Team Preview:
Written By: David Bashore
Tri-Valley has six players coming back, including three seniors: point guard Austin Barnett and guard-forward Hyrum Southwick, both all-conference returnees, and guard-forward Cole Bunker. Three juniors are back as well, guards Dalton Deines and Blake Vogel, and forward Alex Volle. The Titans also offer plenty of height in the coming class, with two 6-foot-3 sophomore forwards joining the ranks.
That incoming size should allow Tri-Valley to incorporate post play into the offense, complementing depth along the perimeter. The experienced guards are the strength of the Titans’ team this year, and bringing the young forwards along quickly will make them more formidable. It should also allow them to match up better in their man defense, size-wise, and help them address their concerns about defensive rebounding and limiting opponents to one shot per trip down the floor.
Veteran coach Barrett Morris says his team got to experience a winning season in football, something that hasn’t happened to Tri-Valley boys sports in a while. He hopes that momentum can be carried over to basketball season, where his club has plenty of talent.
Staying healthy will be key for the Titans as they compete with perennial conference powers Council and Salmon River, trying to crack the upper echelon of the Long Pin Conference and make a play for a state tournament bid
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