D-W Boys basketball concludes historic season, look to make more history next year

While they didn’t achieve all their season goals, one of them making the playoffs, it was a season for the history books for this newly combined program between Dayton and Waitsburg and its boys basketball program.

After a winless 2018-2019 basketball season, D-W’s boys basketball team picked up its first victory for the combined programs against Prescott in December and then proceeded to earn league victories against DeSales and Liberty Christian as well as a second non-league victory against Pomeroy for a 4-16 season record and a 2-10 league record.

But the most memorable thing of the season may have been how they won. Their last three victories were all won with three-point buzzer beaters, each by a different player. Monte Pettichord had the honors against Pomeroy, Mason Finney knocked down the winner against Liberty Christian and Dylan Bledsoe was the hero in the season finale against DeSales. All three of whom will return to play for Dayton-Waitsburg next year.

“I felt good about our season,” junior 6-foot-1 Mason Finney said. “I think we really gelled from the beginning to the end of the season. I want to carry the chemistry we built into next season and keep the ball rolling. We can’t regress at the beginning of next year and we need to have a good summer. That’ll be key for next year.”

Finney was correct in his evaluation of the season. The season began rocky as the team struggled with its offense under second-year Head Coach Roy Ramirez. At times it seemed like there was a lid over the basket, especially when at the line shooting free throws. But as the season went along the team did come together and improve its passing and shooting and cut down on the number of turnovers they committed. It was a season of improving as the program continued to get acclimated to the combination.

“We had some great wins and if we started doing this well earlier, we would have gone further,” freshman 5-foot-10 guard Pettichord said. “But we didn’t and all I hope is that we improve and work harder next season.”

That was one thing Dayton-Waitsburg was not lacking in, was those willing to work hard even when things weren’t going its way. They were competitive in most of its contests, even against the top teams of the league. There is no reason why the team can’t make the playoffs next year.

Senior 6-foot Joe White, although graduating, sees good things and enjoyed his time playing this season.

“I had a really great season and I love the team I was able to play alongside,” he said. “I thought that we could have beaten a lot of the teams we played. It just didn’t go the way we wanted.

“The advice I would give would be to go 100 percent the whole time, in games, in practices, in the season and in the off season,” he continued. “Natural skill alone will not carry you through a varsity game, the only thing that will is your own will and desire to win. The only way to beat talent is consistent hard work.”

Dayton-Waitsburg will also be losing two more seniors in 5-foot-11 guard Seamus House and 6-foot forward Tayven Seney. Both were key players on the court with their hard work and their production and leadership will be missed.

“This season was a building season,”jJunior 5-foot-10 shooting guard Colton VanBlaricom said. “We are losing some good posts and a good defender in Josiah White but we’re only losing three seniors. Next season should be a season everyone should be looking forward to -- we have all our guards back and will have two good posts next year as well in Shawn Evans and Wyatt Costello. Next season will be the most memorable season with the experience and determination we have we are looking to make a good run into the playoffs.”

D-W will be bringing a lot of experience back next year in VanBlaricom, Evans, Costello, Finney, Pettichord, as well as Dylan Bledsoe, Keon Lindley, and Benny Bryan.