Bring on the Braves: GRHS opens Friday against Star Valley

The Green River High School boy’s basketball team will look to pick up their first victory Friday night in the friendly confines of Wolves Gymnasium.

The 2014-15 squad will open the season at 7 p.m. against Star Valley High School.

Green River head coach Dan LaRose said while it’s nice to open the season at home, they will be playing a very good Star Valley.

The second-year coach said the Braves finished third at last year’s state tournament with only one senior and will return one all-state and two all-conference players.

“They have a lot of court time and and experience playing together,” LaRose said. “It’s going to be a tough game, but having it at home is great.”

During this week’s practice, he said Star Valley shoots the ball extremely well and the Wolves will really need to extend their pressure on the perimeter and to get their shooters to putting the ball on the floor.

Larose said when they take one shot away and force the drive, the Green River defense needs to make sure they close out on the next shooter.

“Because they move the ball around well on the perimeter and shoot the ball well,” he said.

With Star Valley being a team without a lot of height, Larose said they will try to stretch the game full-court so they don’t have to play as much in the half court.

Seniors Hayden Love, Tanner Trumble, Chase Erickson and Kyle Goglio will all start Friday night against the Braves. Junior Kamden Carroll will also start for Green River.

LaRose said Kody Leonard and Luke Ferrell benefited from playing time during the summer and they will be huge coming in off the bench and providing the team with some strength and presence inside.