Scorpions Boys Hoops Team Aims for Victory Through Strong Chemistry

The Sedona Red Rock High School boys’ varsity basketball team is set to commence its season with a matchup against the Wickenberg Wranglers on November 20. Following this opener, the Scorpions will host their first home game on November 26 at 7 p.m. against the Mayer Wildcats in the 2A Central alignment.

Head Coach Pedro Ortega Sr. expressed confidence in his squad. “We still have a pretty fast team, from what I’ve seen so far,” he remarked, noting the loss of several seniors to graduation. “We have to be a smart run-and-gun team.”

Players echo this sentiment. Yonas Rahman emphasized the team’s fast-paced strategy. “We enjoy playing fast and running up and down the court, getting quick baskets,” he said. Although last year’s strategy didn’t fully pan out, he observed a significant energy change in recent practices.

Ortega plans to select team captains after the first scrimmage scheduled for November 15. He believes this year’s team will surpass last season’s performance of 2-14 and 0-6 in conference play. “Everybody’s getting older and stronger and improving,” he noted, highlighting the progress of players like Ben Metzger, Nicholas Hermen, and Filip Atanasovski.

Aiden Stimple, another key player, shared his approach: “I’m not the crazy hooper dropping 30 points, but I want to do my part.” As Stimple looks forward to graduation in May, he has ambitions to study exercise or health science at Northern Arizona University.

The varsity roster features a mix of experience and fresh talent, including new addition Harvey Bronson, who Stimple believes will be a valuable asset. “There’s a whole lot of new junior varsity guys,” he remarked on the potential of elevating the program’s overall strength.

Team chemistry, according to Stimple, may be a significant strength this season. “There’s only one new player on varsity this year, so all of us know each other and how we work,” he said. Senior Nicholas Hermen feels ready to take on a leadership role, stating, “This is the year that probably has the best chance to do something with this team.”

Ortega acknowledges that the Phoenix-area schools will present considerable challenges, but he believes the team is prepared to confront them. “We are here to take up that challenge and get better,” he said. Drawing from last year’s experience, Rahman feels that the team is poised for improvement. “I think if our first couple of games go well, then we can really do something great this year,” Stimple concluded.