Tigers season begins Saturday

The Mountain Home Tigers open their basketball season Saturday night at Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian.

Mountain Home finished the season 6-15 last year.

Tiger head basketball coach Tony Kerfoot, discussing this year's turnout for basketball, described it as "not too bad."

"We lost a couple guys that basically decided they didn't want to play that bad -- I think that's a natural attrition that you have in a high school program."

On the other hand, he said, "we had quite a few guys that put some time in last summer. I'm excited about what I've seen and the progress that I've seen, and we're not looking too bad right now.

"I have high expectations for Anthony Castillo, Tyler Wright and Aaron Hobbs. Anthony Barboza has outstanding skills and could make a big impact. J.T. Cristobal returns to solidify the guard spots."

Tyler Wright was second in scoring last year for the Tigers as a junior. He had 155 points (7.4 ppg) and led the team with 126 rebounds (6.0 pg). Anthony Castillo was third in scoring with 119 points (5.7 ppg).

Coach Kerfoot sees Skyview as the team to beat once again in the SIC 4A, but believes his Tigers can challenge them.

"I've got to pick Skyview to be at the top. I think they have the Player of the Year -- probably the decade -- Kyle Dranginis., He's already signed his full scholarship to Gonzaga. He's a pretty good ball player, and it's pretty easy to build around him, and I think they will be very tough.

"One of our games last summer we happened to meet up with Skyview, and it probably turned into being one at a tournament where everybody in the gym just started fumbling around into that gym and watched that game -- that was the marquee game. We ended up losing that one by one point, but it had the intensity, not of a summer league game, it was the intensity of a district tournament type game, and that's where I get the idea I think we can compete with anybody in our league.

"I think we're right there. Obviously, we have to have the right chemistry, the right work ethic, and if we get that, I think there's no limit to how far we can go."

The Tigers' opener at Rocky Mountain is "going to be real, real early," said Kerfoot with a laugh.

"We're pushing to try to get ready for that. We've got a little rust to kick off and we'll see where we go and how far we are along at that time. It's very difficult to get ready to play games in November, but at the same time, it should be difficult for them, so we'll see where we're at there."

The Tigers play their home opener Tuesday night against Mountain View.