STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 • PAGE 13
BOYS BASKETBALL
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Merino girls basketball seniors (from left)Harley Gentry, Cydnee Sexton, Kaylee Henry, and Larissa Fritzler.
Merino Lady Rams focused on teamwork Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Seniors Chase Powell (left) and Chase Legg will look to capitalize in their final season on the Merino Rams boys basketball team. The team will rely on leadership from the pair this season.
Merino boys look to establish scorers
The Rams will rely on guard play and youth this season By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Merino Rams High School boys basketball team will have a new look this season as some young players will step into new roles. The team was solid last season under first-year head coach Chase Debus, posting an overall record of 13-7 and 5-3 in league play. Debus said he thought he knew a lot about the game from his playing days, but that the learning experience of being a first-time head coach was eye opening. The coach is back for a second season and is tasked with filling the void left by the departure of the majority of the team’s scoring punch. Tre Lewis led the team in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and assists last season as a senior. Wyatt Barton and Colin Mertens were the second and third leading scorers on the team and also aren’t around this season. However, Merino brings back two senior leaders in Chase
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
The Merino Rams boys basketball team huddles during a timeout in their first home game of the season.
“We have a tough first month of December. Everyone in our league will be tough and it will be a battle. Every night, we will have to bring it.” Chase Debus Merino boys basketball coach Powell and Chase Legg. Powell will become a primary ball handler, while Legg will play in the paint. “They have been playing since they were freshman, so they know what it takes
and I think they can push those younger players to step up,” Debus said. “We have some younger kids that will add to our depth and give us some fresh legs See MERINO BOYS, 14
The team is off to a 1-1 start this season By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Merino High School girls basketball team has a renewed focus on teamwork in Mindy Holman’s first season as head coach. “It just felt like we needed more team unity on the court,” Holman said. “That’s my number one focus and then things are going to fall in place from there. Once we are looking for each other and playing well together, then that’s going to make things happen for us.” Holman has experience in the game dating back to her time as a player at Colorado University. Her coaching career started as an assistant in Nywot, before head coaching stints at Fleming and Peetz. She’s been working at Merino for six years and resumed coaching once the girls coaching position became vacant. The Lady Rams are coming off a 5-15 season, including 2-6 in league play. The team graduated two seniors, but returns plenty of experience. Lydia Stegner returns as a junior this season after leading the team in scoring last year with 8.1 points per game. She has scored 16 and 17 points in Merino’s two games so far this season. Holman said that she’s a good threat to score points from the outside. “She was our point guard last season and we moved her to a wing, so that she has more options to
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Coach Mindy Holman (center) coaches Lydia Stegner during a timeout in the Lady Rams first home game of the season against Akron.
“Our strength is that we have a lot of talent. Every person is able to contribute in some way — defensively, offensively, great ball handlers — and we’re fortunate to have that.” Mindy Holman Merino girls basketball coach score,” the coach said. “She’s able to step right in and be a scoring threat.” The team also returns a senior class of Larissa Fritzler, Harley Gentry, Cydnee Sexton, and Kaylee Henry. All four seniors are post players and Holman will lean on Gentry for experience and leadership. Henry, Holman’s daughter, is currently out with a knee injury until after Christmas. Fritzler and Sexton will provide depth in the second unit. Merino returns some experience in sophomore Rylyn Nelson, who scored
16 points in the first game of the season and appeared in 19 games last season. “Rylyn has a lot of hustle and her strength is on defense and in her work ethic,” Holman said. “She makes a lot of things happen out there with hustle and I told her that I’m fortunate to have her.” Also returning to the team are Ainsley Powell, Rebecca Mari, Rylee Nelson, and Hannah Stegner. They are joined by Mileah Snyder, Elektra Canfield, Faith Murphy Zoriah Kaus, Faith Trenkle, LauSee LADY RAMS, 14