Three Grizzlies receive postseason honors

Rocky Mountain High School head basketball coach Pat Winland announced this week that three seniors from the 2024-25 squad have received postseason honors under a new format for Class 2A basketball.

Cole Minchow, Tucker Jackson and Bryce Haslem were named to the 2A Northwest All-Conference team, with Minchow and Jackson also selected All-Region for the 2A West. Minchow was then selected for the Class 2A All-State team.

Minchow is one of 14 players from across the state to be voted all state. He led the Grizzlies in scoring this year, averaging 14.1 points per game for the Grizz. He also led the team with 117 baskets including a team high 67 three-pointers and led the Grizz with 60 assists. He also tallied 42 steals, third on the team, and hit 94 of 130 free throw attempts, 72.3 percent.

“Cole has shown a lot of growth over the last four years,” head coach Pat Winland said. “He has spent many, many hours in the gym on his own shooting. He came a long way this year, and his shooting was more consistent than it had been. He went to a lot of individual camps and was always there for team camps, too.

“Cole has a quick release and was able to get to the basket at times. He was a great free throw shooter, too. He really asserted himself in the second half of the season with his scoring. Most of the time we could count on Cole being in double figures. He created easy shots for his teammates, also.”

On the other end of the court, Minchow was a “sneaky defender” who came up with a lot of steals, Winland said.

“This was a tough all-state team to make,” Winland said, “the toughest in recent memory.”

Jackson

Jackson and Minchow were two of 14 players selected for the 2A West All-Region team, a level of honor implemented this season because the 2A East had no conference standings, just the region, and the 2A West matched the East for awards.

Jackson averaged 6.0 rebounds per game to lead the team, and he shot 44.2 percent from the field while scoring 5.5 points per game. He also finished with 53 assists, 44 steals and a team high 27 blocked shots.

“Tucker was one of the most athletic players on the team,” Winland said. “He could step out and hit the 15-footer, and he was an undersized post that rebounded all year ‘round for us. We were just a better team when he was on the floor.

“He was our leading rebounder. He used his athleticism, and being in the bottom part of the zone helped.”

Haslem

Minchow, Jackson and Haslem were three of 12 players to be selected all-conference for the 2A Northwest. Haslem averaged 7.2 points per game and tallied 54 assists and a team high 45 steals.

“Bryce is another player who showed great strides from his freshman to senior year,” Winland said. “He’s one of the most coachable kids we’ve ever had and had a great state tournament for us.

“Bryce has a really good mid-range jumper and has good range from the three-point line. He’s a great defender despite being outsized. He didn’t get rattled or fazed, and the kids looked up to him.”

The Grizzlies finished the season with a 13-15 record after winning two games at Regionals and one game at State.

“We took a step forward again,” Winland said. “We had one of the toughest schedules in 2A, if not the toughest. Our bench play was solid. This was a group I will miss coaching. They showed a lot of growth. From where they were to where they ended up was a great accomplishment.”

The Grizz will lose six players to graduation in Minchow, Jackson, Haslem, Lafe Files, Hudson May and Alex Hedges.