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.