Coyote Basketball 2023-24

The Dodson Coyotes basketball team features a new-look despite returning a few starters from their 2022-23 campaign.

The team welcomes back Head Coach Clayton KillEagle, who stepped in for the team mid-season and a new assistant coach, Christina Jaynes, a 2020 Dodson High School graduate.

The team is without Mikey Jaynes, who graduated last spring. Jaynes was Dodson's lone All-Conference player last season.

Returning starters include the team's lone senior, Sebastian Best, who stands at 6-1.

"Sebastian has really grown athletically over the years," Coach KillEagle said. "Even since last year, he has some hops on him now. Under the basket, that kid's discipline is remarkable."

Coach KillEagle said that in a game last week, Best took three charges in a row.

Coach KillEagle has been trying to coach the team away from pickup game type basketball, putting an emphasis on defense, while also encouraging the team not to try to block every shot.

"I did say, Junior might be a shot-blocker," KillEagle said with a laugh.

Junior Stiffarm, a 6-2 junior who was one of Dodson's top scorers last season and a returning starter.

"Junior's growth has been amazing within this last year," Coach KillEagle said. "He is my nephew too, so I have seen it day-by-day. He is playing above the rim and we are tweaking his jumpshot a little bit. He's making better decisions. I am trying to put him more into a facilitating role as a guard."

Frank "Sonny" Cole made a splash in his first start on Dodson's varsity. In the team's win over the Terry Terriers 47-45 on Friday, December 1, Cole knocked down seven treys, and totaled a game-leading 21 points.

"If Sonny Cole doesn't make those seven three pointers, I am not sure that we come away with that game," Coach KillEagle said. "He came up huge for us in that game. The kid was on fire. He has got a good shot."

He also said that Cole is quickly learning how the team plays defense.

"It's coming together as a team and it is nice to see," Coach KillEagle said.

Sophomore Lance KillEagle logged in minutes as a sixth man last season.

"Lance surprised me with how determined he was," Coach KillEagle said. "He put in the work outside of the program. I can always count on him to give me 100 percent. He has worked on his discipline. He hustles. As far as being an offensive threat, he will surprise people. He can attack the hoop."

The team welcomes Donovan "Donnie" Posey to the team. The sophomore is a transfer from Harlem and is the starting point guard for Dodson this season.

"He is athletic and a beast," Coach KillEagle said. "He is fast up and down the floor. The problem is the control factor when you have a player like this. When to unleash him and when to hold it in."

Dodson will host the Scobey Spartans on Friday, December 15, starting at 4 p.m. They will then host the North Country Mavericks on Saturday, December 16 starting at 5:30 p.m.