The Sedona Red Rock High School boys’ varsity basketball team will play their first game of the season against the Wickenberg Wranglers on Nov. 20, with the home opener in the 2A Central alignment following on Tuesday, Nov. 26, against the Mayer Wildcats at 7 p.m. 

“We still have a pretty fast team, from what I’ve seen so far,” Head Coach Pedro Ortega Sr. said, commenting on the team’s loss of several of last year’s players to graduation. “But we have to be a smart run-and-gun [type team].” 

“We enjoy playing fast and running up and down the court, getting the quick baskets, and we’re trying to catch the opposing team off guard,” Yonas Rahman said. “That was kind of our strategy last year, too, but it didn’t totally work. But I feel from the practices we’ve done so far this season that fast-paced energy that is being displayed by this team.” 

Ortega said that he will probably pick team captains after the first scrimmage game on Friday, Nov. 15. 

15. “I feel like we’re going to be better than last year,” Ortega said. “Everybody’s getting older and stronger and improving. I see improvement in Ben Metzger and Nicholas Hermen, a senior, good shooter. I‘ve seen Filip Atanasovski stepping up in the shooting guard role. And there are two big men, [Rahman] and Aiden [Stimple], who are showing amazing growth.”

 “I’m not like the crazy hooper who’s dropping 30 points, but I want to do my part, play as a big man, get boards, box out,” Stimple said.

Stimple said that he was excited to see how the Scorpion basketball program continues after he graduates in May. He has applied to Northern Arizona University and currently plans to major in exercise or health science.

Varsity Roster
Jayden Amodeo
Filip Atanasovski
Harvey Bronson
Christian Dominguez
Nathyn Everlen
Nicholas Hermen
Ben Metzger
Alexis Parra Landaverde
Yonas Rahman
Vincent Smith-Shayawatt
Aiden Stimple
Steel Sturgeon
Head Coach: Pedro Ortega Sr.

“There’s a whole lot of new junior varsity guys, and I think they’ll be pretty good, once they get up to varsity level,” Stimple said. “The only new guy in varsity this year is [Harvey] Bronson, he’s pretty good, and we can definitely use him.” 

“I’m going to use [my height] to my advantage and just focus on good passes and getting rebounds, and helping out the team by passing, making layups,” Rahman said.

 “I think one of our biggest strengths is our chemistry,” Stimple said. “Because there’s only one new player on varsity this year, so all of us know each other and how we work.”

Hermen said that he feels well-prepared for his senior season and the leadership role, as he is the only member of the team who has competed in all four years of high school.

 “I feel like this is the year that probably got the best chance to do something with this team,” Hermen said. “We got something special here, and we have a lot of young players that are ready to play and actually want to win some games this year.”

After going 2-14 last season and 0-6 in conference play, Ortega said that the team’s main challenge will be going up against Phoenix-area schools. 

“But we are here to take up that challenge and get better and improve, and I believe we can get good results,” Ortega said. 

“For me, after playing together for three years on this team, I feel we have learned from last year’s mistakes, and I think we’re gonna be good this year,” Rahman said. 

“I think if our first couple games go well, then we can really do something great this year,” Stimple said.