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Poston Butte head coach Noel Nafziger gives instruction during a recent practice.
Kelli Luberda | Ledger
The Broncos working in practice in preparation for their season opener versus Apache Junction on Nov. 23. Kelli Luberda | Ledger
Broncos senior swingman Josh Zaker works on his free throws during practice.
Kelli Luberda | Ledger
Southeast Valley Ledger
The Poston Butte boys’ basketball team made three-straight playoff appearances from 2010-12 before being on the outside-looking-in at the end of each of the last two seasons.
The return of seniors Josh Zaker and Preston Anderson as well as the emergence of 6-foot-7 junior center Tyson Berringer has the Broncos poised to end their two-year playoff absence.
Head coach Noel Nafziger, now in his sixth year leading the Broncos’ program, watched his team finish 13 – 4 during the summer season and believes his team has the pieces to have a special season, but knows it comes down to the players’ executing in games.
“They’re all good kids,” Nafziger said about his team. “I feel really good (that) they know what we expect and how we want to play, so that’s the best thing for me right now.”
Three Broncos entered preseason practice with the opportunity to earn the starting point-guard position, including sophomore Kevin Johnson, junior Tyrik Mayberry, and Zaker – a 6-foot-3 power forward a year ago.
Nafziger conceded all three will see time at the position, but announced Johnson will be the starter heading into the season.
“He’s the most ready right now,” Nafziger said about the sophomore. “It’s not that the other two won’t play it because they can play too, but he’s the one who understands, as a sophomore, what I want.”
“The bottom line is (the players) will determine who’s going to play now,” he continued. “I’ll put them in a position and if they respond they’ll continue to play. If not, then we’ll have to do something else.”
Zaker, who missed almost half of last season due to a leg injury, averaged more than seven points per game and shot 25 percent from the three-point arc as a junior. He’s prepared to run the Broncos’ offense if he’s called upon.
“I’ve been working at it all summer,” said Zaker, who looks like he’s in the best shape of his three-year varsity career. “I’ve been pretty strong with it, so far.”
Theoretically, the Broncos figure to be an offensive team that will challenge opposing defenses.
Zaker and 6-foot-2 shooting guard Preston Anderson, who averaged almost 11 points per game as a junior, give the Broncos a consistent perimeter scoring threat, which will force teams to come out and defend the sharp-shooting duo, leaving room for Berringer to work in the post.
Defensively, the Broncos have some height with Berringer and others, giving them a dimension they haven’t had in recent seasons.
“I’m very excited about the prospect of having kids that can go get rebounds,” Nafziger told theLedgerin July.
The Broncos will find out soon enough how all the pieces will fit together as they open their season on Nov. 23 as the host team of the Poston Butte Thanksgiving Classic, which features eight teams that will each play four games in five days.
Poston Butte, Apache Junction – the Broncos’ first opponent – along with Fountain Hills and Santa Cruz make up Pool A. Walden Grove, Florence, American Leadership Academy, and 2015 Division III State Runner-Up Combs make up Pool B.
The tournament championship and consolation games will be played on Friday, Nov. 27, beginning at 1 p.m.
Preseason tournaments such as the Thanksgiving Classic do not help or hinder teams in the power-point standings, but they do help coaches evaluate their teams before the regular season begins.
“What we want to try to do is get a rotation and find how we’re going to play consistently,” Nafziger said. “We have four games to get an idea of the shots we’re going get when we run (certain plays) and find the things we need to work on defensively.”
Tipoff for the Broncos’ season opener versus Apache Junction is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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