Top-ranked defense and three big men can once again put them in regionals and, hopefully, propel them past the likes of 1A Southwest conference foes Little Snake River and Cokeville.
Last year, the Tigers started hot, winning seven of their first nine. Encampment’s only losing streak of the season came in the last three games against statebound Little Snake River, Ten Sleep and St. Stephens. Little Snake went on to win their second state title in a row.
“Expectations are the highest they have been in the last couple of years,” senior Kyle Wessel said.
Fellow senior big man Waddie Love said the team wants to retain their defensive prowess, they allowed just 44.2 points per game last year, and they will get there with good help away from the ball and supporting each other.
Offensively, head coach Dan Kraft sees a much-improved team, thanks largely to senior guard Gaven Pantle’s improved court awareness.
“I’m getting more comfortable with the offense and what my pass needs to be,” Pantle said.
Pantle’s maturity and ability to anticipate the pass will help the Tigers move the ball faster. Last year, Encampment averaged 45.6 points per game.
“We are running a lot more, passing a lot more,” Love said. “There’s just a lot more movement.”
When that shot does go up, though, the Tigers will be happy to have three seniors prowling the glass.
“Seniors always have a sense of urgency, and this group has just been unbelievable,” Kraft said. “The teams that win titles always have their eye on that prize.”
To earn that title, Encampment is going to have to solve the riddle posed by Little Snake River and Cokeville the last few years. Encampment swept the rest of their conference opponents the last two seasons, but could not tame the Rattlers and Panthers.
Encampment will count on a little help from their loud fan base - they went 6-3 at home - to keep the team energized.
In the end, the Tigers are in control of their own destiny, and it starts with controlling the boards, limiting turnovers and playing aggressive defensively. Those improvements, Kraft believes, will come a little at a time.
“A coach’s perspective never changes, as long as we’re getting better every day that’s what we need to do,” Kraft said.
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