Camel boys feature a blend of youth and senior leadership | Local
The Campbell County High School boys’ basketball team has an entirely different identity entering the new season.
The Camels completed all five starters from last year’s team, including point guard Luke Hladky, who finished second in Class 4A with 24.4 points per game for the year, according to WyoPrep.com.
This year’s team will take a much more balanced approach to scores. Seniors Jason Fink (6-foot-5) and Logan Dymond (6-foot-1) have already cemented themselves as two of the leaders in the team in the first few weeks of training.
Fink is the Camels’ top scorer returning this year. In 16 games he averaged 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and shot 42% out of the 3-point range. In a home game against Cheyenne South, Fink led the Camels with 30 points on 10 threesomes, five of them in the first quarter.
The fact that players from every state like Hladky and Jefferson Neary were able to learn from last year set Dymond an example of how he can lead the team now that his time to take on that role has come.
“Being able to play behind these guys helped a lot because they were all skillful in their own way,” said Dymond. “We were able to relieve them of a lot and now I and Fink can take over the reins and be the leaders.”
In addition to a group of four seniors, the Camels also welcomed their largest freshman class since coach Bubba Hladky in 2013. On Tuesday, Campbell County’s 25 newbies were training at the gym.
“Our older people did a good job helping them,” said Hladky. “It’s a very big learning curve, and going up to the 4A ranks is very different from playing basketball in junior high.
“Then they’ll find out because it’s a long season. We’ll probably need some of them to stand up for us at some point. “
Freshman Mason Drube (6-foot-3) will likely start the season with the varsity team, Bubba said. Drube is now used to the college limelight after playing quarterback for the CCHS soccer team in the fall.
The incoming freshman class is the same class that finished the 16-0 season and won the district title at Twin Spruce Junior High in March. Drube scored 21 points in an 86-43 win over Buffalo in the title game.
To be successful this year, the Camels will rely on playing basic basketball, Hladky said. This also includes focusing on the small and tedious things during training so that it eventually translates into games.
It is inevitable that the Camels will rely on new faces to succeed this year. Campbell County scored 1,218 points in 18 games last season. Of those 1,218 points, over 82% were scored by players who have graduated.
“A lot of these guys were prepared because they knew we’d lost a lot of people this year,” said Fink. “I know Austin Crimm and Logan have put a lot of work into this summer and they will definitely be an important part of our launch rotation.
“I have complete confidence in both of them because I know how much time they are investing.”
One of the greatest advantages of this Camels team is the balance of talents between the four different classes. The senior class of Fink, Dymond, Crimm, and Jace Walter will likely lead the team in minutes, but some others will have to step up to take on important roles from the bench. Those roles could include juniors Kody Kline, Jeffrey Pelton, and Nash Lutgen.
Campbell County has been known for its 3-point shot for decades and this year is no different. While the offense will look a little different in transition, the camels will still fire a lot of jump shots over the course of the season.
The main goal will be to balance the team’s offense and take what the defense gives them, Fink said.
“We will definitely be quite team-oriented this year and will always try to make that extra pass,” said Fink. “We always say you can give up a good shot to give your teammate a great shot.
“We had a lot of good goal scorers last year and I have no doubt we will have that again this year.”
Last year the Camels missed the state tournament for the first time since 1987. It was Crosstown Thunder Basin that ended Campbell County’s 33-year series with a 68-59 win at the regional tournament.
The goal of this year’s team will be to get back to the state. For Fink and Dymond, the seniors want nothing more than to end their camel basketball career in Casper.
“I’m really excited,” said Dymond. “This will be my last time playing basketball so this will be my last ride on the hardwood. I’ll leave everything out there for my senior season. “
Campbell County kicks off the season with the REMAX / Gillette Invitational starting Thursday at the CCHS. The Camels will play South Dakota’s Saint Thomas More at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
CCHS plays Evanston on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Cody on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on CCHS.