WASP BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wasatch ready to unleash a whole new line-up of fast break hoopsters

BY KENNY BRISTOW

Wave Sports Writer

 The gym rats are back.  You can hear their frantic squeaking echoing down the halls.  It’s a sound that would bring chills to the spines of most exterminators.  But a closer look shows it’s actually the squeaking from 23 pairs of gym shoes running drills in one of the high schools auxiliary gymnasiums.  Basketball season is here and the Wasatch High School Wasps open their 2012-2013 campaign next Tuesday night, November 20^th at Mountain Crest.

There are several words to describe this year’s team, but young is the one that seems to stick out the most.  Then again, so does the word athletic.  Head Coach Lonnie Magnusson, entering the second year of his second stint as the Wasps head basketball man, is excited about his young team.  “We graduated half our squad last year.  Eight seniors – including all five starters,” Magnusson reflected.  “We have a couple of guys who got in some good minutes last year though, so there is a mix.  We’re young, but we’re athletic and we’re going to be pretty good.”

Magnusson was referring to the up-tempo style of basketball he is intending to implement with this year’s team.   There will be plenty of pushing the ball up the court with fast break and run-and-gun on offense and a quick pesky defense that plans to press.  When you’re roster is loaded with a dozen six footers who can fly, then you’ve got to let them loose.  Look for a rotation of the team’s five seniors with three or four juniors and even a couple of sophmores seeing substantial minutes.  With plenty of substitutions and not letting up on the pressure or pace, the Wasps will surely be fun to watch.

Senior shooting guard, Cooper Ballsteadt, coming into the gym after a nice football season, is excited about this year’s team.  “We’ve got some shooters.  All our guys can run and take it to the hoop.  Where we lack in height, we’ll make up for with athleticism,” Ballsteadt said.  Senior forward, Jake Larson, coming off a knee injury from football, has rehabilitated enough to begin practicing at full speed.  When asked how his knee was feeling, he said smiling, “great.  I’m ready to go.”  Both seniors, who saw a lot of playing time last year, will be relied on heavily for team leadership and game experience.

Magnusson is looking forward to the game at Mountain Crest because it will give him a better idea of what he has and what will need to be worked on.  “It will be a great test for us right off the bat,” he said.  “They’re a good team and we’re ready to get started. “