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Members of the Sabercats’ varsity basketball team (Lt to Rt) – Head Coach Joe Galish, Thompson Swallow, Johnny Craig, Nick Saults, and Brandon Ventour.
Southeast Valley Ledger
San Tan Foothills High School head coach Joe Galish is quick to point out that his team is not rebuilding after the departure of four-graduated players and an exodus of players who could’ve earned playing time this season.
“I refuse to believe this is a rebuilding year,” Galish recently told theLedger. “Rebuilding years are for teams that don’t win. Perennial winners don’t rebuild, they reload and that’s what we’re doing; if (anyone) thinks we’re rebuilding, (they’re) wrong.”
A core group that Galish believes has the “it” factor includes senior Nick Saults, junior Johnny Craig, and newcomers Thompson Swallow and Brandon Ventour. Each of them figures to log heavy minutes this season. They’re also players who played a lot during the summer, including with some players who are no longer in the program.
“We have to work off the court too,” answered Saults, a three-year varsity player, when asked how the team can prepare for the “ironman minutes,” as Galish called them. “I guess that’s really it.”
The loss of those players in addition to the turnover due to graduation will require the Sabercats to pull up talented but inexperienced players to varsity.
“We’re a little thin at the varsity level,” Galish conceded. “But we have some good young freshmen and sophomores.”
Getting the underclassmen acclimated quickly is a challenge the returning players know is a responsibility that falls on their shoulders.
“We have to teach them everything they need to know and get them up to speed really quick,”
Craig said. “I think as the season goes on they’ll be ready.”
The Sabercats are known for playing tenacious defense – an absolute demand by Galish for players who are going to see the floor – and an up-tempo transition offense.
How can the Cats maintain that style of play with so many new and less experienced players?
“I think I’ll be able to keep up with our style of play,” Swallow responded. “I’m not used to playing slow and I’m a quick learner.”
“(We) have some athletic kids here,” Galish added. “They make lack a little bit in skill sets, but they’re picking it up quick and they’ve shown how coachable they are.”
Saults believes rebounding will be one of the team’s strengths this season and knows the team will play with a chip on their shoulder.
“I think in a lot of games we’re going to go in as the underdog,” he said. “But I believe we’re going to prove some people wrong.”
Teams that reload usually do.
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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