at a varsity level, and so naturally, that’s where our inexperience scares me.”

The lineup

Winland said Moss returns as the most versatile player on the team, at 6-5 able to play any position on the court. At times he will be a tall point guard, the “one” position, but he can play two through five, as well, Winland noted.

“We’ll start him out as our point guard,” the coach said. “He’s very versatile, but a lot is going to be on his shoulders. He needs to be the smartest guy on the team, because he’s got to know every spot.”

Likely starting at the “two” wing position is Miller (5-11), who Winland called an up-and-coming player, noting, “He was probably our most improved player last season. He’s sneaky and can surprise you with a few plays here and there. He had a good year in football.”

Jackson will likely start at the three at 6-0, adding to the team’s tall lineup.

“Kellan is pretty strong, a big kid,” Winland said, adding that Jackson will play inside when needed, as well. “Kellan will need to play great defense and rebound for us.”

A strong returning power forward is Winland (6-4), Coach Winland said.

“Cooper got a lot of playing time last year on the varsity,” he said. “He needs to work on his physicality. He’s going to be playing instead of Tucker (Jackson), so he’s going to see some quality bigs. But Cooper’s going to need to score for us to be successful. We’ve been harping on him in practice to shoot the ball.”

Starting in the post will be 6-5 Clendenen, a rare left-hander, Winland noted, adding, “He’s so big and strong and uses that left hand really well. If he can just feed off of Cooper and Mason and sneak in there and get us some easy buckets, that will help. On defense he’ll anchor that zone on the inside.

“He’s the type of kid I hated to guard because he’s lefthanded. You don’t see very many lefthanded posts that can do the things he can do at this level.”

Coming in strong off the bench will be Crosby (6-0), who will work inside.

“Travis has been doing a great job in practice,” Winland said, “in terms of just being very physical, which we need. If we can get him to rebound and get extra shots, that will help.”

Working in on the guard line will be Jaxon Hayes (5-11), who Winland said can be a deadly shooter when he has an opening. Added the coach, “He’ll need to help out with ball-handling duties.”

Seeing time as a freshman will be Jaxx May (5-10), who will spell the guards when he enters the lineup.

“My hope is that I can get Jaxx to be confident so I can move Mason off the ball at times,” Winland said. “I just don’t want Mason bringing the ball up all the time, because then any (passed) ball is out of his hands.”

Also seeing varsity minutes will be sophomores Cooper Ward, Gary Gardner and Kreegan Jones and freshman Jaxson Sponsel.

Jeff Samson returns as the junior varsity coach, and Taylor Winland is back as the freshman coach.

Opening weekend

The Grizzlies will travel over the mountain for the tradition opening-weekend tournament hosted by Wright and Glenrock. Playing in Wright Friday, the Grizz will meet Sundance at 1:30 p.m. and host Wright at 7:30, with the JVs meeting Wright at 6 p.m. Saturday in Glenrock, the Grizz will take on Tongue River at 1:30 p.m. and host Glenrock at 4:30 p.m., with the JVs playing Tongue River at 10:30 a.m.

The Grizzlies then travel to Burlington Tuesday for games at 4 (JV), 5:30 (girls varsity) and 7 p.m.