Midnight Madness

Otero Basketball Players Get Introduced.

The start of basketball season is a joyous occasion. This past Monday, the Otero Men's Basketball team, along with their fellow students, faculty, and staff celebrated the beginning of a new journey with Midnight Madness. Nearly 300 people attended the event that included some full-court drills, 3 pt and knockout contests, and finished with a raucous dunk contest. The first 100 students that showed up received free Rowdy Rattler t-shirts. The event started at 10pm but students were already lined up outside the McDivitt Center at 930pm. Elliott Hamdeed, a sophomore from Colorado Springs, won the 3 pt contest by hitting 31 3's in 2:30 minutes. Coach Reed proved he is still deadly from the outside by winning a hotly contested knockout competition. Students won free t-shirts, hoodies, gift cards, and one lucky student won a 32 inch flat screen TV. The highlight of the night was the dunk contest. Seven different Rattler players competed and wowed the crowd. Kentwan Smith, sophomore from the Bahamas, won the top prize by dunking over Coach O'Connor for his first dunk and then going between his legs JR Rider style for his second dunk. This was the first year that Otero MBB has had Midnight Madness, but the evening was so successful that it will probably become a staple on the first night in October.

Kentwan Smith Dunks Over Coach O'C.

Alex Padgett Competes in 3pt Contest.

Another Journey Begins...2012-2013 Season Preview

Returning Sophomore Perryonte Smith

In the upcoming 2012-2013 season, the Otero Junior College Rattlers will look to defend their Region IX Championship. Led by seventh-year head coach Houston Reed, the Rattlers have returned seven sophomores from last year’s roster. That number can be misleading because only three of those players gained genuine playing experience. For some added experience, the Rattlers added four transfers to the team. Five true freshmen will complete the roster. “This group is as talented as any group we have assembled in my tenure here,” said Reed. “The challenge for this group will be fulfilling specific roles, playing as a collective group, and forming an identity that includes toughness."

Returning Sophomore Chris Strong

The Rattlers will be not be returning any starters from last year’s 2012 championship team. Perryonte Smith, Chris Strong, and Lathan Lieb all saw consistent action as freshmen. Kallen Link worked hard in the off season to improve his stock. Yoshio Allen missed much of last season with any injury,  Elliott Hamdeed and Andre Reider will give the roster added depth.  “We will need this group to fulfill a lot of different roles that are equally important,” Reed commented.

The Rattlers added four transfers. Kentwan Smith and Daniel Hield are both natives of Freeport, Bahamas. Smith competed at division one Louisiana-Lafayette last year, while Hield was at Odessa College. Terrell Brown transferred from division one South Dakota and was 5A metro player of the year in Colorado Springs in 2010-11. Point guard Jason Armstead was at Cowley County Community College previously and red-shirted at Otero last spring. Reed stated, “This group of guys really need to get everything out of this season. Their additions could be what puts us in contention."

On the freshman side, Chris Golden is an all-state guard out of Milwaukee. The Rattlers kept the New Mexico connection alive by gaining sharp shooter James Healy from Cibola High School. The freshmen class is completed by adding three Colorado natives in Derek Hillyer from Bayfield, Nick Ongarato from Broomfield, and Alex Padgett from Fruita. Reed commented, “We love this group of guys. We feel they embody the foundation of the program and are great fits here at Otero."

The South Sub-Region IX will now be playing all their opponents in a home-home match up this season. Now giving the Rattlers sixteen conference games. Reed elaborated, “From our analysis Region IX has a lot of good teams this year. We understand the type of effort and execution we’ll need to play with daily to be one of those teams."

Rattlers Shine in Showcases

Four members of the Otero Junior College Men's Basketball program competed in high level showcases this summer. Point guard Perryonte Smith (Milwaukee, Wis), forward Kentwan Smith (Freeport, Bahamas), and post-player Daniel Hield(Freeport, Bahamas) all participated in the 2012  Jerry Mullens Junior College Showcase in St. Louis Missouri on July 14th. All three players will be sophomores for the Rattlers next season and were invited to play in this prestigious JUCO event. Hundreds of 4-year college coaches were on hand to check out some of the best junior college prospects in America.

Also, returning strong-forward Chris Strong (Albuquerque, NM) played in the All-American JUCO Showcase located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event took place during the last weekend in July and was well attended by 4-year college coaches from the highest levels.

The Rattlers will be depending on big contributions from all four of these sophomores as they begin the challenge of defending their 2012 Region IX Championship.

Rattlers Finish Recruiting Class

The Otero Men's Basketball team has finished off its 2012-13 recruiting class with the signing of three more players. These players join the previous six signees. The Rattlers lost 8 sophomores last season to graduation, and are looking at this recruiting class to give a major boost after winning the 2012 Region IX title. Head Coach Houston Reed commented, “These three guys really add to this recruiting class. We feel like we have collected a talented group of student-athletes to represent Otero. Time will tell how they will play as a collective group and what type of toughness we’ll play with. We have some returners coming back as well that we feel really good about. We are looking forward to the fall."

Chris Golden – Milwaukee, WI

Golden is a 6’2” scoring guard from Wisconsin Lutheran High School, which finished the season 16-9 and won their conference for the seventh year in a row. Chris averaged 16.4 points per game while making 49 threes.  He was selected the unanimous conference player of the year along with being selected to the all-state team. Chris was coveted by several division one schools receiving interest from Northern Colorado, Montana, Eastern Kentucky, Northern Illinois, South Dakota, amongst others. He was also recruited by Labette and Indian Hills junior colleges. Coach Reed added, “Chris can score the ball in a variety of ways. Junior college ended up being part of his journey and we are happy his choice was Otero. He scores well off the bounce, is an unselfish player and person, and has a nice offensive feel for the game. He obviously comes from a very winning and well coached program completing his package as a player."

                     

                                                                 Daniel Hield, Freeport, Bahamas

Hield is a 6’10” 300 pound post player from the Bahamas. Daniel was a reserve post player last year for Odessa College in Texas. Odessa finished the season with a 24-8 record and when there was a coaching change Hield looked to transfer schools. Daniel has a definite presence in the post. He is big, has nice hands and feet, and moves well for being as big as he is. He will have one year of eligibility at Otero. “We are excited about having big Daniel next season. He will give us some added experience in the post after losing two sophomores in the post last season. There are not a lot of players in our region with Daniel’s size. He will add to our depth and give us an added weapon in the post to utilize. We are looking forward to working with him. He’s a great kid and will fit our culture at Otero,” Reed stated.

                                                     Kentwan Smith, Freeport, Bahamas

Smith is a 6’8, 205 pound forward originally from the Bahamas. Smith spent last season at division one Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt conference. He prepped at Piney Woods in Mississippi where they won a state championship his senior year. In 2011, he was rated as a top 15 prospect in the state of Mississippi. Smith decided to transfer to Otero to find a better fit. Coach Reed had this to say, “Kentwan plays facing the basket. He will give us some length and athleticism, along with some experience in the wing position. He saw some playing time last season at a high level. He has a great work ethic and I strongly believe his best basketball is still in front of him. We look forward to continuing his growth at Otero in his year of eligibility here."

Rattlers Reload for 2012-2013

Coming off an unprecedented championship run, the Rattlers have added a deep recruiting class that will try to replace the 8 sophomores that were lost to graduation. Head Coach Houston Reed is pleased to announce this first list of future Otero Junior College basketball players...the rest of this year's class will be released shortly.

Alex Padgett – a 6’3” guard from Fruita Monument , CO. Alex was part of three Southwestern Conference championships in his career, only losing one conference game in his playing career. The Wildcats finished the season with a 21-4 record. Alex averaged 17.7 ppg and 3.4 apg as a senior earning recognition as a 1st team all-conference selection, and he was also selected as an all-tournament player in every tournament the Wildcats played in this season. Alex was also recently selected as Kiwanas Student of the month. Alex also received recruitment from Colorado Mesa University, Metro State, and UCCS. “Alex embodies the type of player and person we want as a student-athlete at Otero. His improvement as we watched him develop in high school makes us believe he can immediately impact our program and will earn a division one scholarship from Otero. We ultimately were attracted to him by his work ethic, character, unselfishness and obviously his ability to play,” head coach Houston Reed commented.

Nick Ongarato – a 6’3” guard from Broomfield, CO. Broomfield High School advanced to the 4A Final Four and completed the season with a 24-2 record. Nick averaged 12.2 ppg, and 2.3 apg, making 88 threes this season earning him first team all-conference and all-state honorable mention. He was also selected as an all-state football player. Nick also received recruitment from Eastern Wyoming, Colorado State-Pueblo, and several junior colleges in California where he has family living. “We have been recruiting Nick for quite awhile. He’s a winner. Broomfield was one of the best teams in the state this year large in part to his contributions. Nick comes up with big plays at opportune times; rather if it’s hitting a shot, pulling a rebound or getting the ball where it’s suppose to go. His toughness and winning attitude makes him a great fit here.” head coach Houston Reed commented.

Mando Marshall – a 6’5” forward from Las Cruces, NM. Las Cruces High School finished the season with a 24-5 record qualifying for the state tournament. Mando averaged 16 ppg and 7.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, shooting 60 percent from the floor. He was named district 3-5A player of the year, was a first team all-state selection as a senior, and selected to play in the prestigious New Mexico North-South all-star game. He was selected as a first team all-district player three straight years. Mando received recruitment from many division one schools throughout the year. He also was recruited by Cochise and Northeastern before choosing Otero. “We fell in love with Mando when we set eyes on him. He has great athletic ability. He has a grit and toughness to him we really like. We really like his ability to finish around the rim and play in transition. Coach Benjamin has done a great job with him and we are excited to work with him and watch him continue to develop his game and grow as a player,” head coach Houston Reed commented.

James Healy – a 6’3” shooter from Cibola High School in Albuquerque, NM. Cibola High School finished the season with a 20-7 record spending the year as a top ranked team. James averaged 21 ppg, shooting 43 percent from three on the season. James was recognized as district 1-5A player of the year, 2nd team all-state, and 1st team all-metro. James maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout all four years of high school. He was also recruited by Cochise, E. New Mexico, and University of South Dakota. “James shoots the eyes out of the basketball. He has deep range and a pure stroke. He has a great feel for the game and is great and reading screens and making basketball choices. He’s a high character kid that has a second to none work ethic which makes us feel like he’s a great fit,” head coach Houston Reed commented.

Derek Hillyer – a 6’9” post from Bayfield, CO. Though Bayfield had an up and down season, Derek was a solid contributor throughout the season. The post from Bayfield averaged 15.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.5 blocks per game for the Wolverines. Derek was recognized as first team all-conference player. He also received recruiting attention from Fort Lewis and Western State. “We believe that Derek’s best basketball is still in front of him. He has a lot of tools that with polish can make him a high level player at the collegiate level. He comes from a strong basketball background. We are excited to see him develop and grow”, commented head coach Houston Reed.

Tyler Shetterly -6’6” post/forward prepped at Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD. The Warriors finished the season with a 15-9 record making it to the final four in the state tournament. Tyler averaged 13.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 2 blocks per game earning him first team all-conference and all-city honors. He received recruiting interest from Augustana, Northwestern Iowa, and Upper Iowa before choosing Otero. “Every guy we talked to says Tyler plays his tail off. He has the ability to score and finish one on one on the block. He can stretch you out to 15 feet with his jumper. We were drawn to him by his intangibles, sealing in the post, running the floor, and constantly pursing rebounds,” said head coach Houston Reed.

Three More Sophomores Move On...

Following an incredible season that finished with 30 wins, a Region IX Championship, and an appearance in the Elite 8 of the NJCAA Tournament, Otero Mens' Basketball is proud to announce that all 8 sophomores have signed to further their careers at 4-year institutions.

Dylan Fritsch, the 6'6 sniper from Albuquerque, will attend Jacksonville University. He will leave Otero 13th on the all-time scoring list (1 pt ahead of Coach Houston Reed).  Dylan finished his career with 164 made 3 pt field goals. He made countless clutch shots for Otero during his two-year span as a player. If there was a big shot to be made, Dylan always stepped up and buried it. Coach Reed had this to say about Dylan, "We are going to miss watching Dylan shoot the basketball. He has one of the purest strokes I have ever seen. He grew up a lot here at Otero both on and off the floor and we will miss his enthusiasm and upbeat personality." Jacksonville University is a Division I institution which competes in the Atlantic Sun conference. Dylan will face off against former Otero teammate Oscar Garcia when Jacksonville plays Lipscomb University twice next season. Fritsch chose Jacksonville over a number of other Division I and Division II programs. 

Taylor Shaffer, the 6'4 shooting guard, will be attending Colorado Mesa University on a full football scholarship. The Pagosa Springs, CO native was a standout football and basketball player in high school and chose to play basketball for the Rattlers the past two seasons. Taylor's toughness and leadership have been critical to the success of Otero basketball the last two years. He was elected as a team captain and his work ethic and team attitude are second to none.  Taylor will take those attributes into being a terrific college quarterback. Coach Reed commented on Taylor, "Nobody worked harder or invested more than Taylor. His servant-leadership and unselfishness will help him be a great quarterback. Taylor will be a highly successful person after his athletic career is over, and we will miss him greatly in our program." 

Anthony Johnson has decided to continue his basketball career at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. Johnson, the 6'10 sophomore from Houston, had interest from several Division I and II programs after his stellar play at the Region IX and NJCAA National Tournaments. AJ aka "Big Boy" battled immense personal adversity while at Otero and he made himself into the player he is today. He fulfilled his role of rebounding, screening, protecting the rim, and was a great presence in the post. He will be remembered for contributing huge minutes in the Rattlers title run, especially his tip-in at the end of the first half vs. Miles City in the Region IX Semifinal as well as grabbing 6 tough rebounds in the National Quarterfinal game vs. NW Florida State. Coach Reed had this to say about AJ, "Anthony is like a son to me. What he went through in his personal life would have caused many people to quit. AJ didn't. He simply worked harder and invested more into himself and our program. He is one of the best people I have ever known and we were truly blessed to have him for two years." 

McKenzie and Archuleta join forces at Ft. Lewis

If you watched Otero play this year, you may have noticed how well the Rattlers played with one another. It was an extremely cohesive group that played more like a four-year school than a junior college. And now, two of those Rattlers will continue their playing careers together at perennial Division II power, Fort Lewis College. Wes McKenzie (Colorado Springs, CO) and Lucas Archuleta (Rio Rancho, NM) both signed with the Skyhawks this past April. Associate Head Coach Bob Pietrack and Head Coach Bob Hofman are getting two of the best guards in all of Region IX. The tandem started every game this season and their back to back And One buckets versus Sheridan in the Region IX Tournament will not be forgotten any time soon.

Wes McKenzie started every game for Otero this season. He averaged 10 ppg while shooting 52% from the field and 46% from beyond the arc. Wes was also responsible for defending the opponents best perimeter player on a nightly basis. McKenzie hit numerous big shots for the Rattlers this season including three straight 3's in a home win over North Platte, a go-ahead 3 on the road at Northeastern, and a game winner in the NJCAA Tournament against Wabash Valley. Wes turned down a Division I offer to play for Fort Lewis.  He'll be remembered for his toughness, leadership, and being the best cutter we have ever coached. Coach Reed commented, "We were very fortunate to have Wes in our program for two years. The amount of work he put in the off-season before his sophomore season was unbelievable. He was our unquestioned leader. I'll miss being able to watch him compete on a daily basis."  

Lucas Archuleta was 2nd on the team in scoring and assists with 10.7 ppg and 3.7 apg respectively. His offensive versatility was crucial for the Rattlers this past season. Lucas can get to the rim, bury a pull-up jumper, or drain a 3 on any given possession. He also possesses terrific court vision and routinely made great passes that led to easy buckets for his teammates. Lucas made his fair share of big shots throughout his career. Perhaps none bigger than his made 3 point shot against Casper with less than 2 minutes remaining in the Region IX Championship game. The shot put Otero up by 4 points and the Rattlers eventually prevailed 73-70. Coach Reed remarked, "Lucas grew up a lot here at Otero. As a player he stretched and improved his game, but it was his personal growth that was most impressive. I couldn't be prouder to be his Coach."

Three Rattlers Sign With Division One Schools

Following an amazing season in which Otero won 30 games, won the Region IX Championship, and advanced to the NJCAA Elite 8, three Rattler players have signed with Division I institutions. Brandon Harris, Adam Link, and Oscar Garcia will all play at college basketball's highest level next season. We are very proud of these guys because they bought into the team concept and never got caught up in caring about their own stats or accomplishments. All three are tough kids that just want to compete and win. We will miss them, but we know that they will do great things at their next school.

Brandon Harris will attend Western Kentucky University next fall. The point guard averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in the 2011-2012 campaign. Harris also provided tremendous defensive pressure for the Rattlers. He broke the school record for steals in a season with 90. Brandon had over 20 Division I offers but chose to play for Coach Ray Harper and become a Hilltopper. Coach Reed had this to say about Brandon, "We are very happy for Brandon and wish him the best of luck at Western Kentucky. He did a great job of running our team this year and I'll miss watching him guard the ball full court. He is a great player, but a great person as well."

Adam Link will move on to Western Illinois University. The sophomore shot an amazing 61% from the field and led Otero in points and rebounds this season with 12 ppg and 8 rpg, respectively. Adam's athleticsm and versatilty were huge for the Rattlers during their championship run. He had several Divsion I offers but decided to become a Leatherneck and play for a tremendous coach in Jim Molinari at WIU. Adam will be remembred by many in La Junta for his ridiculous dunks and athletic blocks. Coach Reed remarked, "Adam is a phenomenal person that has worked to become the player he is today. The toughness he displayed this year will be something I will always remember."

Oscar Garcia, the 6'7 post from El Paso, TX has signed with Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. Garcia was the defensive anchor for the Rattlers this past season and led the team in charges taken for the past two years. Also, "O" averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds this year. He will become a Bison next fall and play for Coach Scott Sanderson. Oscar will be remembered for his constant hustle, fearless attitude, and his huge putbacks that finished the Miles City game and which put the Rattlers into the Region IX Championship game. Coach Reed commented, "Oscar may be the toughest player I have ever coached. He is someone that you want in your foxhole. He is loved by everyone that knows him, especially his teammates. We will miss him greatly."

 

Reed Wins Coach of the Year Honors

Otero Head Coach Houston Reed

After his team's remarkable 2011-2012 season, Houston Reed was honored with several Coach of the Year awards. He was named Region IX South Sub-Region Coach of the Year, Region IX Coach of the Year, and District 9 Coach of the Year. The first two awards were voted on by fellow coaches in Region IX. The District 9 honor was given to Coach Reed at the NJCAA National Tournament Awards Banquet in Hutchinson, Kansas. Otero finished the season with a 30-6 record, won the first Region IX Championship in program history, and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NJCAA Tournament. 


Coach Reed commented on his honors, "I am humbled to be recognized with these awards and accomplishments. There are a lot of great coaches in Region IX. It makes it easier when you have assistant coaches that contribute so much, and talented, hard working players always make coaches look better."  

Ratters Recieve Post-Season Awards

Numerous Rattlers were given awards after an impressive 2011-2012 season. Otero finished with a record of 30-6, won the 2012 Region IX Tournament, and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NJCAA Tournament. Here our some of the honors:



Adam Link (Colorado Springs, CO)- Region IX 1st Team, NJCAA Tournament 1st team.



Oscar Garcia (El Paso, TX)- Region IX All-Tournament.

Brandon Harris (Oklahoma City, OK)- Region IX All-Tournament, NJCAA Tournament Sportsmanship Award.



Wes McKenzie (Colorado Springs, CO)- Region IX 3rd Team, Region IX All-Tournament.



A Season To Remember: 2012 Otero Rattlers

The 2011-2012 season will go down as the greatest season in Otero Men's basketball history. The Rattlers finished the season 30-6, won the Region IX Championship, and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NJCAA Tournament. Led by Head Coach, Houston Reed, this year's team will be remembered for how hard they played, their unselfish attitude offensively, and their suffocating defense (59.6 ppg allowed). The eight sophomores (Wes McKenzie, Oscar Garcia, Taylor Shaffer, Lucas Archuleta, Dylan Fritsch, Brandon Harris, Adam Link, and Anthony Johnson) took ownership of this team and weren't going to settle for anything less than a Region IX Championship.

REGION IX TOURNAMENT

Otero finished the regular season with a 25-4 record and the 2nd seed in the South Sub-Region. The magical run began in Scottsbluff, Nebraska (Western Nebraska hosted) when the Rattlers defeated Gillette College 81-59 in the first round of the tournament.  Adam Link had an electic performance with 27 points and 11 rebounds.  Next, Otero defeated a tough Sheridan team 83-72 to advance to the Final 4. Point guard play was huge for the Rattlers as Brandon Harris had 17 pts and Perryonte Smith chipped in 12 pts. The game was finished off with back to back buckets by Wes McKenzie and Lucas Archuleta. Otero then faced Miles City in the Semi-Final of the Region IX tournament.Wes McKenzie led the way with 21 pts and freshman Chris Strong poured in 13 pts with 10 of them coming in the first half. The Rattlers were able to seal the game with two huge put-backs by Oscar Garcia. Otero would now face Casper College in the first ever Championship game appearance for the Rattlers. The game was a heavy-weight fight with both teams trading punches. The Rattlers led by as many as 16 points in the 2nd half but Casper trimmed the Otero lead to a mere point with 12 seconds remaining. The Rattlers finally broke the T-Bird press and Perryonte Smith scored a lay-up to put Otero up three points with 2.8 seconds remaining. Casper had a half-court shot attempt, but it went wide and a chaotic celebration ensued for the Rattlers. That night in Scottsbluff will be cherished by everyone involved.



HUTCH...

Just days after winning the first Region IX Championship in program history, the Rattlers were on a bus headed to the most sought after desination in all of junior college basketball: Hutchinson, Kansas. The NJCAA tournament is always held in Hutch and it was a spectacular experience for our team. Our team host, Buck Lyle, did an tremendous job of making our stay special. The Rattlers drew a tough Wabash Valley team in the first round. Otero led for almost the entire game, but Wabash tied the score with 40 seconds remaining. Fortunately, Wes McKenzie buried a contested 17ft jump shot with 5 seconds left. Wabash took a last second shot, but it was off-line and the Rattlers advanced to the Elite 8. Otero faced Northwest Florida St. for a chance to go to the NJCAA Final 4. The Rattlers led NW Florida, the #2 in the Nation, for much of the game. However, NW Florida made a few more plays in the end and were able to beat the Rattlers 77-71. The next day, Otero faced Columbia State for the right to keep playing for 5th and 6th place. While Otero held an 8 point advantage at half time, the Rattlers ran out of gas in the 2nd half and were defeated 79-67.  

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Coming into this season, our players bought into the idea of having high expectations for themselves and one another. They worked to improve daily as individuals and as a group. As coaches we wish we could take credit for what our team did this season. We cannot. Our players had shared suffering, shared ownership, individual responsibilty and collective pride. As coaches, we were simply along for the ride. And it was an unforgettable journey.