BEHIND THE PLATE: Wave’s winter chapter begins in 2 weeks

A premature exit by the Greenwave football team last weekend capped off another exciting fall for the green and white.

From Fallon advancing to the state tournament once again in football and tennis to cross country sending one runner to the state championships, the Greenwave will turn another page as the winter season picks up after the Thanksgiving holiday.

What’s in store for 2014-2015?

Expect competitive basketball and wrestling from the Greenwave after both hoops squads made the playoffs, and the wrestling squad took second in the state behind Lowry. The basketball teams placed in the top four of the region to make the regional playoffs but were bounced in the first round.

Despite the community’s support in trying to retain one of the school’s longest tenure and most successful coaches, Mitch Overlie, he will not be matside for the first time since taking over for Louie Mori, who stepped down after Fallon’s second-place finish at state in 1999. Replacing Overlie, coincidentally, will be Mori, who inherits a strong team that has had difficulty filling every weight class.

Imagine the possibilities if the Greenwave had the same talent across the entire lineup. Lowry’s dominance in the Division I-A could be in serious jeopardy. And who’s to say that the Buckaroos shouldn’t be watching for Fallon?

If anyone not named Overlie can lead this team past the second-place finishes, it’s Mori. Don’t forget in his last season at the helm during the NIAA’s final Super State meet, Fallon was one win away from shocking Cimarron Memorial to win the crown in Elko 15 years ago.

Although the Lady Wave lost their tallest player and one of their quicker guards to graduation last year, Anne Smith’s group will be reloading this year with a plethora of talent expected back. Not only should Fallon do well in competing for a playoff spot, but also it could have the right mix to jump into the conversation of being one of the best teams in the region.

Elko, Lowry and Spring Creek each finished 13-3 last year with Fallon two games back to finish fourth. But Elko lost five players to graduation last year while defending state champ Lowry lost only a pair. Prepare for another dose of exciting girls hoops this winter.

The boys team wasn’t hit hard by graduation last year, losing just three seniors.

Brad Barton’s team is expected to return seven juniors from the 8-8 squad that lost to Elko in the opening round of the playoffs. After sneaking into the postseason, Fallon will look to build on last year’s late success and challenge Elko, Lowry and Spring Creek for supremacy in the region.

It also helps that Elko lost four players and Lowry lost nine to graduation.

The winter chapter of Greenwave athletics begins in two weeks with the preseason tournaments as the league schedule takes over just before the winter break.

Get ready for the Greenwave to make some noise in the gym this season.

Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.