Westminster hoops
Griffins propelled by local talent

Thirteen of 18 players on the roster are from the Salt Lake area, and the team started the season with a 5-1 record

Nov. 22, 2007

The Salt Lake Tribune
By Patrick Bahr

Since Westminster basketball coach Tommy Connors helped reinstate the program in 1999, the Griffins have gone 171-87. That has includes four Frontier Conference championships and seven berths into the NAIA national tournament.

A key to the Griffins' success has been the coaching staff's ability to harvest solid talent from the Salt Lake Valley.

Due to a lack of scholarship funds, of the 18 players on the Griffins roster, 13 are from the Salt Lake area, including the team's top four leading scorers.

Danny Stosich (21.3), Jordan Jacobs (11.3), Danny Reeder (10.8) and Blair Prowse (10.3) are all former opponents in Region 2.

Stosich and Prowse both were Bingham Miners while Jacobs is from West Jordan and Reeder graduated from Alta. The teams used to all be in the same region before realignment.

"It is kind of a cool thing we all got to play against each other and now we are on the same team," Stosich said. "The bond is pretty good."

Stosich has had a big impact for the team both scoring the ball and rebounding, leading the team in both statistical categories.

The 6-foot-5 forward is one of the team's best players but his biggest flaw is getting into foul trouble. He leads the team in fouls this season.

"The fouls have been a problem," Stosich said. "There have been times I don't agree with the refs but for the most part I am in foul trouble quite a bit."

Connors agreed, saying Stosich is effective when he can stay on the floor.

"The thing with Danny is if we can keep him on the floor he is really productive," Connors said. "But sometimes he doesn't play half of the game."

This past weekend at the Golden Rule Shootout, Stosich did play most of the games, and with Reeder and Prowse they helped push the team past two solid opponents and put their record at 5-1 on the season.

The Griffins upended Eastern Oregon 88-71 with Stosich scoring 23 points, then the team took down rival College of Idaho 69-68.

"I think we are playing well right now," Connors said. "We have a lot of work to do but right now the guys are playing hard."