Boys Basketball feature: The future is here for rolling Roadrunners
Feb. 23, 2015
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
ROSAMOND — Ever since Rosamond went on an extraordinary run to a Division 5A championship in 2007-08, many generations of Roadrunners have attempted to conjure up some of the magic of that Tim Atkerson-led team.
John Johnson, the man in charge for the past six seasons, believes this year's team has the best chance.
"I'm going to make some people mad, but yes, definitely," the head coach said.
In leading the Roadrunners (16-9) to an unbeaten High Desert League season and a sixth consecutive playoff berth since taking over, the beauty of perhaps the best team of the Johnson era lies in that most of this season's generation will be next year's, too.
Rosamond, which opens the CIF-Central Section Division IV playoffs on Wednesday at third-seeded Bakersfield Christian (15-12), has 11 juniors and four seniors on its roster. All of its starters are underclassmen.
"We're a young junior team," Johnson said.
The Roadrunners are led by three of them: 6-foot-5 center D'Amorea Green, who averages 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game; 6-foot-4 shooting guard Caeleb Roney, who averages 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game; and 6-foot-2 point guard Darion Wilson, who averages 12.8 points per game.
"We got a great group of kids, great attitude," Johnson said. "They work hard. They want to do well. They want that respect a lot of the other teams have."
Owners of a 10-game winning streak heading into what they hope will be their first playoff victory since 2008, the 'Runners have done a great job of that as of late.
Signs of a team playing at its peak, Rosamond put up 103 points in its last game, a win at Frazier Mountain. The 100-point barrier hadn't been broken by the Roadrunners since 2011.
"We're hitting on all cylinders," Johnson said. "We're the new kid on the block in the Central Section. They don't respect us a whole lot out there as a 14th seed, but you got to earn that respect.
"Hopefully we'll make some noise in the playoffs and get some respect that I think the boys deserve."
The sweetest win of the regular season for the 'Runners came a game before the finale, on Feb. 13 at Kern Valley, a place they like to refer to as "the Twilight Zone."
Down by double digits at halftime, Rosamond rallied for a 54-52 victory against its nemesis to claim its second consecutive HDL title.
"It's very hard to win up there," Johnson said. "You don't shoot well, it's a small gym, all of Kern Valley shows up. It's a weird, weird place. Not the town, but it's a weird atmosphere to play in."
For the 'Runners, the only win that can top the one at KV would be one on Wednesday.
Bakersfield Christian, out of the South Sequoia League, counts with three players listed at 6-5 and three more at 6-3. Johnson feels his team's advantage will be guard play.
"It's a great opportunity for our kids to show what we're made of," said Johnson, who also credited assistants Craig Lux, David Gregg and Mike Ernest for the team's success.
Before getting on a roll, the 'Runners looked more like a team who'd lost nine seniors from its 2013-14 squad.
They were on a three-game losing streak that included a 61-37 blowout defeat at Palmdale and were three games below .500.
"Palmdale put a beating on us," Johnson said. "They beat us up pretty good. You never forget those things."
Rosamond, which uses a "four out" offensive set in which Green is the only man in the paint while four others surround him around the 3-point line, hasn't lost since.
The young Roadrunners hope they won't for a while longer.
"I want to go far in playoffs and make it to the finals," Roney said.
Added Johnson: "It'd be a great step for us."
If they're unable to make that step this year, most of these 'Runners know they have one more run left in them.
For a team made up of mostly juniors, one which has the best chance to get Johnson his first playoff win, it's not a bad deal. Win or lose.
"Things are looking good," Johnson said.
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
ROSAMOND — Ever since Rosamond went on an extraordinary run to a Division 5A championship in 2007-08, many generations of Roadrunners have attempted to conjure up some of the magic of that Tim Atkerson-led team.
John Johnson, the man in charge for the past six seasons, believes this year's team has the best chance.
"I'm going to make some people mad, but yes, definitely," the head coach said.
In leading the Roadrunners (16-9) to an unbeaten High Desert League season and a sixth consecutive playoff berth since taking over, the beauty of perhaps the best team of the Johnson era lies in that most of this season's generation will be next year's, too.
Rosamond, which opens the CIF-Central Section Division IV playoffs on Wednesday at third-seeded Bakersfield Christian (15-12), has 11 juniors and four seniors on its roster. All of its starters are underclassmen.
"We're a young junior team," Johnson said.
The Roadrunners are led by three of them: 6-foot-5 center D'Amorea Green, who averages 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game; 6-foot-4 shooting guard Caeleb Roney, who averages 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game; and 6-foot-2 point guard Darion Wilson, who averages 12.8 points per game.
"We got a great group of kids, great attitude," Johnson said. "They work hard. They want to do well. They want that respect a lot of the other teams have."
Owners of a 10-game winning streak heading into what they hope will be their first playoff victory since 2008, the 'Runners have done a great job of that as of late.
Signs of a team playing at its peak, Rosamond put up 103 points in its last game, a win at Frazier Mountain. The 100-point barrier hadn't been broken by the Roadrunners since 2011.
"We're hitting on all cylinders," Johnson said. "We're the new kid on the block in the Central Section. They don't respect us a whole lot out there as a 14th seed, but you got to earn that respect.
"Hopefully we'll make some noise in the playoffs and get some respect that I think the boys deserve."
The sweetest win of the regular season for the 'Runners came a game before the finale, on Feb. 13 at Kern Valley, a place they like to refer to as "the Twilight Zone."
Down by double digits at halftime, Rosamond rallied for a 54-52 victory against its nemesis to claim its second consecutive HDL title.
"It's very hard to win up there," Johnson said. "You don't shoot well, it's a small gym, all of Kern Valley shows up. It's a weird, weird place. Not the town, but it's a weird atmosphere to play in."
For the 'Runners, the only win that can top the one at KV would be one on Wednesday.
Bakersfield Christian, out of the South Sequoia League, counts with three players listed at 6-5 and three more at 6-3. Johnson feels his team's advantage will be guard play.
"It's a great opportunity for our kids to show what we're made of," said Johnson, who also credited assistants Craig Lux, David Gregg and Mike Ernest for the team's success.
Before getting on a roll, the 'Runners looked more like a team who'd lost nine seniors from its 2013-14 squad.
They were on a three-game losing streak that included a 61-37 blowout defeat at Palmdale and were three games below .500.
"Palmdale put a beating on us," Johnson said. "They beat us up pretty good. You never forget those things."
Rosamond, which uses a "four out" offensive set in which Green is the only man in the paint while four others surround him around the 3-point line, hasn't lost since.
The young Roadrunners hope they won't for a while longer.
"I want to go far in playoffs and make it to the finals," Roney said.
Added Johnson: "It'd be a great step for us."
If they're unable to make that step this year, most of these 'Runners know they have one more run left in them.
For a team made up of mostly juniors, one which has the best chance to get Johnson his first playoff win, it's not a bad deal. Win or lose.
"Things are looking good," Johnson said.