Weiser hoop season starts next week

Published by admin on Wed, 11/21/2018 - 9:48am

Angelo Reyes dribbles the ball during a recent practice in the auxiliary gym at Weiser High School as the Wolverines get ready to kick off the 2018-19 season. He’s guarded by Brett Spencer with Nate Lattin, right, and Tyler Pope looking to assist. No. 41 Isaiah Daniel is ready for the pass. The Wolverines have an experienced group of six returning starters to build the team around. The Wolverines participated in a jamboree on Monday night to get in some real-game action coming up. They travel to Caldwell for a nonconference game next Tuesday and then go to New Plymouth on Wednesday.
By: 
Steve Lyon
Weiser High School varsity basketball coach Brad Adolfson said the Wolverines will be a balanced team this season that will rely on solid play from returning starters and some newcomers.
 With six players coming back this year, there is a core group of experienced athletes to build the team around. Some younger players out of the 34 kids who came out for the program also are going to have to make a difference on the court. 
 “I don’t think we can rely on one person to score and one person to play defense and one player to play inside. We’re going to have to be a really well-balanced team and share the basketball in order for us to be successful,” the coach said.
 The six returning players from last year’s team include all-conference player Braden Bumgarner, a shooting threat from inside and outside the paint. 
 Hayden Palmer also is back and will play some post. Ande Jensen was probably the best three-point shooter last year and will likely get much of the ball-handling duties down the court. Tim Reed, Isaiah Daniels and Angel Magana round out the returning players.
 Magana spent the football season kicking extra points, field goals and punting. He’s a big guy who can get inside and scrap for rebounds under the hoop, along with shooting the ball when the opportunity presents itself.
 “He just does so many little things that don’t ever get noticed. He does a great job for us,” the coach said of Magana.
 Adolfson said the tempo of play will probably be a little faster this year. There are players who can shoot three pointers, but the coaches want to see players get in position to shoot the best three-points shots.  
 The top scorers on the team will get a lot of attention from defenses, so other players are going to have to step up and perform on both ends of the basketball court. The offense is not going to ride on any one player, Adolfson said.
 Even at this early date in the preseason, Adolfson said the varsity players are coalescing on the court as a team willing to work the ball around and go for assists, and not just playing as individuals. That’s good chemistry that he hopes will pay off in games. 
 Weiser achieved a lot last year as an underdog in the league. The team was picked to finish fifth and finished second. The Wolverines have had success in the past few years, with winning seasons of 19-5 and 23-2 and trips to the 3A state tournament.
 Adolfson returns for his sixth year as head coach of the Wolverines. The wins the team put together last year didn’t go unnoticed by other coaches, who picked Adolfson as coach of the year in the conference.
 While the players come and go with the loss of seniors to graduation and newcomers to the squad, the objectives for coaches pretty much stays the same. Some years those goals are a little more realistic than other years.
 “I think we as coaches go in every year with the same goals, and that is to win a league title and go to the state tournament and win the 3A championship,” Adolfson said.
 Assessing the competition in the Snake River Valley Conference this year, Adolfson said 3A state champions Fruitland looks to be a contender again this year with everyone back but one player.
 “They obviously have to be the team to beat,” he said.
 The seniors on Parma’s team won the state title as freshmen and have the experience of playing in  big games. Homedale has their guards back and lost only two players to graduation.  
 Adolfson said the SRV Conference is always competitive, always a tough 60 minutes on the court. That’s a given every year. The Wolverines plan to play hard and be a league, district and state contender this year as well.
 “We have to go in there and compete each and every night and give ourselves a chance to win a game and get better as the year goes on,” Adolfson said.
 Adolfson is assisted in coaching duties by Bruce Winegar and Gary Jensen, who are both varsity assistants. Berto Reyes is JV coach and Ty Price is the freshman coach. Trey Jensen helps out at all the teams.
 The season started with a jamboree on Monday night at Skyview High School that gave coaches the opportunity see players in real-game action. 
 Weiser will go on the road next Tuesday (Nov. 27) to Caldwell and to New Plymouth on Wednesday (Nov. 28). The first home game will be nonconference contest against Nampa Christian on Saturday, Dec. 1.

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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