Boone takes over Newcomb hoops program

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Dec 7, 2023 | Basketball |

LAS VEGAS, N.M. – A fifth-place finish at the Brian Gallegos Memorial basketball tournament is a good starting point for new head basketball coach Patrick Boone.

Boone took over the Newcomb boys basketball program earlier last month after he was given the reins from then-coach Randy Curley.

“Coach Curley said he needed to spend more time with his family, so I stepped in,” said Boone, who previously coached in Arizona with stops at Tuba City and Valley Sanders.

“It takes a while to build a program, but the boys are buying into what we’re trying to teach them,” he said. “I’ve only had them for a couple weeks and they’re learning a whole new system.”

Boone will be assisted this year by Tracy Bryant, Timothy Nimrod and Rethania Jake.

The first-year coach inherits a mixture of veterans and young players. Last season, the Skyhawks made the Class 3A playoffs, but they graduated six players from that squad including leading scorer Javin Tracy, who averaged 21.6 points per game.

“I’m really new to the boys but the good thing is I coached some of the guys on the football team,” Boone said. “It’s made the transition a lot easier. We’re trying to change the culture that was established here, but the boys are willing to learn.”

His top players include Mikal Ashley, Roydell Edison, Savier Thomas, Zakkius Negale and Darium Peshlakai.

Boone said the team is slowly working their way into basketball shape as the Skyhawks are chasing the likes of Tohatchi, Thoreau and Navajo Prep in the district race.

“We saw Navajo Prep at the Bloomfield scrimmage and they look really tough,” Boone said. “I’ve been telling the boys that is the bar that we have to get to. I think we can do it, but we have to get our legs going to play how we want to play.

“We have to be in basketball shape to go toe-to-toe with them,” he added. “It’s the same way with Tohatchi and Thoreau.”

Boone is counting on his squad to be a running team, pushing the pace any chance they get.

“The boys are on a learning curve, but my expectations is to play defense and push the ball,” he said. “We want to play helter-skelter defense. To play that kind of game, we need to be in shape.”