Arvada basketball rebounds

Scott Stocker & Gerry Valerio

Published January 10, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

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Success and the Arvada boys and girls basketball programs haven't exactly been one in the same in recent seasons.

Combined, the teams posted a 10-33 mark last season, which included an 0-20 showing in the Class 5A Jefferson County League. Matters weren't much better two years ago when the Reds teams went 17-32 overall.

This season? The programs are enjoying a resurgence through the first part of the schedule, having gone 16-2 through Tuesday's competition.

Needless to say, the turnaround has generated excitement.

"The kids have come together and they helped build positive community support, too," boys coach Preston Slaughter said. "We have been able to open up a lot of avenues for the kids, and that is what should happen with a good high school program."

The Arvada boys suffered through a dismal 3-19 effort a year ago (0-10 in the league), following an uneventful 11-15 season. The Reds are off to a 9-1 start, though, with the only blemish a 75-71 squeaker against Lakewood.

This is Slaughter's first season at the helm after three seasons as an assistant. A native of Pine Bluff, Ark., he graduated from Colorado in 2002.

"There have been a lot of adjustments for the program, especially in discipline and focus," said Slaughter, who teaches math at the school. "I really push the kids in the classroom, too. Basketball should be fun, but the kids are in school first for their education."

Balance has been a key this season, with nine players drawing starting assignments in the first 10 games. As a result, the Reds have had five different players lead the team in scoring.

Junior Steve Fritchell leads the way, averaging 16.4 points a game, while Zach Groseth-Harris is scoring 11.6 points an outing. Christian Isaac is just shy of double figures in scoring (9.4) and leads the team in rebounds (6.9). Senior Matt Chrisman is the floor leader and is averaging 5.2 assists.

In all, seven players average better than five points a game for the Reds.

Slaughter knows the Jefferson County League is tough, but he does not foresee another 0-10 campaign.

"The kids are looking forward to the challenge and they have gained a lot of confidence," Slaughter said. "We're not a one-man team at all, and the kids have the right mind-set. They realize they have to play hard, and I have the confidence they will do the right thing. They have turned into some pretty good basketball players."

On the girls side, the league winless drought has lasted three seasons (0-30). The Reds seem poised to end that losing streak, as their only setback against seven wins came against The Pinnacle.

The seven victories match last season's total, which was an improvement from a 6-17 mark the year before.

"There is still a long road ahead, but beating teams like Conifer and Thomas Jefferson were great for us," said girls coach Erica Schutte, a St. Louis native who played college ball at Regis. "A key is that our seniors have been with me for four years and having the Garcia twins, Valerie and Pricilla, move into our school has been good."

Before this season, the Garcias had never played high school ball, instead competing with club and recreation teams. Pricilla Garcia had been averaging 13.1 points before injuring an anterior cruciate ligament in the Reds' previous game. Schutte will know the extent of the injury by Monday.

Seniors Ashley Fanelli and Alex Rosales have been leaders, with Fanelli scoring a team-leading 14.1 points a game, Rosales 7.9.

In addition, sophomores Megan Parsons and Sedona Buttner also have had outstanding games this season.

"It's good that we are off to such a good start, and the girls are playing with a lot of confidence," said Schutte, in her fourth season.

What Slaughter and Schutte enjoy, too, are the conversations in the hallways between their players about the recent success.

"The kids are having a lot of fun and the atmosphere is good for our school," Schutte said. "It's good to be talking about wins instead of losses."

Both teams continue their seasons tonight in the final round of pool play in the Jeffco Tournament. The boys play host to Summit (7 p.m.), while the girls play at Jefferson (7:30). Both open league play Jan. 18 against Columbine.

ETC.: Lost in the fine print of the Mullen boys basketball team's win against Thomas Jefferson in the title game of the Harrison Classic before the break: With the victory, Porter Cutrell notched his 200th win for the Mustangs. Cutrell has a 200-77 record in 12 years at Mullen, which includes two Class 5A state titles. He is the winningest basketball coach in school history. . . . The Regis girls basketball team is ranked No. 19 nationally by USA Today, one spot ahead of Highlands Ranch. The teams meet Feb. 5 at Highlands Ranch. . . . Heritage boys and girls soccer coach Tony Hurt was selected the large-high-school regional girls coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Also, Smoky Hill boys coach Danny Winsor was selected the large-high-school boys coach and Broomfield's Jim Davidson the small-high-school boys coach. All three will be honored at a dinner Jan. 19 in Baltimore. . . . The Ruby Miller Scholarship Golf Tournament, sponsored by the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports, will be held June 6 at the Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada. The tournament raises funds for scholarships for senior girls who have a desire to go into coaching. Scholarship applications are due Feb. 12, golf entries May 23. Information: Mary Kvamme, 303-421-8392, mustskinow@msn.com or obtain a tournament entry form at colocgs.com.

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