Boys basketball opens at Glenrock

A total 23 high school boys have been getting ready for their openers this weekend - six seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and eight freshmen.

Coach Kevin Gerber said those numbers are right where they usually are every year. The nice thing, he added, is there are actually enough for a freshmen team by itself.

"In the past we've done what we called a developmental team. That was kind of a mix of freshmen and sophomores. . .This year we're lucky enough to have a full freshmen team so we'll be able to play a full freshmen schedule."

As for how the players are looking, Gerber said every season brings new challenges to light, and this year is no different. Two players were in a four-wheeler accident - fortunately there were no injuries - and another two have sprained ankles.

"It will cause a few to probably miss our first weekend of tournaments, that will be the ninth and 10th of December," Gerber said, but other than that everyone should be good.

Gerber's expectations of the season are high, as the team moved up from 2A to 3A. "I'm really excited about that opportunity," he said. "I went to school here and I graduated from here, so that's what I played - 3A. I kind of feel like I'm going back home to the games I remember, the teams I remember playing." He noted the competition would be higher than what they've faced in the past, but the high school team has a tendency to play to their competition and he believes they will step up and play harder.

He further added he knows there is some concern about the team moving up to 3A, but he believes the team will do fine. He pointed out people can see the banners in the gym from years they were 3A.

"We lost a lot of great leaders last year, with the seniors that we lost," Gerber said, "so I'm looking to see who's willing to step up into those leadership roles." This comes in different aspects, such as vocal leadership or leading by example. A focus right now is on skills. Gerber said with the lack of returning varsity players they are looking at evaluating and seeing where they are as a team to help determine where everyone will be placed.

On top of that, Gerber's also excited about the new coaching staff. Matt McPhie is the JV coach, and Ryan Shaffer is the freshmen coach. Shaffer is currently coaching the seventh grade boys.

Something new at the high school level Gerber is trying is the concept of "team families." He designated each senior a leader of a team within the team. He likened it to Thanksgiving, during which families go to be with their larger, extended families. "The goal," he said, "is to build some team camaraderie, more than just basketball." He's interested to see how it grows, and he hopes to keep the groups together. Though seniors will graduate every school year, he would like to see the juniors, sophomores and freshmen stay together and incorporate incoming freshmen into their "families."

Gerber added he would love if the team family idea was his own, but credited Breez Daniels, who brought it to Thermopolis Middle School.

Playing for the Bobcats this season are: seniors Trey Davis, Jake Maksin, Alex Jensen, Will DeVries, Brett Nicodemus and Logan Bartholomew; juniors Hudson Roling, Noah Schwalbe, Cameron Cole, Liam Aaron and Cade Zupan; sophomores Justin Jeffs, Jaxon Davis, Kolby George and Sean Miller; and freshmen Sterling Gerber, Dustin Harvey, Logan Shumway, Chase Snooks, Cade McLean, Fabien Hernandez, Jarron Mortimore and Oran Coyne.

The boys' schedule kicks off with the Herder Classic at Glenrock, Dec. 9 and 10 for the varsity and JV teams, and the Lovell Invite Dec. 10 for the freshmen. Home JV games are played at the middle school. The freshmen will then play at home Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. against Lander. The JV and varsity travel to Lander Dec. 16 and 17 for the East-West Classic. Bobcat basketball action will resume in January after Christmas break.