Hopewell Indians continue to grow and improve
COSHOCTON – Hopewell Indians Head Coach Devin Rivera has a huge team this year and he plans on playing them all.
“As a coach of a Special Olympics team my job is to make sure everyone enjoys playing,” he said. “Last year I made sure everyone got to play four minutes so every four minutes I had a new set of five on the court.”
Rivera said over the years the team’s numbers have climbed from the 20s to the 30s to the 40s, with the 2012-2013 roster including 46 people.
“We are getting bigger every year,” he said. “I think it is because we are getting more well known in the community.”
Rivera believes last year’s group was 18-3. Some key returnees from that team are Tanner Schie, Jalen Berry, Brandon Corder, Karl Murray and Lindsey Ashcraft.
“Tanner was our leading scorer, Jalen is good at rebounding, Brandon is good at boxing out and rebounding and Karl and Lindsey are both good at dribbling,” he said.
However, no matter who is on the court, Rivera knows they are all going to give 100 percent.
“Once on the court and at practice, no one gives less than that,” he said.
Dedication is definitely a team strength and Rivera couldn’t think of any weaknesses.
“The only thing I could say is that two years in a row we’ve been one game away from the state tournament,” he said. “Our goal as a team is definitely to win the state tournament.”
The Indians will play in Division III again this year.
“It’s more competitive than Division IV, which says to me that we’ve improved as a team,” Rivera said.
Rivera, a graduate of River View High School, started volunteering with the Indians in 2008 and this is his third year as head coach.
“I always wanted to be a coach and this is where my heart is,” he said.
The Indians will begin their season at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, against Belmont County, at Kids America, where all home games are held.
“I just want everyone to have fun, learn about the game and become a better player,” Rivera said.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
