Coyote Basketball 2021-22

The Dodson Coyotes Basketball team welcomes back plenty of talent in their 2021-22 campaign but the team also welcomes a new head coach to their program.

The Coyotes will be led by Head Coach Ro Wiggins, who moved to Dodson from Idaho earlier this year. Wiggins replaces Frank Benson who led Dodson to the Eastern C Divisional in three straight seasons. Coach Benson will be coaching the Wolf Point Lady Wolves girls basketball season this year.

So far in the season, the Coyotes have posted a 63-60 overtime win over the Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds. The game was played on Friday, December 3. The team had an impromptu off week, this past week. The team instead hosted a team meet-and-greet to introduce the community to the Coyotes and Lady Coyotes.

This year's team will be without Zerek Jones and Jeramiah Benson, who graduated last spring. The team will also be without Juliun Benson who transferred to Wolf Point.

The Coyotes welcome back a few athletes with starting experience including junior guards Michael Jaynes and Alex Werk, Kadin Racine, and Dwight Werk.

The team also welcomes back Cash KillEagle, Tanner Ball, Treyten Stiffarm, and Sebastian Best who played minutes last season. Newcomers to the team include Junior Stiffarm, Rope Healy, Conan Cuts the Rope and Michael Turnsplenty.

"I truly believe that in order to have the type of season that produces the best results we will need a strong bench," Coach Wiggins said.

Though Jaynes, A. Werk, and Racine were named captains early in the season, Coach Wiggins knows that any of his starters can rise to the occasion.

"When it comes to our starters I believe each and everyone of them have the ability to lead, if they choose," Coach Wiggins said. "It's been made clear that I strive for progression and consistency. Many of these players haven't tapped into their true potential yet due to being limited mentally through lack of confidence. In just a few short weeks of practices I believe players are starting to find that "freedom to play through mistakes" in turn, many are developing better leadership skills."

Coach Wiggins was asked to talk about his starters. He started with Jaynes, who is the team's point guard.

"Mikey Jaynes isn't the most vocal at times but you'll never have to question his heart," Coach Wiggins said. "He leads by example and will be in a great position to guide a lot of our young guys."

He said that Racine will provide the team with energy on the defensive end and he knows that he has not yet shown his true potential.

"I truly believe that if we stick to defensive principles we can stay in any game," Coach Wiggins said. "Even if he's having an off shooting night he will find a way to leave an impact on the game through his efforts on the defensive end."

He also said that Werk spaces the floor for the team. He talks of his toughness that would make local ranchers proud.

"I know he won't hesitate to shoot the ball with confidence and he's rose up to my challenge of being a more vocal leaders for the next wave of underclassmen," Coach Wiggins said. "His physicality as a guard is a great testament to his rodeo background."

According to Coach Wiggins, Cash KillEagle has made the argument of being the team's best inside-outside player.

"If I need him to bang down low like a "big", he can get it done," he said. "If I need him to step away from the basket and make long distance shots, he can do that as well."

Lastly, for the starters, Dwight Werk was mentioned.

"Dwight Werk can single handily take over games without scoring a point," Coach Wiggins said. "Although, I expect (him to score many points with) his mixture of size and the ability to move his feet will be great for us on both ends of the floor."