Trinity basketball adjusting to changes
With three straight appearances in the Class 1A state title game, the Trinity boys basketball program seems to have established itself as a perennial power.
But with a new campus, new coach and only two returning players, little will be familiar about the Thunder this season.
“It’s definitely a new challenge,” first-year coach Keith Harris said. “A brand new team from last year.”
Harris replaces Gregory Harton, who left to pursue a master’s degree, principal Thurban Warrick said.
Because Trinity has no gym at its new campus on Emerson Street near Desert Inn Road and Eastern Avenue, the Thunder will play games at the old campus off East Sahara Avenue. The team has been practicing at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy.
“It’s a lot different,” sophomore point guard Gage Neuwohner said. “It’s a little hard, just the transportation and all that, but they help us out a lot.”
Coming off a 19-10 season, Trinity will be led by Neuwohner and junior guard Budweiser Hawkins, its two returning players. They will help establish Harris’ up-tempo scheme on offense and zone on defense.
“They are the leaders of our team,” Harris said. “Our team is going to follow what they do.”
It’s a style of play that should suit the Thunder well, Neuwohner said.
“We’re a smaller team, but we’re going to be in good shape, conditioned very well,” he said.
Trinity’s rebuilding process could be smoothed by the departures of former 1A Southern League foes Agassi Prep, Calvary Chapel and Mountain View to Class 2A this season.
Still, the Thunder has a long way to go to reach a fourth consecutive state title game, Harris said.
“Everybody’s expectations are pretty high, but with a brand new team, there are a lot of things that would have to happen for the team to have the same success,” he said.
Depth could be an issue for Trinity, which has only nine players — none taller than 6 feet 2 inches.
“We don’t have height on our team this year, so we’ve got to hustle hard and be fast,” junior swingman Jamil Thompson said.