Panther boys looking to have great season

Panther boys looking to have great season

November 29, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

On paper and potentially, the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys basketball team could have one of the finest teams in Class AAAA across Colorado, if not in all classes. However, chemistry of the team must work well, teamwork, dedication, and some lucky bounces must also be considered.

"On paper we do look very good," MCHS head boys basketball coach Wade Mortensen said. "We have a lot of kids back who have a lot of in-season and out-of-season experience."

Many of the players worked hard over the off-season. They played more than 50 basketball games from last spring into summer. So the Panthers have another good chance to make their way back to the State Basketball Tournament in Denver after they played advanced to the quarterfinals a year ago.

"We have good guards, good forwards. We’ll have a well-rounded team. It will be important for this team to have a good inside and outside game. We need to get that inside attack going better," he said.

The seniors returning include 6-foot-5 strong forward-post Layne Frazier, who is signed and sealed to Western State College; 6-8 forward-center Kyle Wilson, who is signed and sealed to Adams State College; 6-0 guard Gabe Evans; 5-6 guard Kyle Chandler, and 6-0 Billy Innis.

"Wilson and Frazier are both good shooters. They are good out on the perimeter and tough inside, offensively and defensively. Chandler is quick and can pick us up. Evans is strong coming off the bench. Innis will be a role player for us."

The juniors are 6-4 swingman Jeff Anderson, 6-5 forward Kirk Archibeque, 5-11 Mike Rivas, 6-1 point guard Marcus Mortensen, and 6-2 transfer guard Dustin Cosper (Mesa, Ariz.).

"Anderson can play inside or outside and he can shoot well. Archibeque has nice hands, and he can step back and shoot the three. Rivas can go the hole well. Marcus is an excellent point guard at times. He can shoot the three, penetrate, dish the ball, and he’s quick. Cosper does some good things and he will help us," Mortensen commented.

The younger Mortensen is the leading returning scorer at 15.5 points per game. Frazier averaged 8.0 ppg. Mortensen also dished out 98 assists.

A freshman, Ryan Mortensen, could crack into the varsity unit although he will see a lot of time with the junior varsity.

Offensively, Mortensen would like to see his players run, run, and run.

"We definitely would like to push the ball up and down the court. We still have the flex offense in there when I feel like we need something more structured. We would also like to go from our fast break into a motion offense (lots of passing and screening). I guess you would call it street ball with rules," he noted.

Defensively, the Panthers will play a lot of man-to-man, man press, and various zones.

"We played good defense at times last year but we need to be better this year. I think it might be a weakness, but we have a lot of weaknesses right now. They are kids and they are going to make mistakes. But I think we can have a good defensive team and we can get better. Our defensive footwork needs to get better," he added.

Wilson had 32 blocked shots, Frazier had 18, and Mortensen 14 a year ago.

Mortensen believes this team should be a good at rebounding, both offensively and defensively. Frazier cleaned the glass at 6.4 per game a year ago and Wilson 5.1.

"We have a lot of guys who can be above that rim. They like to go to the boards," Mortensen remarked.

The Panthers have a good non-conference slate, according to Mortensen.

They open the season this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, by hosting their annual Cortez Tournament. The Panthers host Monticello, Utah, around 8:15 p.m. Friday and then will play either Pagosa Springs or Delta on Saturday (See related story).

They travel to Farmington to play Piedra Vista on Dec. 4. They visit Moab, Utah, on Dec. 6. Then it is off to the annual Navajo Generating Station Classic in Page, Ariz. Dec. 13-15. They play Farmington High at home on Dec. 21 to end the 2001 portion of the schedule. The final non-conference game will be at Aztec Jan. 7.

"I like the non-conference portion of our schedule this year. I think we have real good pre-season. This will get us ready for league (Southwestern League)," he noted.

The Panthers will host Fruita-Monument and Central of Grand Junction (Jan. 18-19). The play at Montrose Jan. 25 and at Grand Junction High Jan. 26. A visit to rival Durango is on tap Feb. 1. They will go to Fruita Feb. 8 and Central Feb. 9. Montrose comes in Feb. 15 and Grand Junction High Feb. 16. Durango comes to Cortez Feb. 21.

The 4A District VII Basketball Tournament is slated Feb. 28-March 1-2. Regionals is slated March 5-9 with State set March 13-16 in the Pepsi Center in Denver.