Boys basketball: Hunter hopes for better future

Despite an increasing trend toward specialization, it's not uncommon to see a school's star quarterback also suit up for the basketball team.

But Hunter has made it clear it's a football school. For most boys, basketball isn't even on the radar. The basketball team's 1-12 record shows it.

"It's not that we don't have the talent," Hunter coach Dave Filimoehala said. "I think they'd rather spend the offseason just getting ready for the next football season."

So, as it stands, a countless number of potentially talented basketball players roam the halls.

In that regard, Brett Lunceford is a rarity. Though Lunceford has also felt the pressure to specialize in one sport -- he bowed out of the 2009 baseball season to focus on training for the upcoming football season -- he's one of Hunter's few multi-sport athletes. As the Wolverines' quarterback, Lunceford was instrumental in the team's historic run to the 5A semifinal against Bingham. He made headlines by playing in the game with a broken leg.

Now, Lunceford is doing what he can to help lead a small army of teammates out of its consistent mediocrity -- and he's not even Hunter's leading player.

"If he is not the most talented in a situation, his competitiveness puts him in a position where he can make things happen," Hunter football coach Dustin Pearce said. "He's a diamond in the rough, all-around. It's pretty impressive."

But it hasn't been easy.

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Wolverines' tallest player is 6-foot-3 center Brandon Petersen, leaving them hugely undersized in comparison to their competition. Though individuals have occasionally emerged as scoring threats, the Wolverines have struggled to find a consistent offensive game plan. Without a strong tradition to back them, it's been easier for the Wolverines to become complacent in response to their mounting losses.

"It's kind of hard to teach competitiveness," Lunceford said. "I try to fire them up, but that's hard to do if they don't want it as much."

But Lunceford adds the problem runs even deeper.

Aside from football and the occasional softball state tournament appearance, Hunter's sports teams have struggled in recent years. Some blame the lack of participation in club and competition leagues. Some blame the one-track mind of the players.

Whatever the reason, Lunceford said many of Hunter's best athletes have decided to take their talents elsewhere.

"We don't have the best all-around programs, so kids decide to leave to give themselves better opportunities to get noticed," he said.

And therein lies the biggest problem.

"You can't really build a program when kids are leaving," Lunceford said.

Still, Filimoehala is convinced Hunter's basketball program is not a lost cause. Of the 40 athletes who tried out this season, the large majority were sophomores -- talented sophomores. According to Filimoehala, that influx of talent, which also includes some much-needed size, should mature into Hunter's most competitive team in years.

"It only takes one solid season. That should happen for us next year," Filimoehala said. "We're probably just a year away from some good things happening."

In the meantime, the Wolverines are not lying down for the rest of the season. In their most recent game against Granger, they battled back to force overtime. Brandon Petersen, Austin Hernandez and Demetri Saliba led the effort with a combined 52 points.

Though the Lancers won, the Wolverines had made progress. And it showed in the locker room.

"It was a disappointing loss, but everyone had a good game," Lunceford said. "You could feel like it was something we needed."

"It's actually a testament to the character of these kids," Filimoehala said. "We're getting better and that's not always true with a team that's struggling. We're motivated to finish strong."