In 22 years as head coach of The Community School boys' basketball program, Mike Wade has patiently worn the same game face of a passionate teacher whether his teams have gone to the state tournament or whether they've struggled just to score and stay close.
The 2005-06 Cutthroat hardwood season consisting of 16 varsity games begins today, Wednesday with home games against the Hansen Huskies at The Fish Tank in Sun Valley.
It will be yet another challenge for coach Wade (83-146 in 12 varsity campaigns in Sun Valley) because of his team's youth and a tough league.
"It's a very young team," said Wade about the Cutthroat varsity, which has one senior, three juniors and four sophomores. "We lost five good seniors and we just have one senior this year (Kevin Wade), and he is the only returning starter."
Offensive depth was a big plus for last winter's 11-9 Cutthroat edition that had four seniors scoring in double figures—Most Valuable Player Andrew Durtschi (12.5 ppg), Most Inspirational Connor Wade (11.4), Most Improved Hunter Smith (10.7) and A.J. Beesley (10.7), who was the team's best homestretch player.
Connor Wade and Beesley both made first-team All-Conference.
Kevin Wade, the team's best defensive player, was the other starter and he's the team captain. With Wade leading the way, his father coach Wade hopes the Cutthroats can use improved speed and quickness to get an edge on the defensive end and manufacture points.
"We have better speed than we usually have," Wade said. "The guys are working hard to improve the pace. Hopefully we can run the ball and occasionally do some pressing."
There is one significant difference between the 2005-06 Cutthroats and Wade's recent teams that have gone through the best five-year stretch (64-49) in his 22 years of guiding the Sun Valley program.
The Cutthroats boasted a string of excellent post players like Jimmy Fairchild, Adrian Charbonnet, Durtschi and Hunter Smith, and going back a few more years there was Graham Snyder.
"We had a series of decent, legitimate post players. All of a sudden we have no post player with any varsity experience," said Wade.
He added, "We'll have more of a guard-oriented offense. We'll try to do some things to get the guards moving, setting screens and getting shots—while we're bringing our younger post players along as quickly as we can."
The starting post player will be 6-5 sophomore Mac Whittington, who will probably get a baptism by fire in the first three non-conference games against Hansen, Glenns Ferry and Lighthouse Christian Academy.
Besides 6-0 senior wing Kevin Wade, the only returning players with varsity experience are 5-11 junior wing Christian Cairncross and 5-8 junior wing Brendon Nelson. Junior 5-8 wing Alden Remington had limited varsity time, but was Most Improved on junior varsity.
Rounding out the varsity are 6-1 sophomore wing/post Jeff Gaecke, 6-0 sophomore wing/post Spencer Harris, 6-1 sophomore wing Max Harris and 6-5 post Whittington.
Not only is The Community School young but the Cutthroats will be going up against some battle-hardened players in the seven-team Northside Conference, particularly Wade's pre-season choice of league favorites from Carey and Richfield.
Northside Conference and Fourth District 1A king Richfield (22-4) lost seven seniors from last year's team led by 5-9 lightning-bolt guard Victor Vasquez, who averaged 30 points in Richfield's three state tourney games including a school-record 39 in the 69-64 season-ending loss to Notus. Richfield will still be tough, and Carey has everybody back.
"I think Carey and Richfield will be dominant," said Wade. "Tadd Green (Carey senior) is the best post player in the conference and Richfield's Harlie Amy (6-1 Tiger senior) is an outstanding player who moves very well and is a terrific jumper, playing much bigger than he is. And Camas County will be good as well.
"We're hoping we can be the best team in what I consider to be the second tier of the Northside, a group of mid-pack teams that includes us, Shoshone, Dietrich and Bliss."
This winter won't be the first time Wade has rebuilt. He's a master of teaching youngsters the importance of pick-and-rolls and running disciplined half-court offenses.
Wade said, "I think I've done pretty well when we've had young teams. And I'm optimistic again, mainly because of the leadership of the upperclassmen. Kevin is a solid captain and the others are also motivating the younger guys. They're working real hard and I think the fans will see a lot of progress in the course of the season."
Austin Tyler, a productive player in the local men's basketball league, has replaced another solid Outlaw League cager Jim Carkonen as Cutthroat junior varsity coach.
Besides varsity/JV swing players Jeff Gaecke and Max Harris, the JV team features sophomore Ian Ingram plus freshmen Eddy Albarran, Casper Brun, Harry Dreyfuss, Max Sabel and Lucas Vorsteveld.
Team scorekeepers are Carol Wade, Pam Fleischer, Wendy Cairncross, Lillian Gaecke and Pam Sabel.
Community School basketball coach Mike Wade (right) will be enjoying this season with his second son, the team's only senior and Cutthroat captain Kevin Wade (left). Photo by David N. Seelig
