They may not be the dominant powerhouse they’ve been in the recent past, but Carey High School boys’ basketball players should come together and be a factor on the hardwoods in the 2012-13 season.
Carey opens its 20-game regular-season schedule Tuesday, Nov. 27 with a non-conference game on the road at 1A Division 1 Glenns Ferry. That’s after Carey hosts a pre-season jamboree with Hagerman and Shoshone Monday, Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. in Carey.
The state runner-up Panthers (19-7) lost five key seniors and 81% of their 55.4 points per game scoring from last year’s squad that won the school’s seventh Northside Conference title in 10 years—and qualified for state basketball for the 16th time in the last 20 seasons.
Coach Dick Simpson (239-52) takes such departures in stride and looks ahead with optimism. He said, “The kids have a tendency to step up when it’s their turn.”
Coached by Simpson, Carey has earned a berth in the State 1A Division 2 championship game for three consecutive years and has won once, in 2011. They’re 9-3 at state with four straight trophies since 2009. In that four-year span Carey has lost at state only to 2010 and 2012 king Nezperce.
Starting last winter, Carey strengthened its schedule and started playing 12 of its 20 games against bigger 2A and 1A Division 1 schools. It paid off last year with Carey winning 17 straight games all the way to the state title game, where the Panthers fell to Nezperce 62-47.
That kind of scheduling will continue this season with the bulk of the tougher big schools scheduled in the early going through early January. Simpson said, “We’ll have a challenge every night. We may not win a game until January.
“On paper we’re probably not supposed to win the conference again. We’re probably not as dominant as the past. But we could knock on the door.”
This year, Simpson and assistant coach Danny Simpson have welcomed 22 players.
Carey doesn’t have much height or proven rebounding, but it does have a scoring threat and true point guard in sophomore Nate Adamson. Simpson said, “Nate likes to take it to the hole and dish it off, and likes to shoot the 3s.
“Nate finds people and has court awareness and high basketball IQ. I expect we’ll run a lot more motion offense to find the open man. We’ll use high pick-and-rolls to get clear-outs and get guys to the basket.
“We’re not big by any means, but we may create mis-matches with a five-guard offense. On defense, it will have to be a real team effort, with a lot of help and scrambling. We’re quick—not necessarily fast—but quick enough.”
Seniors expected to contribute for Northside Conference “Coach of the Year” Simpson include Sheldon Hansen (4.0 ppg last year, 16 3s), Jordan Dilworth (3.9 ppg, 12 3s), Patrick Baird (2.0) and Francisco “Poncho” Gamino.
Coach Simpson expects state third-place basketball finisher Dietrich, recent state football runner-up Lighthouse Christian Academy and Castleford to contend for the Northside title.
Here is the Carey roster:
VARSITY
Head coach, Dick Simpson (12th year, 239-52, .821 winning percentage). Since 1991, covering 22 seasons, Carey teams are 410-143 for a .741 winning percentage.
Seniors (6): 5-11 Sheldon Hansen; 5-10 Jordan Dilworth; 6-1 Francisco “Poncho” Gamino; 6-1 Patrick Baird; 5-9 Jayce Koudelka; and 5-9 Gunner Thompson.
Juniors (2): 5-10 Tori Alvarez; and 5-8 Luis Garcia.
Sophomores (2): 5-7 Nate Adamson; and 6-0 Matt Whitworth.
Freshmen (1): 6-1 Joe Parke.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Head coach, Danny Simpson (10th year, 9 appearances in the Northside JV title game, 5 first-place finishes, 4 second places.
Sophomores (6): Matt Whitworth, Chris Peck, Alex Durtschi, Joe Gamino, Jesus Morales and Corban Johnson.
Freshmen (7): Joe Parke, Dallin Dilworth, Collin Whitby, Zach Olsen, Mario McLaughlin, Colton Metzler and Salvador Ramos.