As the nights get shorter and a chill falls over the desert, it’s time to settle in for Maricopa High School’s winter sport season. Getting under way in the coming days on the boys’ side are the basketball, soccer and wrestling teams.
First up are the Rams’ roundballers, led by head coach Andy Branchik.
After back-to-back 19-8 seasons, one might wonder if Groundhog Day has settled in on the Maricopa High School Rams boys’ varsity basketball team. Good seasons, yes, but head coach Andy Branchik would love to break out. “It would great to get 20 wins this year,” Branchik said. Branchik’s team is strong on leadership, with nine returning seniors and 12 seniors on the 15-man roster. “They need to step up and be leaders. They know the system. If they do what they’re supposed to do, we’ll be competitive,” Branchik said. That leadership will be tested as the Maricopa moves up to Division 4A-ll in the East Sky Region, which will mean playing bigger schools. “It is a different type of basketball because they do have big guys and you do have to be able to defend in the post,” Branchik said. “Will it change how we play? Hopefully not, because we want to be able to change how they play.” The Rams fell in the first round of the playoffs last season, and to a man, players on this year’s squad say they want to go farther. But for Branchik, the goal is simple. “We’re going to try to win one game at a time, and improve.” Maricopa will be missing the firepower of three starters from last year’s team. But leading scorer Terrance Motley is back and eager to prove Maricopa to be a force. “I think we’re going to be good. We’re ready to play,” Motley said. Branchik says the team’s strength will be close to the basket. “We’re going to change up this year’s offense," Branchik said. "There are more screens, more of a continuous flow. When screens are set right, it’s a pretty successful offense. We should be able to get high-percentage shots.” The Rams start their season Monday, Nov. 23, in the Skyline Invitational in Mesa, and officially tip off the regular season Dec. 1 on the road against Higley High School. The team’s home opener will be against Scottsdale Saguaro on Dec. 2. If Branchik has an overall goal, it is that the rest of the Valley associate Maricopa with good basketball. “Let’s make a name for Maricopa. I think these kids have a really good chance to do that this year. They’ve worked extremely hard; they’re a close team. I’m excited about it.” Soccer Typically, a first-year coach inherits a barren cupboard, a team in shambles experiencing a success drought. The coach must make careful statements, such “we hope to be competitive” or “we hope to change a loosing culture.” That is not the case for new Maricopa High School boys' soccer coach Christophe Ashbrook. He is inheriting a team that went undefeated through the regular season last year, but then flared out in the first round of the playoffs. The soccer team is playing in a different region this year and every game will be difficult to win, Ashbrook said. Last year it was clear by the winning scores, this team was not challenged, he said. One of the areas that Ashbrook hopes to improve is the defense. “This was a weakness of the team and by the time they reached the playoffs, it fell apart,” he said. Ashbrook calls himself a defensive-minded coach and said he has already been working on some shifts that will pay dividends down the road. The rookie coach may have his work cut out for him. The team lost five seniors from last year’s squad, including the school’s all-time leading goal scorer, Irving Garcia, and team captain Carlos Saucedo. However, the team will return several key players, including junior All-Region goalie Armando Cano and sophomore forward Aaron Mendez. “We have talented players coming back, but every player has to earn his right to start the game,” Ashbrook said. “This stimulates everybody and creates emulation. I treat every player fairly and give them equal chances.” Ashbrook is a native of France and played soccer at a high level for 24 years, including several years as a player-coach. He has served as a head coach in a professional soccer academy in France for three years and upon arriving in the states continued to coach the sport. The boys kick off their season with a scrimmage at Goodyear Millennium on Monday, and then open the regular season at home against Flagstaff Sinagua on Dec. 1. “Seeing, feeling and hearing people who support our players during home games makes a big difference in motivation and encouragement,” Ashbrook said. “I hope these boys will get what they deserve.” Wrestling Eric Reed was hired by Maricopa High School at the start of the year to lead a group of young man to wrestling prominence. It is a goal he accomplished in both of his prior stops — Apache Junction and Buckeye — coaching five state champions, six runners up and multiple placers. Last year, Maricopa sent seven wrestlers to the state meet. But graduation sent most of the seasoned mat technicians on their way, leaving Reed with a roster consisting of only three seniors. “We will have a lot of younger guys throughout the season rotating into the varsity team.” Reed said. However, it isn’t youth that Reed looks at as this season’s biggest obstacle. He feels it will be a lack of familiarity between himself and the players. “Instead of getting to know the players and put in place training schedules over the off season, it is something we are going to have to do as the season goes along,” Reed said. Regardless, Reed said he has high hopes for the team and believes they can compete for a region title. “These guys are picking things up faster than any of the kids I had at my other two schools,” Reed said. The wrestling team will open the new mat season on Dec. 3. Coming up, the girls’ teams are profiled. Photo by Jim Williams |