Team Preview: Cimarron Spartans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It may be difficult for some to remember, but Cimarron was a dominant team last year. The Spartans went undefeated in the Sky Division and qualified for the 4A State Final Four with a convincing win at home over Cheyenne. Still, they get very little respect as most around the city consider their appearance more of a result of their division vs their talent. What does that mean for HC Darryl Branham? "You still have to play us" The coach is less concerned with looking ahead to conference play and more concerned with seeing which of his players could survive one of his notoriously grueling practices. Players took turns defending and charges were encouraged and rewarded. The coach runs his team with military precision, as time score and situation drills are emphasized heavily, and competition is a natural team trait. At Cimarron, losers are rewarded with runs, while winners learn to support their teammates. Watching him in his black hoodie, putting his team through situational drills, it's difficult not to see the resemblance of legendary Patriot coach Bill Belichick. Like it or not the Spartans are back, and yes they are heavy favorites to win the Sky again and make another Final Four Run. In this article, we preview the Cimarron Spartans. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Returners: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1277108"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Branham played well in the workout. He made good decisions all day. He'll defend both backcourt sports as well as provide some shooting for the team. He's a high IQ guy, whose intellegence shows up on the defensive end.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1308369"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"McDaniels wasn't available for the workout, but he's going to be one of the key players for the Spartans. Long athletic defender, that will help provide leadership and a defensive edge to the squad.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1384285"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Mitchell is coming back from injury, and also wasn't available during the practice. He's a good link between the defensive minded guards of the present, and the more offensive minded guards of the future.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6375bafab23cc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Newcomers: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1336295"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Patterson is one of the most unique players in the state and he proved it even more during the workout. I kept waiting for him to travel on one of his post moves, but he showed terrific footwork, using his pivots to freeze defenders before finishing around the hoop with his left hand.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1336299"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I've gotten to see quite a bit of Rone during the AAU season, so it was a lot of fun watching him with his high school team. He didn't disapoint, using his signature skill to get out and finish in transition. If you see him play, one thing that you should expect is that he's going to finish with two hands off one foot. Rone provides the Spartans with yet another scoring element.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1277105"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I've always liked Cardona's game. He's a highly skilled pg that will be essential to the team's backcourt success. He shot the ball tremendously and his emergence provides several visions to the the teams backcourt. He and Judkins could be a dynamic scoring duo, or he could fit well playing next to Branham.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1664078"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Adams is a transfer from California, who is going to give the Spartans another big body to help in the interior. He was decent in the workout, grabbing enough rebounds to potentially make my all glass cleaner team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1664088"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The young lefty is part of the youth movement at Cimarron. He has good positional size, and will provide the team with some outside shooting and the ability to defend bigger guards.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6375bafab2793"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sleeper:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1663841"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"This is going to be an exciting season in 4A because almost every contender will have at least one true big. Add Walker to that list, he's a long physical specimen that will help with rim protection and rebounding for the Spartans. Loved the energy he played with and his willingness to run the floor will help their offense immensley.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6375bafab27cf"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospect:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1445018"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The case of the mercurial Judkins continued. He looked terrific and had a few of his teammates lobbying for him to make my all snipper team. He didn't hurt himself in the workout either, as he showed off tremendous shooting ability, knocking down some tough threes during the workout. The Spartans don't really have a clear cut top Prospect, but I'm okay with Judkins at this spot. He's only a sophomore and he possess a ton of scoring ability. Like every player expecting to take the floor for coach Branham, the key to his success will be his willingness to compete on the defensive end.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6375bafab282c"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDXX3vQUAxM","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDXX3vQUAxM </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->