Printable VersionExpectations are high for the Fighting Knights this year.
 David Bell/News-Herald Photo. Havasu’s Jeremy Hotzen dunks the ball during practice Monday. Holtzen, who was ranked No. 8 in the state last year in rebounding, and the rest of the Fighting Knights return to action with a scrimmage against River Valley tonight. |
Including adding a number of new facets to the offensive scheme.
“Pounding new entries into an offense takes time. And we don’t have everything in we’d like to yet,” he said. “But this is one of the smarter groups of players I’ve coached.”
Although front court players Jeremy Hotzen and Max Dreager have shown in practice the ability to play above the rim, like most Havasu teams, there isn’t much height. However, Becker says “Jeremy is so athletic he plays taller than he is.”
What will be the key for the Knights is the ability to quickly move the ball up the floor and get into the offense. And that falls to the back court of Aaron Troyer, Wade Shugrue – who appears 100 percent healthy after missing much of last year with hamstring problems – Connor Blackburn and J.J. Dukes.
“Well still be pushing the ball because the majority of our guards have that speed. And when you push the ball you can catch the defense in a breakdown and score off of that,” Becker said.
But best of all, Becker said, is his team’s unselfishness.
“We don’t care who scores,” he said. “This team is one of the most unselfish I’ve had.”
While the veteran status of the team has bright spots – the team defeated all of the Gila Valley schools except Yuma Kofa during a summer camp in Yuma – it’s also the team that finished six games under .500 and lost 12 games by five points or less.
“I’ve tried to stay away from last year, put it behind us,” Becker said. “I’ve brought it once and we talked about what we have to do to not have that happen again. The veterans nodded their heads, they understand.”
The Knights play a scrimmage against 3A River Valley tonight, then open the regular season against Parker on Tuesday. Both games will be at Lake Havasu High School, starting at 7 p.m.
You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.
Lake Havasu High School
2009-10 Varsity Fighting Knights Basketball Schedule
Home games in bold
Nov. 18 vs. River Valley (scrimmage)
Nov. 24 vs. Parker
Dec. 3 vs. Bullhead City Mohave
Dec. 4 at Kingman
Dec. vs. Kingman
Dec. 10-12 at Southwest Rotary Classic Tournament
Dec. 14 at Parker
Dec. 18-18 Knights Invitational Tournament
Jan. 5 at Bulhead City Mohave
Jan. 8 at Yuma Gila Ridge*
Jan. 12 at Yuma Cibola*
Jan. 15 at San Luis*
Jan. 19 vs. Yuma*
Jan. 21 vs. River Valley
Jan. 22 at Yuma Kofa*
Jan. 26 vs. Yuma Gila Ridge*
Jan. 29 at Yuma Cibola*
Feb. 2 vs. San Luis*
Feb. 5 at Yuma*
Feb. 9 vs. Yuma Kofa*
Feb. 16-21 Gila Valley Regionals
Feb. 22 at State Playoffs
Freshmen games start at 4 p.m., Junior Varsity at 5:30 p.m., Varsity at 7 p.m. except when playing a *Gila Valley Region game. Against region opponents, both Freshmen and JV start at 4 p.m., Varsity at 5 p.m.
Parker High School
2009-10 Varsity Broncs Basketball Schedule
Home dates are in bold
Nov. 20 Scrimmage at home, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24 at Lake Havasu, 7 p.m.
Dec. 1 at Blythe, Calif. Palo Verde, 7 p.m.
Dec. 14 vs. Lake Havasu, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Goodyear Estrella Foothills, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 vs. Yuma Catholic, 7 p.m.
Dec. 18-19 at Lake Havasu Invitational Tournament
Dec. 28-29 at Phoenix Country Day School Invitational Tournament
Jan. 5 vs. Tonopah Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8 at Wickenburg, 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 vs. Bullhead City Mohave, 7 p.m.
Jan, 12 vs. Wellton Antelope, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 at Tonopah Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Bullhead City Mohave, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19 at River Valley, 7 p.m.
Jan. 22 vs. Wickenburg, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 vs. Blythe, Calif. Palo Verde, 4 p.m.
Jan. 26 vs. River Valley, 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Yuma Catholic, 7 p.m.
Jan 30 at Wellton Antelope, 7 p.m.
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