Rude awakenings have the uncanny ability to inspire.
At least that’s what longtime Pueblo South boys basketball coach Dave Lockett sees in his Colts one season after they became the biggest upset victim in the Class 4A state tournament.
Riding a 20-2 regular season, South Central League title and mounting aspirations of a deep postseason run like the semifinal team of 2004, the top-seeded Colts instead were hammered by eighth-seeded Widefield in the second round.
Goodbye, and thanks for playing.
With four starters returning from a season ago, the Colts are hungry and “getting after it” in practice.
“I think this year, hopefully, we play with a little more sense of urgency,” Lockett said.
Early indications have the Colts playing more physically and getting more production off the bench. Led by senior all-state guard Niko Marinucci, the Colts will try to outrun and outgun their opponents with an up-tempo game.
The only loss was Eddie Johnson, a move-away transfer who joined Harrison, which lost the past two state titles to Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson is joined now by Denver Prep League rival Abraham Lincoln, which drops to 4A and gets the preseason pole position.
At Thomas Jefferson, coach Grant Laman will continue to groom his team to peak in late February, a formula that has been as bubbly as Willy Wonka’s “Fizzy Lifting Drink” so far.
In the past two seasons, the Spartans have yet to slip into the state tournament with a high seed but have yet to leave without the championship trophy. Much of that success centered on two-time 4A player of the year Pierre Allen, now at Nebraska on a football scholarship.
Allen’s dominating presence and ability gave the Spartans an unmistakable swagger. Although the 6-foot-5 forward could be irreplaceable, Laman is selling his players on the new Thomas Jefferson tradition.
The Spartans reload with nine seniors, led by the tournament-tested Lawon Benford, Ian Kane, Michael Bellamy and Joel Lewis. Adding a new wrinkle will be former Manual swingman Brian Greer and 6-5 junior wingman Krubiel Workie, who will sit half the season after transferring from George Washington.
Thomas Jefferson’s loaded freshman class might make a few varsity appearances, namely 6-3 small forward Chris Carter.
In the realm of talented freshmen, Liberty boasts one of the best in the state in 6-foot guard Wes Mackenzie, who has impressed all watchers inside and outside of Colorado Springs.
But the power in the Springs might be in the hands of Widefield. The Gladiators return four starters, led by 6-2 guard Brandon Lutz and 6-0 guard Vicente Valdez, and they get 6-6 junior forward Derek Brekken via transfer.
Colorado Springs should have the deeper talent in 4A with Harrison (John Register), Sierra (Jeremy Snead and D.J. Dickson), Mesa Ridge (Thomas Vallejo), Fountain-Fort Carson and Cheyenne Mountain.
Alamosa could be ready to jump into the fray in its second season under former Montezuma-Cortez coaching standout Wade Mortensen. The Mean Moose return four starters, including guard Jason Espinoza and 6-5 senior Spencer McDaniel, who averaged 13 points and eight rebounds and blocked 43 shots last season.
The Northern League is 16 teams deep and split into East and West divisions.
Greeley Central, a surprise semifinalist last season, will ride all-state junior guard Isiah Martinez with hopes that solid role players will fill in around him.
In terms of depth, Fossil Ridge seems to have it with scorer Cody Mivshek and twin 6-6 inside threats Tyler Golgart and Eric Penrod.
Waiting to break out of the north are Windsor (Matt Elliott), Sterling, Broomfield, Greeley West, Mountain View and Longmont.
In Jefferson County, Ralston Valley gets the early nod, but it’s a slight one over D’Evelyn (Andrew Hooper) and Evergreen (Travis Tucker). Elizabeth (Brian Sackel) will give teams fits, too.
Steamboat Springs should head up the Western Slope, while the Skyline (with new schools Mountain Range and Prairie View) seems to have no clear favorite. That should be good for Cherokee Trail, Skyview, Centaurus and Ranum.
