Sometimes things simply fall into place.
Consider inheriting a Burlington boys basketball team that starts the season ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/ 9News poll.
The departure of Cougars coach Tim Jones after losing to Grand Valley in the title game last season allowed then-junior varsity coach Brad Yahn to step into the role.
“Yeah, as a first-year coach, I am 0-0 right now,” Yahn joked.
But his team is no joke. With two returning starters in seniors Nat David and Loren Queen, 2A honorable mention all-staters as juniors, Yahn’s team has a good shot to make it back to the title game.
“I think we will be pretty tough with those two returning,” Yahn said.
Tough as in teams will have to face players who stand 6-feet-5, 6-7 and 6-8. Rebounding shouldn’t be a problem.
Last season’s champions, the third-ranked Grand Valley Cardinals, return only one starter, senior Tyler Jensen, among a junior-dominated outfit.
“We have athletes here and have to get it together at the varsity level,” said coach Scott Kiburis, whose lineup also includes junior Colton Cowan.
Kiburis called 2A “open again. Some team can come from out of the pack and surface like we did (last year).”
It’s a sentiment shared by many. Rocky Ford returns senior Josh DeGrado and junior Colby Ridennoure, who each averaged 12 points per game. District 1 features Sanford, which lost to Burlington in the 2006-07 semifinals. Six-foot seniors Trevor Mor- tensen and Tory Larsen are its top returnees.
District 8 may have the most returning talent with Calhan, Limon, Evangelical Christian and Colorado Springs School all in the preseason top 10.
Other big moves may be made by Akron and Sedgwick County in District 2 and Cripple Creek-Victor in District 6.
The Denver Post/9News poll
1. Burlington
2. Sanford
3. Grand Valley
4. Calhan
5. Limon
6. Rocky Ford
7. Jefferson Academy
8. Evangelical Christian
9. Holyoke
10. Colorado Springs School
2A top players to watch
Jorgen Anderson, Akron, Sr., 6-0
Terell Brown, C.S. School, Fr., 6-3
David Carney, Paonia, Sr., 6-6
Aaron Crews, Evangelical Christian, Sr., 5-10
Nat David, Burlington, Sr., 5-9
Josh DeGrado, Rocky Ford, Sr., 6-6
Logan Deputy, Calhan, Jr., 5-11
Julian Dillon, Fountain Valley, Sr., 5-10
DeLovell Earls, C.S. School, So., 6-4
Matt Fisher, Front Range Christian, Sr., 6-2
Sevelle Hasan, Byers, Sr., 5-9
Cory Jennings, Alexander Dawson, Sr., 6-4
Tyler Jensen, Grand Valley, Sr., 6-2
Xavier Lewis, Jefferson Academy, Sr., 5-11
Josh Mann, Evangelical Christian, Sr., 6-3
Joe McKay, Akron, Jr., 6-1
Taylor Morgan, Cripple Creek- Victor, Sr., 6-3
Kyle Navarette, Hoehne, Sr., 5-9
Kurt O’Kelly, Lutheran (Parker), Sr., 5-11
Keith Pocock, Sedgwick County, Sr., 6-4
Loren Queen, Burlington, Sr., 6-5
Colby Ridennoure, Rocky Ford, Jr., 6-1
Travis Stevens, Pikes Peak Christian, Sr., 6-2
Joe Stone, Limon, Sr., 6-3
Justin Tjaden, Sedgwick County, Jr., 6-5
Brad Todd, Paonia, Sr., 6-5
Wes Williams, Lyons, Sr., 6-1
Zach Young, Kiowa, Jr., 6-0
