New coach Collin Walker optimistic of great things to come
Excitement and optimism is rampant in the El Molino boys basketball camp this winter, and with a bevy of returning talent and newly aligned league, why not?
The Lions are coming off a tough, 4-20 season under former coach Jesse Heiny last year in the final season before realignment, including a dismal 1-11 record in Sonoma County League play.
Fast forward to the 2018-19 campaign, as the Lions move to the equitable North Bay League Redwood Division, where they’ll compete with the likes of Elsie Allen, Healdsburg, Maria Carrillo, Rancho Cotate and Ukiah.
El Mo will return 10 veterans to this year’s squad, stamping the team as one of the most experienced in the divisions.
“My expectations this year are to have a winning record and make playoffs,” Walker said. “Even though last year wasn’t a good one for us, you could see the potential these guys have. This El Molino Lions’ team is a very talented group, and I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to coach them this year.”
The list of varsity returnees features senior point guard Sam Wilson-Mietz, senior forward Chase Nicholls, senior center MacGarret Osman, senior guard Zach Hunt, senior guard Chris Romeo, senior power forward Aaron Daniels, senior forward Sam Kenny, senior forward Thomas Siegert, senior forward Wyatt Stringfellow and junior shooting guard/small forward Logan Woolsey.
First-year varsity players are junior guards Abel Perez, Teddy Michael and Grant Feige, and forwards Pat Atkinson and Gabe Wallace.
The Lions have already logged one game on the preseason circuit, notching a dominant 55-29 rout at Willits on Nov. 17. Leading scorers included Siegert (13, all in second half), Atkinson (10), Wilson-Mietz (10) and Woolsey (8).
“It was a great first win of the season,” Walker reported. “It would have been easy for us to go up there, play terrible and blame it on the many distractions we’ve had (school cancellations, change of practice venues, etc.) Instead the guys were extremely focused and got the job done.”
Next up for the Lions (1-0) is the home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 27 against Justin Siena in a 7 p.m. varsity tip-off.
