Hittson wants run-and-gun THS squad

Though longtime Tucumcari boys basketball coach John Span is sitting out this season, don't expect many changes as his assistant coach from last season, Gary Hittson, takes over the helm.

Span decided this fall to temporarily step down from his post because he's recovering from major cancer surgery in August. It would have been Span's 21st season.

Hittson, a veteran coach himself, said he'd been in touch occasionally with Span over the summer, but their philosophies remain mostly similar regarding the team.

"Maybe we'll throw in a new wrinkle here or there, but we're basically doing the same stuff," Hittson said during an interview before practice last week.

Matthew Garcia is Hittson's assistant coach this season.

The Rattlers' first game is at 9:30 a.m. Thursday against the host team of the West Las Vegas Shootout tournament. The Tucumcari boys' first home game won't be until Dec. 21, when it hosts Raton.

One thing that may hamper the Rattlers early in the season is injuries.

Sophomore Daymion Urioste, slated to be the team's point guard, will sit out about a month on doctor's orders because of knee problems stemming from football season.

Hittson said sophomore Luis Archuleta is penciled in as point guard for the time being.

The Rattlers also will be without freshman guard Eric Acosta, who will undergo knee surgery on Thursday and be out for six to eight weeks, and sophomore guard Adan Diaz, awaiting a doctor's clearance to play after an ankle injury.

Hittson said he wants a run-and-gun approach with his team.

"We're going to run when we can ... really, we want to run a lot," he said. "We want to get the ball up and down the floor. Last year, we had a lot of problems when we had to set up a structured halfcourt offense. So we're working on running a little bit."

Hittson noted 6-foot-4 sophomore center Kamren Apodaca - one of the team's top scorers last season - and 6-foot-2 junior forward Julian Griego will figure prominently in the transition game because their speed and size will put pressure on opposing guards.

On defense, Hittson said "we're going to press when we can," adding the team probably isn't in good enough shape yet to run that defense for an entire game.

The Rattlers lost last season's point guard Curtis Gonzales - one of the team's top scorers - and guard Tyrus Jones to graduation.

Though Tucumcari's 9-17 record didn't look impressive, the Rattlers remained in contention for a district title until the last week of the season.

Hittson said Ruidoso, which won the district championship last year, probably will be down due to a lot of seniors graduating. He said New Mexico Military Institute always is a wildcard because its regular influx of transfer students.

He said Dexter, which finished in the bottom of the district standings last season, probably will be a contender. Freshman guard CJ Granados was the star quarterback for the playoff-qualifying Demons in football.

"I think Dexter's is going to be tough. Hopefully, we'll be there," Hittson said.

Other teams

The Logan boys basketball team will begin its season Thursday against Whitharral, Texas, at the Dora Tournament. Its first home game will be against San Jon on Dec. 9.

San Jon will open its season on Dec. 1 with a road game at Santa Rosa. Its first home game will be on Dec. 5 against Dora.