The Malad Dragon sports teams are working to keep their game in check through the summer months and are seeing some exciting progress and outcomes.  From Lady Dragon basketball to softball and to their counterparts on the boys’ teams, the last several weeks have been good for the Dragon athletes.

  The Lady Dragons basketball team has had a full month of clinics, camps, jamborees and tournaments.  As they have focused on their individual skills as well as team chemistry and execution, they have seen great progress in their play.  As they have faced off in abbreviated games against teams like American Falls, Preston, March Valley, Bear River and West Side they have seen opportunities to try new plays, improved skill and switch up the lineup players to illustrate the progress, potential, and depth to their teams. 

“Summer has been busy!” said girls head basketball Coach Trevor Jones.  “We try to provide as many opportunities for the girls to be in the gym and on the court in game settings as much as possible and have seen a great response from the players.”

Coach Jones admits that between the open gyms, team camps, individual camps, helping with youth camps, the 10,000 shot club, weight room sessions, jamborees and tournaments, in addition to the similar schedule for other sports, the player’s schedules are pretty full. But they also see the hunger and satisfaction their team has as they are seeing it paying off. Coach Jones shared, “It is amazing to see the girls take advantage of those opportunities and put in the work. This summer has been a fun one. We have a lot of returning players and a lot of girls have made it a priority to be in the gym. Our summer games have been very promising.”

With their weekly double or triple header jamborees combined with 6-7 game tour, the team is already approaching 50 game opportunities against a variety of skill levels with team schools ranging from 1A - 5A. “It has been good for the girls to see a lot of different teams and different styles of basketball,” continued Coach Jones.  “This also allows us to see different opponents, different strategies increase court awareness, basketball IQ and most importantly let them run the court and get reps in. There have been a lot of highlights on and off the court. Every level is stepping up! We have awesome freshmen coming out and starting to make a name for themselves, the JV playing big and having a winning record in all tournaments, and the Varsity has been playing at a high level.  Altogether we have had some great team building activities, hit some big shots, focused on learning fundamentals and team plays, hitting game winners at the buzzer, and making big defensive stops.”  

Most recently, the team is coming off of a big tournament victory as they won the Butte County tournament for the second year in a row. With the great progress the players individually and the team collectively has made, Coach Jones says, “With one of the toughest districts in the state, it will be an exciting season coming up this November!”

The MHS boys basketball team is similarly excited to see their team in the gym over the summer months and the progress they are making. While they have been playing in several weekday and weekend games, their latest competition on the court has been as they played in the American Falls tournament last weekend. Through the pool play and tournament games, each of the three Dragon teams played well, resulting in Freshmen team taking first place as they beat out Rockland and North Fremont, the JV Team winning second in their bracket as beat South Fremont and lost to Grace, and the Varsity team taking first as they beat American Falls and Burley.

Pleased with the summer’s progress thus far, Coach Zack Beutler shared, “Last summer compared to this summer, we are pleased with not only increased participation but also seeing the boys improving and seeing the fruits of the time and effort they are investing in the sport.

“Our summer practices and camp with SLCC staff have been exceptional. We have a higher turnout this summer than last and the boys are improving their personal skill set immensely. We’ve seen as we focus on fundamentals and personal skills that it has translated to team improvement and success. We told the boys this last weekend that they are the ones making the changes. We as coaches are teaching, guiding and advising but they are the ones that are enacting change and executing on both ends of the floor.”

While they haven’t been playing such an intense or rigorous schedule, the Lady Dragon softball team suited up for the annual Bear River softball tournament. For many, this marks the final summer season this team, that was created six years ago, will play together.  The team ended the tournament in a big way, winning the gold medal bracket.

Several members of the Dragon baseball team are running the bases as they play on the Malad American Legion teams at various games and tournaments over the last several weeks.  The teams have seen some great growth and success, both as a team and as individuals.  They have had some exciting wins over tough competition as well as close losses that could have gone either way.  Each game is adding experience and reps that will be crucial when they come back to their regular season.  The team’s busy schedule shows games into July, giving them the classic summer days and nights on the field.

Players, parents, coaches and fans haven’t let off of their favorite sports as they make through their summer months.  Whether it's for love or insanity, the Dragon athletes are setting up for their next season to be the best one yet!