Prep Boys Basketball: The Previews (Round II)

Chalk Talk — Castle Rock, Kalama and Toledo toil away with postseason ambitions

Castle Rock’s Riley Grauntz puts up a shot over Mark Morris’ Mark Hendrickson during a preseason jamboree at Ted M. Natt Court on Nov. 26. The Rockets will open the season at Black Hills on Tuesday. — Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in our preseason preview series for high school boys basketball. To read Round I of our previews, click here.

Nick Sisson and Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Castle Rock putting the pieces to the puzzle

Castle Rock’s Joey Burks brings the ball up the court during a preseason jamboree at Mark Morris High School on Nov. 26. — Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media

The Rockets face a steep grade season and will depend on good old fashioned elbow grease to help them ascend the 1A Trico league standings after a tough showing in 2023-24. The Rockets only managed to go 4-15 last year overall, finishing 2-8 in league play to place fifth in the Trico standings.

Those two league wins were picked up against Stevenson and Columbia-White Salmon, but there were competitive games sprinkled in throughout the year. Of those wins, competitive losses, and a few quality players returning into the fold, second year head coach Jordan Spencer is optimistic that his team will be ready to go and possibly make some noise this season.

“We only graduated two seniors off last year’s team, and we have a good amount of seniors on the roster this season,” said coach Spencer.

And with experience, comes great expectations.