For Camp Verde’s boys basketball team, the first week of the season offered some good and bad news. Fortunately for the Cowboys, the former outweighed the latter, especially in the area where it counts the most.
According to coach Dan Wall, Camp Verde still needs to get into more of a rhythm, especially on the offensive end. That’s the bad news. The good news for the Cowboys is that, on the scoreboard, they’ve generally done a good job of overcoming their early-season struggles.
Camp Verde wrapped up its opening week of action on Friday, Jan. 22, with a 63-49 loss against Rancho Solano Prep. But while things didn’t finish on a good note, the week was overall a positive one, as the loss to the Mustangs followed a 54-51 win over Arizona Lutheran Academy in the season opener and a 63-46 victory against Payson, leaving the Cowboys with a 2-1 record.
“The kids play with good energy and passion — they’ve competed very hard on the defensive end,” Wall said. “We’re definitely not in sync yet offensively. We haven’t shot the ball particularly well either from the free-throw line or the three-point line. Overall, I’ve really enjoyed this group. They’ve played together well. They have a great passion for the game. That’s been showing up well.”
Offensively, junior guard Chino Salas-Zorrilla has been the driving force. While his shooting percentages [42.9% on field goals, 25% on threes, 70.6% on free throws] could be better, he’s found a way to score 24 points in all three games, leading the Cowboys each time. Salas-Zorrilla’s lower shooting percentages than normal weren’t completely unexpected, either, as he had been limited in practice in recent weeks while rehabbing a broken wrist.
Junior Cristoph Castro has been the only other Camp Verde player in double-digit point totals in all three games, scoring 10 against the Coyotes, 13 against the Longhorns and 12 against the Mustangs. Castro has also averaged a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game. That included a 10-rebound effort against the Longhorns to secure a double-double. Additionally, his 3.3 steals per game also lead Camp Verde.
“Cristoph is stepping into a role and playing tough,” Wall said. He’s playing well defensively and finishing well, attacking the rim.”
While he hasn’t finished any game with a double-digit total in any statistic, Mason Rayburn — the team’s only senior — has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Cowboys. Over the first three games, he’s averaged 4.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.0 steals. In the win over Payson, Rayburn put up seven points, six rebounds and six steals.
“Mason has been a stud for us defensively,” Wall said of the senior. “He plays with a high level of energy and gives us great rebounds and second chance opportunities.”
One of the challenges that the Cowboys are facing this year is having to play with masks. Teams were generally not practicing in masks until Tuesday, Jan. 12, when the Arizona Interscholastic Association executive board reversed its initial decision and voted to have a winter sports season with the mandate that masks be worn at all times.
It’s taken some getting used to. Though, as Wall noted, the Cowboys are hardly alone, with every one of their opponents also dealing with the same new obstacle.
“It’s an adjustment — just like everybody else,” Wall said. “It’s not like it’s just us that has to figure this thing out. As we keep going, they’ll keep adjusting and figuring this thing out. It’s going to be a process.”
Three more games await the Cowboys this week. They’ll be on the road on Tuesday, Jan. 26, against Chino Valley and again on Thursday, Jan. 28, against Wickenburg. Both of those games will start at 7 p.m. The next home game will be on Friday, Jan. 29, against Fountain Hills for a 5p.m. start. Aside from two guardians for each home game, spectators are not permitted this season. The Camp Verde home games can be seen on the NFHS network, although a paid subscription is required.
Playing with masks and having limited fans does definitely give this season a different feel from ones in the past and, hopefully, the future. Still, the Cowboys are happy to be on the floor. That’s an attitude that Wall has heard a lot of when talking to opposing coaches, as well.
“We’re super excited to be playing games,” he said. “We’ve heard that sentiment all over the place. Masks, no masks, we’re happy to see the kids out there competing and getting a chance to play.”
