New lineup provides strong competition in the gym for Grizzlies

Strong programs like the Rocky Mountain boys basketball team tend to reload rather than rebuild over the years, but with a huge amount of talent graduating over the last three seasons having taken its toll on the program, veteran coach Pat Winland said it’s a mixed bag this season.
“It’s kind of a rebuilding and reloading mode because of the way our conference is,” Winland said. “Almost everyone else is doing the same thing. All of the teams lost all-state players and key contributors.”
Winland said practice has been going well, despite the loss to graduation of seven players from last season’s 11-11 squad.
“There’s lots of competition for playing time at the varsity level,” he said.
Lost to graduation were starters Collin Haslem, Kelden Boettcher, Carsyn Weber, Ben Simmons and Nate Minemyer, plus reserves Dylen Clendenen and Maddox Ames. One part-time starter returns in senior Jacob Bischoff.
Now in his seventh year as the head coach, Winland said he has experience building teams after graduation losses, and he said this year’s squad has potential.
“We’ve hit the ground running with the players we have coming back who were key contributors last year and had a great JV season,” he said. “Some of those guys played more than 30 games with the JV and helping with the C team, plus some moments in varsity.
“With this group we’ll try to get out and run a little bit more, but we still want to stay disciplined on offense when the easy opportunity isn’t there. As always, it starts with defense and rebounding.”
Asked about team strengths, Winland noted shooting and the ability for his team to play together.
“They’re coachable,” he said. “They’re soaking up (instruction), and they’re there for each other. They want to see each other succeed. I think there’s hunger in them to put their own stamp on the program.”
Winland listed the team challenges as playing physical and staying healthy, plus a general lack of varsity experience, but added, “That goes around the state, too, especially in our conference.”
Position analysis
Point guard (1 position) – Winland said juniors Bryce Haslem and Cole Minchow are working at the point guard position, with Haslem also seeing time at shooting guard.
“Bryce played a lot of basketball this summer and will help us get into our offense and with shooting,” Winland said. “Cole is another ‘one’ who has played a lot of basketball last year and during the summer. He loves the game. We need him to shoot well to give us a spark.”
Shooting guard/wing (2-3 positions) – Junior Hudson May plays great defense, and senior Jacob Bischoff is the returning player with the most experience, Winland said, noting that Bischoff can “get to the rim and also shoot the three.”
Senior Noah Johnson will also see significant minutes on the wing, Winland said.
“Noah can get hot and does a fine job of getting to the basket,” he said. “These aren’t the biggest guards we’ve had – they’re a different type of guard – but we’re maybe a little quicker at some spots.”
Forward/center (2-3 positions) -- Working inside in Winland’s “three out, two in” scheme, but also able to play out on the wing, is senior Max Cooley.
“Max is pretty heady and is known to make the right play,” Winland said. “He can hit the three and is a good kid to have around.”
Also working inside is a tough rebounder in junior Alex Hedges.
“Alex made great gains last year. I hope he continues to rebound like he did all of last year,” the coach said.
Also strong inside are juniors Tucker Jackson and Lafe Files.
“Tucker is coming off a great football season. He’s strong and athletic and can make inside shots,” Winland said. “He provides another good, solid body to have around.
“Lafe (6-4) is another one coming off a great football season. Lafe could play anywhere from the two to the five, depending on who’s on the floor. He needs to be one of our smartest players. He’s another three-point shooter that we’ll need.”
Jeff Samson returns as the junior varsity coach, and Taylor Winland is the freshman coach.
Winland noted a rule change this year whereby there will no longer be a bonus/one-plus-one foul shot this year. All foul-shot situations will be two shots at the line, and the number of fouls leading to free throws will re-set after each quarter.
The Grizzlies will open the season at the Glenrock/Wright tournament, but instead of teams settling in at one location for the weekend, the boys and girls tournaments have been blended, with the Rocky boys and girls both playing in Wright Friday and Glenrock Saturday.
The Grizz will open Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Kaycee, with the JV game at 3 p.m., then meet host Wright at 7:30 p.m., preceded by the junior varsity game at 6 p.m.
Saturday in Glenrock, the Grizz will take on Lusk at noon, followed by the JV game at 1:30 p.m. and the final contest against host Glenrock at 4:30 p.m.