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ALA boys hoops showcases dynamic ability, knocks off Rowland Hall

By Jared Lloyd - | Jan 15, 2025
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ALA senior Kannon Hunstman drives to the basket during the Region 17 game against Rowland Hall in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
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ALA freshman Kobe Ross dribbles the ball up the court during the Region 17 game against Rowland Hall in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
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ALA senior Malakai Mack goes up for a layup during the Region 17 game against Rowland Hall in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
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ALA freshman Kobe Ross drives to the basket during the Region 17 game against Rowland Hall in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
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ALA head coach Ronnie Ross watches his team during the Region 17 game against Rowland Hall in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
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ALA players huddle up during the Region 17 game against Rowland Hall in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.

It looked like things might be setting up well for Rowland Hall in Wednesday night’s Region 17 contest in Spanish Fork as the visitors took on ALA.

The Eagles have a number of dynamic outside shooters, but this wasn’t their best shooting night. Yes, ALA knocked down six treys — but a lot more shots didn’t go in.

But this isn’t an Eagle team that only wins by bombing away from downtown, as the Winged Lions found out.

ALA instead relied on its defense, rebounding and getting into the paint to build a lead and secure the 57-47 win over Rowland Hall.

“I don’t think we played our best, but we played good enough to win,” Eagle head coach Ronnie Ross said. “I feel like we could’ve won by more because my expectations are higher, but credit to Rowland Hall because they played us tough. They came in with a game plan, but we had a little more gas in the tank.”

He’s confident that his ALA squad won’t shoot like that very often, but was glad to see how the Eagles found other ways to succeed.

“The point guard, Kobe Ross, is my son and he started us off,” Ronnie Ross said. “He’s usually more of a passer but today he was got us going. Then senior Kannon Hunstman got going inside. The beauty of this team is anyone can step up and score. We can go with whatever is working.”

That means, however, that guys have to be OK with different roles. ALA senior Tad Swarnes was the leading scorer for the Eagles last season but said he’s OK with doing other things to help his team this year.

“I don’t care,” Swarnes said. “The only thing that’s on my list right now is trying to win the state championship. I don’t care how many points I score. I’m all about trying to win.”

Ronnie Ross said it has taken some time for that mentality to become the norm for is ALA squad but this season, the guys have bought in.

“I played at Utah State for Stew Morrill,” Ronnie Ross said. “With Morrill, you had to buy in. As much as I hated that when he coached me, I coach kind of similar to him.

“I have a son that plays for Randy Bennett at St Mary’s. I talked to him a lot on the phone asking for pointers and the main thing he said is that the reason why St Mary’s is so good is that people buy in. When you buy in to have team success, then you can get individual success.”

Swarnes said the Eagles have come to see what that means.

“We weren’t the best team when Coach Ross got here, but we weren’t bad,” Swarnes said. “But the coaching that he’s able to bring to this team is just amazing. I just love going with it and just love winning.”

Ronnie Ross grinned as he talked about how that translates into playing fun basketball and seeing his guys grow.

“It’s fun to teach kids,” he said. “When they finally get it and they execute it, that’s a beautiful thing. To see them all love each other and play for each other is so wonderful. That’s what basketball and coaching is all about. If you can get all those things together, it’s fun.”

He said he is still going to push them and point out things they need to do to get better, but he credited this year’s Eagles for being the “most disciplined team” he has had.

Both Ronnie Ross and Swarnes feel like ALA is playing well but there are still things to work on.

“The next step is our defense,” Swarnes said. “We’ve got the offense ability. We have the parts with our length and wingspan. We’ve just got to bring it all together. That’s going to be our biggest emphasis on practices working on our defense so we don’t allow that many points.”

Ronnie Ross said: “Everyone starts out wanting to win state but it’s got to be step by step. We are taking things one game at time and working to get our chance at the end of the year to make some magic.”

ALA (12-4) will face another challenge when it goes on the road to play at St. Joseph on Friday at 7 p.m.