WINTER SPORTS SEASON IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY. THE CODY BRONCS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM STEPPED ON THE HARDWOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME MONDAY IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2019-2020 SEASON. LAST YEAR WAS A LEARNING CURVE FOR THE BRONCS AS IT WAS THEIR FIRST SEASON IN CLASS 4A. THEY WOULD FINISH THE YEAR WITH A 4-18 OVERALL RECORD AND WON A GAME AT THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT. I SAT DOWN WITH HEAD COACH OF THE BRONCS JAKE KRAFT AND HE LINES OUT THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TEAM THIS YEAR.
“I THINK WE HAVE VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR TEAM. WE HAVE SEVERAL KIDS WHO ARE RETURNING THAT NOW HAVE VARSITY EXPERIENCE. MULTIPLE KIDS CAN PLAY MULTIPLE POSITIONS AND WE HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP ON THIS TEAM, I BELIEVE, COMING INTO THE SEASON SO WE LOOK TO COMPETE AT A HIGHER LEVEL IN THE 4A CLASS THIS YEAR.”
ANYTIME YOU MOVE UP OR DOWN IN A CLASS THEIR IS GOING TO BE A LEARNING CURVE. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THE BRONCS EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR IN THE 4A FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE BRONCS BRING BACK AT LEAST 5 SENIORS FROM A YEAR AGO AND COACH KRAFT TALKS ABOUT HOW THAT WILL HELP THE TEAM MAKE A MOVE IN 4A.
“I THINK WE NOW UNDERSTAND THE PHYSICALITY AND THE SPEED THAT 4A REQUIRES VS. A LOWER DIVISION AND HOPEFULLY OUR KIDS ARE ABLE TO COMPETE IN FOUR QUARTERS. I THINK THAT’S WHAT WE LEARNED LAST YEAR TOO WAS, WE CAN’T HAVE THREE GOOD QUARTERS AND ONE BAD ONE. WE HAVE TO COMPETE IN ALL FOUR FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT.”
AS FOR HOW THIS TEAM WILL LOOK OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY COACH KRAFT HIGHLIGHTS THE BIGGEST EMPHASIS THAT THIS TEAM MUST WORK ON EARLY ON.
“WELL ON THE DEFENSIVE END WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GUARD THE BALL, WE’RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO HELP OFF THE BALL. OFFENSIVELY, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THREE GUYS IN DOUBLE FIGURES NIGHTLY IF WE WANT TO COMPETE. SO GETTING OUR KIDS TO TAKE THE RIGHT SHOT AND CONVERT. OUR KIDS DON’T GET UP A LOT OF SHOTS IN THE OFF-SEASON SO WE’RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO GET UP A LOT OF SHOTS TO GET OUR CONFIDENCE UP, SHOOTING WISE.”
AS FOR WHO NEEDS TO BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER FOR THIS SQUAD, EXPECT THE RETURNING PLAYERS TO STEP UP.
“I’D HAVE TO SAY OUR GUYS WHO STARTED FOR US LAST YEAR AND THAT WOULD BE COY, HUNTER, TRISTAN AND THEN OF COURSE DUNCAN. THOSE FOUR REALLY WILL SET THE TONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MOST EXPERIENCE COMING OFF THE VARSITY TEAM ROSTER LAST YEAR.”
THE CODY BRONCS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM HAS BEGUN PRACTICING FOR THE 2019-2020 SEASON. THE BRONCS OPEN PLAY AT THE GILLETTE TOURNAMENT DECEMBER 12TH-14TH. THEIR FIRST HOME GAME IS DECEMBER 20TH VS. POWELL.
