Central boys basketball prepares for a season of change

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - High school basketball is a sport deals with a lot of change every year, and the Central Indians boys team will be able to back that up. Multiple seniors have moved on from the program, meaning this year’s team will look very different than it did in 20-21.

While the change will likely create a large change in the style and identity of the Indians, it also provides plenty of excitement for the players who will step in to those newly-open roles.

“It’s helped a lot in the leadership, but also getting a group of guys has been together their whole lives,” Zack Wiltanger said of the new-look Central team.

There were seven seniors listed on last season’s roster, including Wyoming Cowboy Nate Talich. The team finished 7-3 within the conference, on top of a 14-10 record overall. They missed state qualifications by just one game.

The changes that the team is going through could help contribute to a fresh mentality, focusing on what’s next instead of what happened last season.

“It’s exciting. It gives us a new opportunity with a bunch of new guys to kind of have a fresh start and a new year and see what we can do together,” said Jackson Whitworth when asked about the opportunities to grow in to a new role.

On top of the changes on the court, Jim Shaffer was hired to be their new head coach in March. His experience in Cheyenne includes taking South all the way to a second place finish in 2016, as well as some time of central’s staff previously.

“I was Tagg’s assistant I guess three years ago for a year, I’d been at South for eight years then came over here as an assistant, and went to Laramie as the Head for three. I kinda had an idea, but it’s big shoes to fill. He won two state championships and got Central back to where Central Basketball should be,” Coach Shaffer said.

The Indians are slated to start their season on December 8th.

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