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Glenns Ferry High School
School Info
Conference: 1AD1 Snake River Conference
Classification: 1A D1
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Head Coach: Nathan Jones
Years as Head Coach: 5th season
Previous Experience: Assistant Coach, Freshman and JV at GFHS for 6 years
Record Last Year: 17-10
State Titles: 1981, 2012
Assistant Coaches:
Gerry Hildreth
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Team Preview:
Written by: Sven Alskog
Glenns Ferry Head Coach Nathan Jones appears to have his team heading in the right direction following an appearance in the 1AD1 state tournament last year, winning the consolation bracket.
After winning a state championship in 2012, the following season was a rebuilding one for the Pilots. Last year the project appeared to come full-circle, with the more experienced team going 17-10 on the season, finishing as the district runner-up in the process.
Plenty of talent returns for the fifth season of the Jones era in Glenns Ferry.
Wes Arce, a two-year starter and an All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree last season, will be relied on again as the team leader on both sides of the ball. Fellow two-year starter Shae Sterling also returns, giving the Pilots plenty of experience, all of it now having played on the big stage in the state tournament with some success, winning two games.
Jones also mentioned Kody Arellano and Les Arce as key returners, while Colton Janousek and Erick Ballesteros are going to be asked to make big impacts as newcomers.
A challenge for the Pilots will be finding replacements for the low post play of Egan Bryant and Payton Martell from last year. Bryant was a big inside presence who had plenty of big games last season, including helping lead Glenns Ferry to huge victories over Butte County and Liberty Charter.
Ruben Juarez and his scoring punch are also gone, so the task in front of this new squad will be a tough one to accomplish, although the talent that does return will help ease the concerns.
With so many players returning on the wing for the Pilots, even more of an emphasis will be placed on pushing the tempo for a team that has developed a reputation for doing so in recent years.
Strong depth also exists within the roster, allowing Jones to keep fresh legs on the floor for the majority of games.
The pressure on defense as a result will be applied at a high intensity, forcing plenty of turnovers and allowing the Pilots’ playmakers to get out and run in the open court, leading to easy buckets on the other end.
Valley and Oakley have both dropped down to the 1AD1 Snake River Conference, meaning the competition in league play during the regular season and into district play should be even tougher than previously. This should prepare whoever emerges into the state tournament well for anything they might see there.
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