Sanford to lead St. Regis boys basketball team

There is good reason to think the 2021 season will be very promising for the St. Regis High boys basketball team.

In fact, there are five good reasons for optimism.

The Tigers return a solid core of players who advanced to the Western Divisional playoffs last year where they finished fourth after a successful 2019-20 campaign.

Heading that list is senior post Andrew Sanford, a 6-foot-7-inch scoring and rebounding force who delighted fans last year with several thundering dunks.

Sanford will be surrounded by a group of underclassmen who saw considerable playing time for the Tigers last year on their way to a 15-5 record overall and a 6-2 mark in 14C conference play.

Among those returning as projected starters are junior forward Adam Ball, sophomores Tanner Day and Caleb Ball, and freshman John Pruitt.

That core of players was instrumental both off and on the bench throughout last season. Both of the Tigers’ conference losses came to last year’s conference champions from Plains High.

Gone from last year’s roster are two talented players in guard Ian Farris and power forward Nicholas Day, both of whom graduated last spring.

The returning group, however, gives head coach Jesse Allan reason to be optimistic.

“We had a good run last season and made our first appearance at divisionals in quite some time,” Allan said. “We hope to be in a similar position by the end of this season.”

Allan said team speed will be a key to the Tigers’ success this season.

“We like to get up and down the floor and take pride in our work on the defensive end of the court,” Allan said. “Our team is unselfish and shares the ball.”

The young Tigers featured a potent scoring attack last year, with eye-opening play from Pruitt, Caleb Ball and Day.

The Tigers advanced to the divisional round last season after finishing second in district playoff action. St. Regis lost in the opening round of divisional play to eventual champion Manhattan Christian. However, they bounced back in the consolation round with a pair of wins, beating Seeley-Swan 67-28 and downing Harrison-Willow Creek 62-55.

They then lost to Twin Bridges in the consolation final. Both Manhattan Christian and Twin Bridges advanced to the state finals.

One concern for Allan this year will be depth and how fast a talented group of young players progress throughout the year.

“I think we are going to be pretty good this year,” Allan said. “Depth will be an issue but we have some promising young players we hope will develop as the season goes by.”

The boys’ team opens play Friday, Jan. 8, when they take on Hot Springs in a home contest. They travel the short distance down Interstate 90 the following night for a road game against Mineral County rival Superior/Alberton (Clark Fork co-op) in Superior.

“We are hoping to keep everyone healthy,” Allan said. “That will be a key for everyone this year”.