Though school is out in Sedona, some students have not had the chance to take a break yet. Every Tuesday and Thursday, new Sedona Red Rock High School boy’s basketball coach George Gleason has organized open gym for prospective basketball players.

“They have been very good, I have got around 15 players, which is a good turnout,” Gleason said. “Since I have arrived, I have noticed how excited they are about learning and trying different methods.”

Last season, Sedona finished 4-14 overall and 4-11 in conference play. Sedona ended the year sixth in the 2A central and 33th in the state.

The Scorpions return juniors Micha Johnson and Jackson Coughlin; each of them earned 2A Central all-region recognition.

So far, Gleason likes Sedona’s tenacity on the defensive end during practice.

“The kids get after it defensively like they are in a game, and I think that will carry us through,” Gleason said. “There are some skill deficiencies there that we must work on but that is the same with any program.”

Gleason envisions the Scorpions running an aggressive, high-octane defense that makes opponents uncomfortable.

“They have to keep up that intensity, it is the only answer I accept,” Gleason said. “I have been coaching for a long team and to play on this team, you must play at full speed all the time.”

Gleason coached boys and girls basketball in Michigan for 26 years.

By summer’s end, Gleason hopes to have the Scorpions acclimated to an uptempo style of play.

“We get up and down the floor, and that style of basketball is much faster than they are used to,” Gleason said. “There is nothing wrong with that version but the players need to learn how to get open and play with each other.”

“I will not have everything installed by the end of this summer but if we can get that flow to the game, that will be helpful.”

Offensively, Gleason plans on keeping it simple for the Scorpions.

“Our offense will not be too complicated as a lot of it will be based on our fast break,” Gleason said. “We have a few different sets we can run straight out of a fast break but our halfcourt offense is more quick-hitting and cut-orientated.”

One team the Scorpions will look to imitate is the 1990’s Loyola Marymount coached by Paul Westhead.

“Back in the day, Loyola made it to the Final Four and their strategy was to shoot within four seconds of crossing halfcourt,” Gleason said. “That is not where we are and I do not go to that extreme but I really liked their quickness and approach to the game.”

“Their goal was to always keep the defense working and that is the drawback of operating at a slower pace,” Gleason said. “It gives players a chance to sit back and catch their breath and that is not what we are going to allow.”

For the Scorpions, playing fast while under control will be key.

“It is tough and that is why we are letting them play for a while before I tear things down,” Gleason said. “They have to get physically in shape to do it and that is something that kids are not used to right now.”

The good news for Sedona is they have six months before the games count.

“They are not in horrible shape but it must improve to match the speed and the intensity I require,” Gleason said. “It takes a little bit of work and like I told them the other day, you will have to go home and run in your spare time.”

Sedona loses 2A Central first-teamer Evan Favorite to graduation.