Although we canít bring you up-to-date coverage of D 49 athletic events and programs, we can bring you in-depth information about players and coaches and their game-day achievements. Steve Wood, special education teacher and head baseball coach at Calhan High School, is our new NFH sports columnist!Led by a balanced scoring attack, the Vista Ridge High School boysí basketball team battled to a decisive win over Falcon Jan. 18 by a 60-48 margin. The Wolves had four players in double figures, led by junior Jerry Smith, who scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Seniors Pierre Copeland and Darrian Morgan scored 12 points each, and senior Anthony Haley added 10 points. Senior Jerrell Bellot also contributed 9 points to show the true balance of the offensive performance.ìThe Falcon game was just a great environment for a basketball game, just like the Sand Creek game was,î said Joe Hites, coach of the Wolves.† ìTo have natural rivalries where the community comes out to support is just special for all involved.† There’s no better atmosphere than to have a packed gym, electric energy, a rocking band and two teams battling like warriors.† We just so happened to be fortunate to get a win over a good team that night, and I thought our kids played with good energy and purpose.† The key to having success in this league is finding a way to rekindle the fires of determined competitiveness each night consistently, regardless of where you play and what the atmosphere is like.îThe Wolves played great defense at times, too, holding the Falcons to just 4 points in the third quarter. The Falcons came back strong in the fourth quarter, however, scoring 24 points, but it wasnít enough, as the Wolves scored 19 of their own in the final frame. The Wolves also shot an impressive 12 of 17 from the free-throw line (71 percent) to cap off a complete game performance.Hites, in his first year at Vista Ridge, is pleased with his teamís improvement. ìAny time you change the culture of an organization, there will be an obvious transitional period and learning curve,î he said. ìThese kids have embraced the change and are now starting to play their best basketball.ìSince PPAC (Pikes Peak Athletic Conference) play has begun, I have been pleased with how we have approached each game Ö understanding that some degree of inconsistency is still going to occur at this stage of our development. To reach any level of success in this very tough conference is not for the faint of heart.îThe Wolves are led by their seniors, although only two of them have had significant varsity experience. Pierre Copeland ìhas been a rock for us from day one,î Hites said. ìHe is not a real vocal leader, but his consistent effort and intensity serves as an example for all of his teammates.î Jerrell Bellot and Anthony Haley ìhave really given us solid performances.î Hites said Aaron Johnson, a 6 foot 5 inches post player, is ìa great athlete, playing a huge roleî for the team.î Hites added that; unfortunately, injuries have sidelined Johnson for ìsignificant stretches.îHe said Johnson is dealing with a shoulder injury and had suffered a high ankle sprain just two minutes into the opening game against Cheyenne Mountain.Point guard Anthony Haley, who has been the ìanchorî of the backcourt, is working his way back now after missing five weeks because of a broken thumb, Hites said. ìThough we have missed these two valuable players, credit must be given to the rest of the team who have filled in, taken advantage of the opportunity and kept us moving in the right direction,î he said.Junior Jerry Smith has stepped up and found his niche in the offense. Hites said Smith has provided a ìmuch needed threat from the perimeter and is improving daily.î Smith hit three 3-pointers in the win over Falcon. Avante Nelms, only a sophomore, has size and vision, which has benefited the team in the tough matchups. ìHe has poise as an offensive threat, and has performed very well in taking on some tough defensive assignments,î Hites said.ìThe future of our program is very bright. We currently have two freshmen playing on the varsity team, and the remaining freshmen have lost only one game on the freshmen level. Robert Fernandez is making the most of his varsity experience as a freshman and has worked himself into a solid playing rotation as a primary ball-handler. Josh Coppock has great potential as a 6 foot 7 inches freshman post player and is improving daily.îDespite the overall record, Hites said he is encouraged by improvements. ìThe most impressive statistic is our reduction of turnovers since conference play has begun,î he said. ìAt one point in the preseason, we were averaging a daunting 25 turnovers per game. In league play, that number is now between 12 and 15.îAlthough the Wolves are averaging just 42 points per game, they have been competitive in every league game because of their defensive efforts. In each of the league games, the Wolves have held their opponents 10-20 points per game below their season scoring averages. ìThe combination of taking care of the basketball and defending has allowed us to hang around in league games and be competitive to the end,î Hites said.Hites, who coached at Cheyenne Mountain for seven years before coming to Vista Ridge, explained his philosophy, which is handed down to the team. ìThe heart of our philosophy is that basketball is far more than diagrams and techniques. Teaching our kids that basketball and life are very similar, in that each demands a personal commitment to excellence for success to be achieved, is paramount. Success requires dedication, persistence, singleness of purpose by everyone in the program; and, most importantly, the right psychological and emotional attitudes. I have always believed that when a team plays at a level of intensity and focus fueled by the desire to not let their teammates down, they can achieve great things. We try to use basketball as a means to teach these truths, and hopefully life awaits their application. I believe the boys get it, which is why they are buying in.ìTo earn an opportunity to play in the post season is a goal we share with most teams.î
Late score update from 1/22: Vista Ridge beats Palmer Ridge, 53-30.Led by senior Tyler Jacksonís 15 points and junior Jerry Smithís 13 points, the Vista Ridge Wolves defeated Palmer Ridge decisively, 53-30. Coach Joe Hites had nothing but accolades for Jacksonís performance. ìTyler is an incredibly gifted athlete,î Hites said. ìHe was so focused in the Palmer Ridge game that he just allowed the game to come to himíand took advantage of everything the defense gave him. He has himself in a good place mentally right now, and will help us be a better team during the upcoming very tough stretch of league play.î
