The Nucla Mustangs, now 25-0, are headed to the state tournament in Greeley. Head coach Mike Rummel told the Forum March 8 it was very exciting.
“It has been a goal for the boys for a few years, and they were finally able to make it happen,” Rummel said. “We knew going in that defense was going to win the game. We played (DeBeque) earlier on in the year and beat them 80-36, but they were without their 6’-6” post player in that game.”
Rummel said that post player and the DeBeque point guard were both averaging 22 or more points each per game.
“So usually when they were scoring and playing well together, they would put up at least 45 of their team’s points,” Rummel said. “I heard there were comments in the stands from people asking ‘Why are you putting two people on one guy?’ Our goal all season long has been to shut down their two top scorers and make the other players beat us.”
Rummel said the two kids together totaled just 10 points for the game against the Mustangs Saturday. The point guard had a three-point shot that he banked in off the backboard, and the post player had seven points.
The Mustangs won the final regional game over DeBeque 55-44.
“We played it just like we wanted to, and the other kids on the floor for them were not able to outplay us,” he said. “We go in having a game plan on how we are going to defend each team, and sometimes it’s not a normal defense that teams are used to seeing.”
Rummel said the Mustangs’ game plan makes it difficult for teams to run their normal plays against Nucla, because of the unusual defenses that they’re including.
Now they’re gearing up for the state tournament, and they are strategizing.
“The first game that we will play in state is against Sierra Grande,” Rummel said. “I don’t know that they have a kid that’s over 6’-1”. And, then our second game could possibly be against a team that has a 6’-8”, 250-pound post player in the middle. So we have to scout and prepare the boys the best we can.”
Rummel said the fans over the weekend were incredible, and the team is thankful.
“Our communities came out and gave great support this weekend to the teams,” he said. “I know the kids appreciated everyone there and cheering them on.”
And, yes, he is very disappointed the girls team didn’t advance too. They fell in their regional finals to Briggsdale, 35-51. With an incredible season of their own, the girls went into their regional tournament 21-2. No doubt the loss was painful for them.
“It’s unfortunate that the girls weren’t able to make it,” he said. “We were all hoping that we could take both teams over together.”
Rummel added both the girls and guys teams will have most of their players returning next year. The girls lose just one senior, Darcy Bray, and the boys will lose two: Brycen Rummel and Jose Zunich. He’s hoping for both teams to make another run at it next year too.
About this weekend, he’s ready for Mustang fans to get hyped and to make the journey, if possible.
“I would love to see anybody and everybody that can make it to Greeley this weekend cheer on our boys,” he said.
Rummel thanks everyone that helped in all areas of putting on the regional tournament, from donating food to sweeping floors, to taking tickets and feeding the teams. He said Nucla did an excellent job running their tournament.
