Coyote Basketball 2017-18

The Dodson Coyotes are looking to turn things around after having two wins in the 2017-18 season, which was an improvement from the previous two seasons, where the team did not post a win against varsity teams.

A few Coyotes were present during the previous seasons and they are even more hungry now than ever. The team retained all five starters from last season but the team has also added new talent that hopes to make an impact immediately.

"We're trying to go ten deep this year," Dodson Coach Frank Benson said. "We have six guys that could all start."

Seniors Jasper Doney and David Jaynes have started for Dodson for the past four seasons since their eighth-grade year at Dodson. Both athletes will see time as forwards but Jaynes doubles as a guard.

"He is strong," Coach Benson said. "He's not the tallest person but he can play guard too."

Like many on the team, Jaynes played over the summer and Coach Benson has noticed a few things that are different with Jaynes this season.

"He's smarter and plays better defense," Coach Benson said. "He is the most patient one of them all and probably sees the floor the best. He's got the most experience and he really wants to win."

Coach Benson went on to praise the selflessness of Jaynes, stating that Jaynes wants to win even if he doesn't score a basket.

"He said 'I just want to win,'" Coach Benson said.

Doney, like Jaynes, has been competitive. One change for Doney will be that Coach Benson hopes to use Doney to spread the floor.

"He is going to post up but he doesn't need to as much," Coach Benson said. "He doesn't have to carry the load. Those two (Jaynes and Doney) used to have to carry the load. They don't have to (anymore). They went from carrying the load to being more like role players."

One reason the team has had the chance to spread the ball around is because of the team's lone All-Conference selection in 2016-17, junior point guard Tyrese Messerly, who has started for Dodson since his eighth-grade year.

"He's just skillful," Coach Benson said. "He can shoot from the outside on a dime and he's got a quick first step and can beat you on the dribble. He can play defense at times. He has really quick feet."

Being the team's point guard, Messerly also displays leadership qualities.

"He's our glue," Coach Benson said. "He keeps everybody together."

Last season Corbin Lonebear started for the Coyotes and proved to be a solid threat in the post. The 6-foot-4 sophomore displayed a capable mid-range game on offense and his height often forced the ball outside on defense.

"We played a lot of games this summer, about 25 in June alone and he wanted to play every game," Coach Benson said. "Corbin and Caleb (Ditmar) went to every game."

Ditmar, a senior who transferred from Harlem High School last school year has been around the team all summer and the guard has been making an impact.

"He's kind of turning into a leader," Coach Benson said.

Another athlete that has proven that he can score points in bunches is sophomore forward Shaun Ball.

"The Great Falls Central coach told me, 'I don't know who to put on that kid,'" Coach Benson said. "If Shaun is really playing and not forcing it, he is un-guardable. You can't put a post on him because he will blow right by him. You can't put a guard on him because he will post them up and you can't put someone his size on him, he's got that first step. The only way he is guardable is if he dribbles too much."

The Coyotes have a lot of young talent coming up as well with sophomore Landis Walker, freshmen Jeramiah Benson and Zerek Jones, and a few eighth graders that are fresh off of an undefeated junior high season that include Michael Jaynes, Kadin Racine, Treyton Stiffarm, Cash KillEagle and Dwight Werk.

Coach Benson is joined by assistant coach Rob Jaynes and managers Tobias Jones, Marty LoneBear and Julian Benson.