The Mustangs, a combined team of Nucla and Norwood players, did well before the winter break. Kelly Arnold, head coach for both the boys and girls teams, told the San Miguel Basin Forum on Monday the girls were 4-4 at the end of December, and the boys were 2-3.
“We did well,” he said. “Actually, not bad.”
He added both teams lost some really close games that could have gone in their favor.
Now, basketball is back underway, with action heating up this week. On Friday night, the boys and girls both play Dubeque for the season’s first home game. On Saturday, the boys travel to Ouray to face the Trojans.
Arnold said he’s hoping for a couple of wins this weekend. He said it’s not exactly easy for the kids, coming back from a break.
“We go for a month, have Thanksgiving and Christmas break,” he said. “We get rolling along, and then have to get back on track really quickly.”
Finding their groove on the court can be challenging after time off, but practices resumed in Nucla on Monday night. Arnold said they will be ready for the home game.
He said the games typically draw a good crowd of spectators in the Nucla gym, between the parents and the community members that come out and support high school sports.
As always, concessions will be happening, so folks can get food on site while they support the Mustangs.
“It’s usually a class or a group, like National Honor Society or the FFA,” he said. “We’ll have drinks, quesadillas, chili dogs and Frito pie.”
Arnold has been coaching for about 20 years. For the boys, he’s assisted by Mike Rummel, also a veteran coach, and of Norwood. Nine guys are out for the team this year, with no seniors on board. Arnold has said they’re a young team, but that the boys have some skills and some understanding of the game.
For the girls, Debbie Wytulka — of Nucla, and who is also an experienced coach — is assisting. With 15 girls on board this year, the seniors are Morgan Weimer, Sabra Grierson, Jazel Demus, Lisa Sutherland, Nichelle Rogers, Candis Staats, Saphire Connelly and Kiely Rutter.
For those that would like to view the basketball schedule, that is available online at the West End Public Schools website. It’s also online at maxpreps.com.
