MORENCI —The Morenci boys varsity basketball team enters the 2025-2026 season hoping to turn the corner using groundwork laid over the past two years.
“We are looking to finally get over the hump of what we have been building for multiple seasons,” head coach Garrett Benjamin said.
The Bulldogs finished last season 3-19 (1-11 in league play), winning three of their first five contests before finishing on a 17-game skid.
Senior Talan Kruse is coming off a solid junior campaign that saw him average 11 points and 6 rebounds per game.
“I expect those numbers to look even more lethal this year,” Benjamin said of his senior leader. “His strength and his nose for getting downhill will be great for us.”
Juniors Jonas Castillo and Landon Wilkins are two more players who Benjamin will rely on to put the ball through the hoop. Both are strong shooters and will be utilized in different scoring roles throughout the season.
Point guard duties will fall on junior Skyler Trent and sophomore Drew Joughin. Trent will also be tasked with defending the opposition’s best guard most nights.
Junior Kylan Lester provides athleticism on both ends of the floor for the Bulldogs while he continues to become a more polished player.
Seniors Finn Molitierno and Blake Moran return for their final season and will help provide depth and experience to the team. Molitierno’s athleticism and natural instincts make him a solid defender. Moran will use his size to impact both offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
“Our goal this season is to compete in every capacity,” Benjamin said. “We don’t want to lose any part, even the seemingly tiny nuances the game has inside of it.”
The Bulldogs will start the season on the road at Waldron on Dec. 2. They will open up league play at Sand Creek on Dec. 12.