With just two returning players who have a high volume of varsity minutes, head coach Mike Vandahl says the Steamboat Springs boys basketball team is not young, but it is inexperienced. 

Still, Vandahl says he has seen leaders emerge from the roster and inexperience has little impact on the team’s expectations and goals. The boys want to win. 

The Sailors will be even more defensive-minded this season than in years past. Vandahl believes they will rely on “toughness” and defense to come out on top against stiff competition. 

“We want to try to hold teams in the 30’s and 40’s,” he said. “That is going to be our best chance to win. We have to be solid on offense and move the ball, limit our turnovers and be focused on getting the shot we want. I’m going to have a tighter leash on our offense at the start.”

Returning for another full varsity season are seniors Jeffrey Sturges and Brandon Kolb. Sturges led last year’s team in points per game (17.3), 3-point percentage (38%) and free throw percentage (77%). Kolb was the team leader in blocks (29) and field goal percentage (50%). 

That team reached the first round of the 4A state playoffs but was knocked out by Denver School of Science and Technology — Green Valley Ranch, 48-45. Vandahl is hopeful to surpass that mark this season. 

“Last year’s team was a success but we didn’t make it as far as we are accustomed to,” Vandahl said. “We are trying to focus on those little details, not look too far ahead and even with inexperience, our habits and standards don’t change from year to year. The new guys that are filling in those roles and replacing the guys who played last year, they have been doing a good job. They have bought in, they are focused and they are hungry.”

According to Vandahl, the team is putting more emphasis on what is in front of them, and is breaking the season into segments. 

The boys get their first taste of action on Saturday for pre-season scrimmage games on the Front Range. The regular season begins with a tournament in Montrose when the Sailors take on Eagle Valley on Thursday, Dec. 5. 

The Sailors hope to learn from the Montrose tournament and make fixes ahead of the Steamboat Shootout, which begins Dec. 12. Vandahl said the home tournament is “as stacked as it’s ever been” with multiple 6A and 5A schools competing as well as strong 4A opponents. 

The Sailors are excited for the challenge early in the season. It will only make them stronger as the season goes on. 

“We don’t do ourselves any favors by scheduling weaker opponents,” Vandahl said. “It doesn’t help us get prepared for the playoffs. That is our ultimate goal, to get to the state tournament which we have done a lot of in the past.”