Bayfield High School stunned the state when it claimed its first boys basketball state championship in March. Since then, the Wolverines had to replace their head coach and come together in search of a way to replace a star talent in Ryan Phelps.
Coach Jeff Lehnus retired after last year’s Class 3A state championship run that included wins against arch rival Alamosa and powerful private school Faith Christian before a 68-57 win in the title game against Lutheran, another private school power.
The Wolverines, ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll, were tasked with finding a new identity under new head coach Klint Chandler and without Phelps, who averaged 17.4 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.3 blocks and 2.2 assists per game last season.
“We don’t replace (Phelps),” said BHS senior Hayden Farmer, who averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season. “On last year’s team, he was a freak. We are this year’s team, and we have to adjust to what we are going to do. We are a completely different team this year.”
Along with Phelps, the Wolverines lost another five seniors from last year’s roster. Farmer, Turner Kennedy and Keyon Prior will carry a big leadership load this season. Much will be put on the shoulders of Farmer and Kennedy in the early going, as Prior, the team’s starting point guard, will miss at least two weeks with a lingering abdominal injury suffered in the team’s quarterfinal football loss at Faith Christian.
Prior averaged 8.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assist per game last year but was also limited because of a foot injury in the early part of the season last year.
Bayfield’s early-season schedule is tough, too, as it will open at 7 p.m. Friday at Kent Denver before it will face The Pinnacle at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Last year, Bayfield opened the season with a pair of three-point losses to the same two teams.
“It’s going to be tough because I want to be out there playing really bad, but I’ll be there supporting my teammates, and I know they’ll do great,” Prior said.
“Last year, we struggled a lot in those preseason games, but we knew we were gonna be good. We learned that as long as we stick with the team, play through adversity and get hot at the right time, we can be OK. Getting hot at the right time is a big deal, especially in basketball.”
With Prior on the bench in street clothes, Kennedy will handle point guard duties to open the season. Kennedy burst onto the scene last season and was pivotal in the team’s title run. He averaged 6.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and was a strong defensive presence. Bayfield expects even more from him this year.
“I have complete and utter confidence in him,” Farmer said. “He worked his tail off this offseason working on his game. Last year, he was a part of that state team, and we all had confidence in what he could do. The sky is the limit for him.”
Without Phelps’ presence and ability to score inside, the Wolverines will look to shooters such as Farmer, Kennedy and Prior along with guards Briant Cuellar and James Mottin and even forward Ethan Morris, a big man who can shoot from outside.
“Morris, I expect big things as long as he works hard. He’s a great shooter and interior guy,” Prior said. “James is a speedy guard and great defensive player and slasher. Then we have Briant, and he’s a straight workhorse all the time, hustling and making big plays. I expect all three of them to be good for us.”
The team will also have to focus on rebounding as a unit and not relying on one man inside. While the team adjusts to Chandler’s system and new players on the floor, Farmer said rebounding and turnovers will be key to early-season success.
“We expect to win, bottom line,” Farmer said.“It might be rough early, but I think we can all gel together. If we can take care of the basketball and rebound the ball, we have a good shot of winning. We’re going to go out and try to run people out of the gym. Our new coach’s philosophy is that we won’t be outworked by anyone else.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
