Ark Valley News - Hornets use winning mentality

Varsity — Front row: Azarael Rodriguez (manager), Kadin Pearson, Ray Flora, Aaron Coash, Thayer Terwilliger, Bailey Burns. Back row: Tyler Brown, Wyatt Lange, Zach Williams, Joe Petrakis, Keyon Saunders, Zach Gillig, Daniel Lentz.

Hornets use winning mentality
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: December 01, 2016

You won't find a bigger cheerleader for success in all sports at Valley Center High School than second-year boys basketball coach Ty Unrau.

Also an assistant coach in football and baseball, Unrau is a proponent of his hoopsters playing more than one sport. Twenty-two players who came out for basketball played football this fall.

"We'll be able to put possibly a starting lineup of five guys who play three sports," he said. "That was the vision of this program from the start — to bring success back to Valley Center through multiple-sport athletes, the weight room and athleticism."

So far, Unrau's practices reflect that philosophy.

"We've carried on our intensity from football season over into basketball season," said junior Wyatt Lange, a quarterback on the football team. "We're just trying to make each other better and be the best that we can."

With a notable absence of height, it will be difficult for Hornet basketball to improve upon last year's 7-14 record. Four seniors graduated, including three who stood 6 feet 4 inches.

"We're going to be small, quick and tough," Unrau said. "I think we're going to be able to do some things offensively and defensively, pressuring even more than last year. It's backs, receivers and D-backs from football that we have. We're going to use that to our advantage."

Valley's top returnee is a good one to rebuild around. Junior Tyler Brown averaged 25 points per game as a sophomore and was named first-team All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II and honorable mention all-state.

Encouraged by his older brothers, Brown went out for football the first time this year and started at wide receiver. He believes that experience will help him on the hardwood.

"Throughout my first two years in basketball, I felt like more of a shooter and wasn't that aggressive," Brown said. "Football showed me to be more aggressive and try to finish at the rim and get inside the lane more."

Those attributes will be critical for his success at point guard, a new position.

"I played a couple (of) games at point guard (last year) … (and) was playing this summer with my summer team," he said. "I think I'll be all right."

Unrau plans to surround Brown with complementary players who can step up.

"He's so unselfish, too, in the way he plays," Unrau said. "Players want to play with him."

Unfortunately, only two of those complimentary players logged any significant varsity time last year.

Lange started 19 games and averaged just under 7 points per game. Senior Thayer Terwilliger sparked the Hornets off the bench with his 3-point shooting, effort and toughness.

Juniors Kadin Pearson and Aaron Coash played some varsity. They, along with sophomore Zach Williams, should provide depth. Keyon Saunders, a 6-foot-2 senior, was injured last year and did not play basketball, but is available this year.

One "newcomer" who could help is a familiar name. Joe Petrakis, a 6-foot-6 junior, has transferred back to Valley Center.

"He's our lone guy with some size," Unrau said. "We're hoping he's able to contribute at the varsity level and provide that presence inside."

Even with Petrakis on the floor, everyone will need to be more versatile than in the past.

"All of us will probably have similar roles," Lange said. "We're going to have to shoot. We're going to have to dribble. We're going to have to drive. We're going to have to play defense."

Unrau believes quickness and toughness can help the Hornets grind out some games and make it tough for their opponents.

"I want it to be when opponents play us, it's like going to the dentist, and not in a good way," he said. "That's the kind of team that I want to have here, how tough we are. And that was developed in football and in the weight room."

The Hornets will open the season at home Dec. 2 against Eisenhower.