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Timpview forward Dean Rueckert drives hard to the hoop to score two of his 12 points scored in a win over Dixie on Wednesday. December 10, 2025

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Timpview's Dean Rueckert finishes off a dunk during his team's 76-61 win over Dixie on Wednesday. December 10, 2025

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Timpview's Mason Ford dishes a pass in traffic during the Thunderbird's 76-61 win over Dixie. December 10, 2025

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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First year Timpview Coach Brad Kitchen directs his team during Wednesday's 76-61 win over Dixie. December 10, 2025

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Timpview guard Lincoln Holcombe starts off a fast break en route to scoring two of his 21 points in a win over Dixie on Wednesday. December 10, 2025

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Timpview's Cooper Cleveland drives to the hoop during his team's 76-61 win over Dixie on Wednesday. December 10, 2025

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Timpview guard Lincoln Holcombe directed his team's offense from the point during a 76-61 win over Dixie on Wednesday. December 10, 2025

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Midway through the third quarter of the Timpview Boys Basketball team’s game versus Dixie, Coach Brad Kitchen had seen enough.

The play was a bit lackluster, at least from his perspective, and it allow the Flyers to crawl back into within striking distance after trailing 38-19 at the half. The first-year Thunderbird coach decided to sub out every single one of his starters, of which two players (Dean Rueckert and Will Openshaw) have signed on to play at BYU, in favor of the backups.

Those same backups fought hard, but still allowed Dixie to close the lead to just 47-41 at the end of three quarters. But the message was sent, as Rueckert, Openshaw and the rest of the starters came back in and hit their stride to eventually win going away by the score of 76-61.

“It taught us that we can’t take a quarter off, and yeah, we came out playing sort of soft,” Rueckert said. “So it’s good for us to get taught a lesson like that. Coach let us know, and we’re not going to let that happen again.”

“Our guys weren’t playing with the effort that I expect from them,” Kitchen confirmed. “But they responded to it in a positive way and stay resilient and mentally tough through it. That’s what you want to see as a coach.”

All the messages sent by Kitchen are relatively new following the unexpected departure of Izzy Ingle during the offseason. Kitchen was introduced as the Thunderbird’s new coach in July, after serving as an assistant at Snow College, and players have taken to their new direction well, evidenced by a 6-0 start to the season.

Of course much of Timpview’s success likely would have come simply due to the enormous amount of talent within the program, although it takes a special coach to tap into that talent in order for a team to reach its full potential. In Rueckert’s mind, Kitchen is that type of coach.

“It’s always hard to adjust, but it’s been good for us,” Rueckert said. “We’ve been focused and it’s been a good challenge for all of us, and ultimately I think it’s really going to pay off. I’d been coached by him before at camps, so I knew he was a quality coach and he’s definitely proved it since he’s been here. He’s a great guy and easy to talk to. I’m happy that he’s our coach.”

For Kitchen, he feels blessed to be surrounded by talents like Rueckert and the rest of Timpview’s top roster.

“They’re great players, but more importantly we have really great kids here and a great community,” Kitchen said. “It’s made the transition so easy and all the credit goes to the players. I’m just fortunate to be in the spot I am with the type of players that we have here at Timpview.”

The goal for Timpview is to win a state championship, which is, of course, the goal for any program. But in Timpview’s case that goal is more of an expectation than a hope given the team’s enormous talent that largely returned this season intact after advancing clear to the 5A state championship game a season ago.

Key returners include the aforementioned Rueckert and Openshaw in the front court, but also quality guard play from players like Lincoln Holcombe and Cooper Cleveland, among several others.

“I think we have a really deep team,” Rueckert said. “I feel that our bench guys, and even our junior varsity team could compete with the best teams in the state. It’s a great team and I love all my teammates. We play for each other and we’re hoping to go far this year.”

Indeed nothing short of a state championship is likely to suffice for Timpview, all factors considered.

“It’s ours for the taking, we feel,” Rueckert said. “But we have to keep working and learning, and tonight’s game was a good lesson for us. We’re learning new systems, and still getting used to all of it, but ultimately I feel that what coach is teaching us is going to pay off big for us in the end. We just need to keep focused and you can definitely see it coming together.”