The Catalyst

By Rommel McClaney, Reporter

“You can teach things but if they believe, it’s a better experience,” says Coach Butch Thorpe. When the Fruita boys’ basketball team runs a new play, learning it is not what matters. The coaches take time out to make sure each player is focused on individual responsibility because believing in what Assistant Coach Thorpe and Head Coach Dave Fox teach them is important.

Balancing out the individual part is a big sense of unity. “They like one another. You have to care about one another…they trust each other,” said Coach Fox.

This shows off the court even in team meetings. The overall attitude is focused but players compliment each other while the coaches give insight and constructive criticism. Coach Fox does in-depth studying of the team’s next opponent and breaks down every play and its key players.

When asked about pre-game in the locker room and warm-up senior Chance Muller said “it’s really serious and focused…everyone is on the same page.” Preparation is big for the Grand Valley boys’ basketball leading scorer Alex Mende who, like his teammates, takes some of their personal time to get focused on the game ahead before they even suit up. “Before I even get to the gym I prepare myself. When I arrive we prepare as a team,” said Mende.

Coach Fox hopes this year’s seniors can leave the program with ‘a feather in their cap.’ A state championship picture is always hard to see but the seniors have the support of their coaches to “walk out of this program with something” and for the whole team to accomplish a common goal, the goal to become stronger players and a respectable team.

Chance Mueller has a large amount of trust in his teammates. “I trust everyone because the only way to win games is to trust one another, freshman or senior, just the same.”