Mesa Ridge boys basketball continues to build program of champions
Joel Babbitt prefers living in the present rather than revisiting the past.
Unless the moment calls for cherishing a notable accomplishment.
When the Mesa Ridge boys basketball coach re-entered the gym Monday evening, he couldn’t resist glancing up at the 2023 state basketball banner just above the gymnasium’s doors.
As he glanced at the banner, Babbitt briefly smiled before disappearing through the doors.
“Looking at it doesn’t get old,” Babbitt said. “I don’t (look at) it a ton because I try to focus on this moment, but coach (Bill) Woelk and I will go out there sometimes and look at it. It’s about a lot of years of work that all of us have put in.”
The Grizzlies and Babbitt continue to watch their dedication pay off as No. 4 Mesa Ridge prepares for its 5A Final Four contest at 4 p.m. Friday against No. 1 Northfield at Denver Coliseum.
Babbitt spent years honing his craft as a coach in California and in the area at Liberty, Pine Creek, Lewis-Palmer and now Mesa Ridge before landing a state championship in his first year as the Grizzlies coach.
Shoot, the boys basketball team hadn’t reached the title game until last season and now has the opportunity to repeat.
The game needed change and Babbitt acted as the cashier, tweaking aspects of the Grizzlies’ approach on and off the court.
It took a collective effort to piece together this success.
Players buy in
Mesa Ridge earned the No. 18 seed after going 16-10 in 2021-22 and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 4A tournament.
The Grizzlies lost to eventual runner-up Pueblo South 76-58. Despite the lopsided loss, players believed the Grizzlies “had something special.”
“I felt like we weren’t using that talent to the best of our abilities,” guard Tevin Riehl said. “It’s nice that Babbitt came in because I knew we could do something.”
Babbitt, who had taken a coaching hiatus prior to coming to Mesa Ridge, said during his stint at Lewis-Palmer, he learned “a ton about success and how to win.”
But, most importantly?
“Defense,” Babbitt said. “I learned the importance of defense and that’s the first word every kid in this program will tell you is critical to our change. We focused on defense so on the days that the ball didn’t go in, we could still hold the other team down.”
Riehl echoed his coach’s sentiments and said players noticed how their efforts without the ball shifted their games.
“Defense is what brings the energy up for us,” Riehl said. “As soon as we come out of the gate, if we let teams know what type of defense we’re going to play from the get-go, that sets the tone for the rest of the game.”
As the old quote goes, defense earned the Grizzlies a championship as they earned their first boys basketball title in the school’s 27-year history with a 71-68 win against Air Academy in the 5A finals.
“Winning state together meant so much to me,” Bryce Riehl said. “There were times when we played together that we came up short in different areas. To finally not come up short meant a lot for both of us.”
Teamwork makes the dream work
The Grizzlies lost seven seniors from last season’s 28-0 team and, with Riehl, Bryce and Tanner Widic each playing fall sports, that left a void in Mesa Ridge’s squad to start the year.
Despite the tricky logistics, Babbitt remains adamant that players compete in other sports.
“With (football coach) Jerimi (Calip), especially, he and I communicate often to make sure our kids are able to prepare for both seasons,” Babbitt said. “The experience is most important, not our one season. Playing multiple sports is what a kid should be doing these days instead of just specializing.”
Coaches and athletes maintain constant communication, whether that’s face-to-face or coaches texting another coach.
This helps ensure kids have proper nutrition, adequate rest, good grades and are healthy.
Babbitt, Widic, Riehl and Bryce each complimented the Grizzlies strength and conditioning coach Jason Marthaller and athletic trainer Breanna Sage for helping athletes avoid major injuries.
“Since Jason and I started working together two years ago, injuries have gone down easily (by) 60 percent, if not more,” Sage said. “I do what I can to get kids back on the court and make sure they’re missing as few practices and games as possible.”
Sage said she based the decrease in injuries on athletes she sees every day and the reduction in names in her injury log. Sage added that athletes who lift with Marthaller usually avoid serious injuries.
Marthaller said their approach with basketball players is “unconventional,” but it keeps their joints ready for movements specific to hoops.
“When those basketball players come in, their shoes come off,” Marthaller said. “That helps with ankle mobility and basketball shoes have big soles and that’s like lifting on a cloud. We want as much ground contact as we can.”
Aside from bumps and bruises, Babbitt said the Grizzlies had one “notable” injury since last year’s state title run, and that was a sprained ankle. That happened to Riehl last season and he missed one practice and played every game.
Road to 52-2 (and counting)
Widic broke his collarbone earlier this year, which ended his final prep fall season prematurely.
The Grizzlies senior, who played both soccer and football, missed the final 10 games on the pitch and Mesa Ridge’s last seven games on the gridiron.
“When I broke it, I knew football and soccer were over for me,” Widic said. “I started focusing on basketball and getting ready for that.”
Despite his injury, as basketball season loomed, Widic assisted where possible to help lead younger players on the Grizzlies’ quest for a repeat.
Widic was cleared to play just before Mesa Ridge’s first contest, but recognized his presence at practices meant more than “just telling people what to do.”
“We make sure we show everyone the way as well,” Widic said. “I like to think me and Tev try to work the hardest at practice. Just to show the younger kids how hard they need to work for the years they’re here.”
Babbitt credited Widic and Riehl’s guidance for the Grizzlies’ continued success after losing a swath of seniors last year.
“The leadership of Tanner and Tevin is critical, and they’re leading by example and with their effort and voices,” Babbitt said. “The work they’ve put in has been huge for our success. They’ve helped lead us to where we are right now.”
And having a confident junior bolsters team morale as well.
“I’m not shocked that we’re going back,” Bryce said. “The kids we have on our team put in work throughout the year. This is expected because of how hard we’ve worked.”
In their last 54 contests, the Grizzlies (22-2 this season) are 52-2. They’ve won 20 in a row.
Two more victories for the Grizzlies will add another banner above Mesa Ridge’s gym door… and give Babbitt more reasons to smile.
“I knew state was going to happen when Babbitt took over,” Riehl said. “We probably shouldn’t have lost to Pueblo South that year, but it is what it is because it led to us winning a state title. Now we have a chance for another one.”
Mesa Ridge coach Joel Babbitt coaches from the sidelines during a Jan. 4 game against Lewis-Palmer at Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument.
Mesa Ridge plays Dakota Ridge in 4A boys basketball quarterfinals Friday at The Denver Coliseum.
