2023 Galena Grizzlies Boys Basketball Season Preview
By: J. Ray Dockter
2022 record: 8-19 overall, 2-14 league
Head coach: Olek Czyz, 3rd season as head coach at Galena
Key Losses: Mason Pickett, Jonathan McGinnes, Evan Rasner, Tage Morrow
Overview: The Galena Grizzlies are one of only a couple teams in our area that return a good percentage of their production from last season's squad. Coach Olek Czyz and his staff have been preparing their roster for the next two years since the moment he took over as coach.
In fact, the Grizzlies return 72% of their points per game from last season with their top five leading scorers scheduled to return.
Czyz's squad jumped from one victory in 2021-22 to eight victories last season, the Grizzlies are expecting to make another leap now that their key contributors are a year wiser and more developed for the rigors of Varsity hoops.
I expect the Grizzlies to be in the middle of the pack and ready to make some noise in the late stages of the season.
Without further ado, here is Coach Czyz's answers to our questions we asked him last month.
What can we expect from your team this season?
Offense - Guard oriented.
Defense - Pressure and different zones.
Style of Play - Lots of freedom within the system.
What is the key to your team's success this season?
[Playing with] consistency on the defensive end.
What is the best part of coaching high school athletics?
Seeing the [players] growth as human beings.
Who do you feel are the team's to beat in the Northern 4A?
Reed, Bishop Manogue and Reno.
Projected Starting Five (Stats are reflective of last season): Junior SG Ben Imse (12.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 1.1 APG), Junior CG Matthew Rittenhouse (6.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 1.9 APG), Senior PG Nico Crow (5.1 PPG, 2 RPG and 1.7 APG), Junior SG Anthony Martin and Senior CG's Matthew Sanchez (5.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG and 1.3 APG) and Bohdan Wilson (4.8 PPG and 1.9 RPG).
League Schedule
12/16 at McQueen
12/21 at Spanish Springs
1/4 vs. Douglas
1/6 at Carson
1/9 vs. Reed
1/12 vs. Damonte Ranch
1/16 at Reno
1/19 vs. Bishop Manogue
1/25 vs. McQueen
1/30 at Douglas
2/2 vs. Carson
2/6 at Reed
2/9 at Damonte Ranch
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