Baker boys hoops in waiting game

The success of the Baker football team annually means the boys basketball program gets a later start than most programs because many of the players are still playing football into December.

But, that’s something Woods is prepared to handle.

“Really the deeper into the playoffs the football team goes the better we’ll be in the long run,” Woods said. “That just means the younger kids get more experinec in practice and the preseason. It gives me more time with the young kids fundamentally.

“The things we work on during the preseason are geared toward having things ready by Jan. 1,” he said.

When the entire squad takes the floor together Dekker Smith, Jesse Brown, Trace Richardson, Derek Blankenship and B.J. Quintana return from last year’s Greater Oregon League co-championship team.

Woods said his plans are to go with a core group of eight players on both the varsity and junior varsity teams.

“They will compete with each other in practice, then we’ll pull up between two and four JV players to fill out our roster during games,” he said.