When the Sedona Red Rock High School boys basketball team took the court for the first time at the end of May to begin preparing for the 2008 version of summer basketball, each and every player looked around as if someone or something was missing.

Well, how about 20 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and five assists per game in last year’s first team all-region performer and senior Michael Krajnak?

He’s gone, boys, and it’s time to move on, Sedona head coach Bob Murphy told them diligently.

By Brian Bergner Jr.

Larson Newspapers

When the Sedona Red Rock High School boys basketball team took the court for the first time at the end of May to begin preparing for the 2008 version of summer basketball, each and every player looked around as if someone or something was missing.

Well, how about 20 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and five assists per game in last year’s first team all-region performer and senior Michael Krajnak?

He’s gone, boys, and it’s time to move on, Sedona head coach Bob Murphy told them diligently.

For the first time in three years, the Scorpions won’t know who to go to when they need a bucket, or a big defensive stop, but the Sedona players and their coaches are excited about the opportunity to figure out the new go-to player or players.

Why, you might ask? It’s simple. Balance.

Murphy suggests teams will no longer be able to point out who they need to stop because there are too many offensive weapons on this team, therefore they cannot key on any one player to go at on the defensive end.

These young guns will hopefully gel together on both ends of the floor, which could eventually produce a formula of success for the young Scorpions.

“If we play together as a team, we can be successful,” Murphy said.

Take returning seniors Luke Dumyahn, Sammy Holeyfield and Sergio Toscano for example.

These players have come through the Sedona basketball program and are primed for a big season, Murphy says.

All three are expected to challenge for starting positions and should be big contributors on the offensive and defensive end during summer basketball, and next season.

This Scorpion squad may not win 20 games again, as they did last year when they went 20-12 [7-5 in the 3A-West region] on the season and won a game at state, but they sure as heck can try, Murphy said.

Others should have huge impacts as well, such as returning second-team all-region performer in 2007-08, junior Kevin Cox.

If there was one player on this team capable of putting up 20 and 10 every night, this would be the one, but he’s not your average joe-basketball.

He’s a run and gun, fly by the seat of your pants, dive head first into the stands, and who’s actually developed a nice jumper kind of player.

The list just keeps getting brighter as junior point guard Pedro Ortega Jr. returns as well this summer, looking to get better and better every time out. Ortega should step into the floor general role and is already becoming a voice in the locker room.

“Pedro [Ortega] has come a long way and is becoming a leader,” Murphy said.

Some of the role players who should do a nice job this summer for the Scorpions are junior Thomas Wisbey, senior newcomer Carter Jones and junior point guard Ben Fazekas.

With the top eight out of the way, young players such as sophomores Troy Loparco, Martin Galvez, Ari Aranda and Blake Barker could challenge for the nine and 10 spots on the varsity bench, which is exactly why Murphy believes playing summer basketball is important.

“It’s a crucial time for young players to work their way into our system and for them to gel with the players already in place,” Murphy said.

The Scorpions should have a nice core of young freshmen coming up as well in Bradley Cox, Jack Johnson, J.R. Henry, Chris Oestmann, Jorge Rivera and Javier Fimbres.

As for the schedule this summer, the boys have already played two league nights and their record currently stands at 2-2.

Sedona will also play in three separate tournaments in June as they travel to Flagstaff for all three. The first one gets under way on Friday, June 13, on Northern Arizona University’s campus for the NAU Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Flagstaff High will be hosting the other two on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, as well as on Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28.

Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 131, or e-mail to bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com

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