Houston boys hoops: Discipline key

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

HOUSTON - Rex Weltz, head coach of the Houston High School boys' basketball squad, said his keys to success are no different than any other team in any other sport.

&#8220The keys to our success, to any program, I don't care if you're in the NHL or little league, are discipline and structure,” Weltz said. &#8220It's learning how to play with structure. Not rag-tag. Not an open gym thing. Discipline, structure, (players) knowing their roles and accepting them.”

Knowing the roles might be most important for the Hawks. Wetlz admits he doesn't have a super star. But that's something the Hawks can use to their advantage.

&#8220We don't have the super stars, but we have a lot of kids that are scoring 10 points, 12 points, 15. When you have four of five kids scoring that many points, it's harder to shut down. When you have one super star scoring 28 points a game, you just concentrate on him and have the rest of the team beat you. That's a little easier to defend.

&#8220We're harder to defend,” Weltz said. &#8220We're scrappy. People look at us and go, they don't look like much. But we just seem to find ways to win.”

Leading the Hawks, Weltz said, are forwards Donovan Parker and Kaden Schumway, along with guard David Monteil. Parker and Schumway could be the Hawks most skilled players all-around, and Monteil has become a force at both ends of the floor in just his first season in the Hawk program.

&#8220(David's) our energy,” Monteil said. &#8220He does the things that normally doesn't get into the paper. He's our defensive specialist.”

Monteil also brings speed to the guard position.

&#8220We're pretty fast at the guard,” Weltz said. &#8220We're a quicker team than a bigger team.”

Weltz said since the Hawks are not incredibly big it is important for the Houston wings, players such as Parker and Schumway, to succeed on in the inside, as well as the outside.

&#8220That's what our offense does,” Wetlz said. &#8220We take our big guards and run them off the screen, try to post them up.”

Wetlz said he does have some talent inside, for example center Aaron Conn. But rather than jamming them in right underneath the basket, he wants to bring some versatility to the post position too.

&#8220Our big guys aren't comfortable with their butts to the basket. Our guys like to play their nose to the basket, so it's nice to get them out a little bit,” Weltz said. &#8220That's where they're most comfortable. We're not a big, bruising team. We're more finesse in that respect.”

Other players expected to make an impact for Houston are guards Ryan Thamm and Coco Fredericks, and forwards Quintin Veit and Tyler Strickland.

Houston (6-5) has already scored wins over a 4A squad, Sitka, and beat solid 3A programs such as Anchorage Christian, Valdez and Bethel.