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."