Olathe boys’ hoops open against Delta

Bruce Grigsby
Daily Press Sports Writer

OLATHE — The Olathe Pirate boys basketball team will have a total of three practices with the entire squad before taking on rival Delta tonight on their home floor in what will certainly be a tough game.

Head coach Vic Kintz was finally able to have his entire squad of 16 players together for the first time on Monday following the completion of the state championship football season. Although that has meant that the team will have to open the season with little preparation, Kintz, referring to not having key players available, said, “We wouldn’t trade that whole experience for anything.”

In fact, Kintz and assistant coach Lance Ready were delighted with the football players who were on the court and practicing on Monday, 48 hours after winning the state football championship in Aurora on Saturday. The coaches were particularly impressed with the competitive intensity shown by the squad at Monday’s practice. It might not have been polished midseason form, but Kintz said “They were getting after it — it was just outstanding. Coach Ready looked at me after practice and just said, ‘Wow!’”

Leading a squad of two seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, and six freshman, will be Chris Brummitt. Kintz cited the character of the players from the football team for their effort Monday in practice, saying that it typified qualities that were key to their success in the fall. “Chris is a competitor, and his leadership in football will be a tremendous carryover for basketball,” according to Kintz.

The squad will be small in number with a total of 16 players for both varsity and J-V teams, and having graduated seven seniors from last year’s team, the Pirates will be young. Kintz pointed to the strength of the league competition his team will be facing: “Roaring Fork is outstanding, and Aspen and Gunnison will be very tough. Coal Ridge, in its second year in the league, is growing rapidly and getting stronger, and Grand Valley and Cedaredge are always tough. It’s just a good league, and we’ll have to be ready to play every time out.”

His approach to this season is basic. “We’ll always stress fundamentals. You don’t do the big things until you do the small things right. I’m telling the players that we will work hard and will need patience, but we’ll enjoy it along the way, and we will get better.” The Pirates may lack numbers and experience, but if they are anything like their head coach, they’re long on character and enthusiasm.