Mike Rummel, of Norwood, has been coaching basketball at both middle and high school levels in Norwood and Nucla for the last 13 years. This year he’s head coach for the Mustangs, and he’s enjoying his time with the guys. He’s proud to see the current group have the good run they’re now experiencing, now 9-4.
Coach said the Mustangs are a relatively younger team, after losing four seniors at the end of last year, three of which were starters. With two returning starters on the court now, the younger guys are stepping up, he said.
Practices began in November, and Rummel said the guys play well together.
“They’re all in it for one reason, to win,” he said. “They don’t care who scores or whatever, they just want to win. Their goal is to win, and they want to host a regional playoff, like we did last year.”
Last year, in the new Nucla gym, the Mustangs were first in the league and got to host the regional tournament. Rummel agreed that’s another possibility now.
“We do have a chance,” he said.
He added, though, that every time they guys step onto the court, it’s a challenge, and all the area guys teams are good this year. He said the Mustangs have to go in ready to play their game, and that other teams do take great pleasure in beating Norwood-Nucla.
The Mustangs beat Ouray last Thursday, Jan. 16, by 15 points.
The losses they’ve experienced this season are to Telluride, a 3A team, when the boys couldn’t shoot the ball and were at 4 of 23 attempts. Coach said they dug a hole for themselves they almost pulled out of. They also lost twice to a 5A JV team, and they also fell to Ridgway, when they couldn’t run their plays as efficiently as they’re capable.
Rummel said the Mustangs plan to stay focused through the rest of the season for San Juan Basin League play. With no district tournament anymore, it’s important they remain in the Top 32 teams to be able to advance to regionals. The goal, though, is to be in that Top 8 and serve as host.
“And if you win (regionals), you’re playing state basketball in March,” Rummel said.
This team is special to him, he admitted, and most all of the kids, including his son Brycen Rummel, he’s coached since they were in middle school, and they’ve seen successes.
“I know what we can do,” he said. “It’s a matter of getting it out of them and having them perform like they can.”
He said younger guys like Holten McCluer, Austin Garvey and Cole Bray have really stepped up and given the team a lot of positive time on the court, helping them to achieve what they have this year.
“Some are great defenders, some score,” he said. “They don’t care. Cole break works hard on defense, and he’s glad we are winning. He works hard every night.”
The guys face De Beuque Thursday, Jan. 23, and coach said it should be a good game. With De Beque, it’s always close in points, and it varies who wins. The Mustangs then play Dolores on Friday, Jan. 24.
Rummel said he’s had a good feeling about this team for a long time.
“I knew what they had and wanted to keep them on the same page,” he said. “I knew they’d come up and be successful.”
On the roster this year are Holten McCluer (0), Daniel Zunich (1), Josh Platt (2), Cole Bray (3), Ryker Collins (10), Brycen Rummel (11), Slade Gillen (13), Caylon Joseph (15),
Sean Gibson (22), Austin Garvey (23) and Jose Zunich (24).
