A new season has begun for the Yuma High School boys basketball team.
The Outlaws won the Class 3A title to conclude the 2023-24 season.
However, it is now the 2024-25 campaign, representing a whole new challenge for the YHS boys program, which has won four state titles in the past seven years, and likely would have won a fifth if not for the 2020 2A tourney being called early due to COVID.
“It’s a new team, but overall they played a decent amount together last season,” coach Dave Sheffield said.
The Outlaws opened the season this past Tuesday at home against Sterling, pulling out an exciting 60-55 win.
Yuma lost three seniors who were a key part of last season’s 3A title. However, plenty of promising players return.
There is senior Jonathan Thomson, junior Brody Sheffield, sophomore Alex Pensado, junior Noe Quezada, junior Reyli Trejo, senior Silas Baucke (who suited up but did not play last season due to injury) and senior Miles Rutledge.
“”I’m just going to TBD the rest,” Sheffield said of the varsity rotation. “We have some (underclassmen) who could play. I think we know who our top six are, then we’ll figure out seven on as we go. I think it’s going to be good.”
The new Outlaws definitely will have some different looks from last season, but that’s not a bad thing.
“It’s not what I envisioned initially, but we’re scoring efficiently, so I think everyone is figuring it out,” Sheffield said. “I like who we have. We’re still figuring out some kids and how we’re going to rotate players, but some kids are starting to push up.”
The Outlaws are busy in the season’s first week, including the rare Tuesday-after-Thanksgiving game this week. They are at rival Wray on Friday, less than one week after the Eagles won the Class 1A football title.
They are back home Saturday to host Vanguard in a rematch of last season’s thrilling 3A championship game.
“In some ways it’s less than ideal, but in some ways it’s great,” Sheffield said of three games right off the tip. “It’s going to be a really, really active week.”
This season marks the first in the 3A Patriot League since returning to the revamped 3A ranks two seasons ago. Patriot play does not begin until after the Christmas break but it is going to be a serious challenge.
The league includes both the 3A and 4A champions from last season, as old-foe Resurrection Christian is in 3A after winning the 4A title in March. It includes Windsor Charter, which Yuma beat in regional last season, traditionally-strong programs in Strasburg, Highland and Platte Valley, along with Brush, Frontier Academy and Liberty Common. Also, Wray and Wiggins have moved up to 3A, joining the Outlaws in the Patriot. (Friday’s game at Wray is a non-league affair.)
“The Patriot is going to be really good,” Sheffield said.
For now, though, the Outlaws are focused on navigating through a difficult December.
It started Tuesday with the Outlaws leading Sterling by double digits in the first half, then falling behind by 10 in the third quarter before rallying for the 60-55 win.
B. Sheffield had 23 points and six rebounds, Alex Pensado 17 points, Thomson nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Quezada six points, Trejo three and Rutledge two.