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Back row, left to right: #23-Jordan Holgerson-Rahl, #34-Alaina Bourgeois, #44Shayla Kushner, #40-Shannon Kushner, #4-Kelsy Stribling, #2-Sady Stinchcomb, #24-Lacie Laca, Coach Jayme Graham, Coach Jody Pool Front row, left to right: #24-Morgan Elarton, #22-Sophie Adamson, #12-Sydney Adamson, #30-Gracie Graham Courtesy Photo
Head Coach Kermit Spencer, who guided the Rye High School girls basketball team in 2021-22 to a third-place finish in the State Tournament, isn’t sure what his overall record as coach at RHS was. He clearly remembers one year when his charges only went 2-18. But in his last four years at RHS, that record was 86-7.
After that victory in the state tournament over Limon, Spencer left the Rye program and is currently coaching at Grand Valley High School. He just finished his first season there with a 24-1 record and advanced into the Elite 8 of the state tournament “I had taken the job as Dean of Students at Rye Elementary,” Spencer shared. “And I discovered that the duties of both combined were overwhelming enough that I felt I could not do both at the quality level I expected of myself.”
Spencer was also disappointed in the fact that he thought his basketball teams in his last two years should have gone farther and done better as a team. He felt the responsibility fell directly on his shoulders.
“In particular, that last year with those four amazing and in- credibly talented seniors, along with some marvelous underclassmen, I really thought we could bring home a state championship. I gave my heart and soul to the program but, obviously, it wasn’t enough. I was unable to script a title for the teams that I was responsible for and entrusted to. It was my thinking, then, that perhaps the program needed someone who was more qualified and was overall a better and more polished coach. I felt as if I was doing an injustice to those girls and to the girls who would be coming up. So, I decided to step down,” he added.
Spencer has lots of basketball memories at RHS. In addition to the third-place state game he felt another standout game was the final district game against Hoehne in 2022.
“I know people have criticized me in the past when we lost three times to Swink, the state runner up, in a past season, and rightly so. Plus, I have always been told that a team shouldn’t get beaten three times by the same opponent, but aren’t we glad that’s not always true. We had to beat Rocky Ford three times in one season, and we had to beat Hoehne three times in one season. Both to host regional.”
“When we played Hoehne in the district finals, we were not shooting very well. In fact, even though we had good looks, shots were not falling for us. Yet, in that game I felt we truly played as a team. We played quality basketball. We took care of the ball, and played defense like champions. The girls did exactly what they needed to do to win. They amazed me and I was so proud of them.”
Spencer felt one of the key decisions of that championship season was his two assistants.
“I was able to persuade Coach Jayme Graham and Coach Jody Pool to join me and that was exactly what the team needed that year. I’m so very, thankful that they were able to be a part of this team. I would have never survived all that transpired that season had it not been for those two. I owe each of them immensely and will never be able to repay them.”
With any season come some regrets. “If I had it to do over, I would have coached that last final four game differently. I know in my heart that had I made a few different decisions within the game, we would have been able to make it to the championship. I play that game over and over in my head a lot, probably more than I should but that’s me. I truly wanted this team to have a chance at being state champions. They earned that and deserved that. I feel I let them and the community down during that game. The girls played their heart out and did everything I asked of them. They are an amazing group of young women, both then and now. They did exactly as I asked, without question, and ultimately, I failed to get them the title.”
“I hope people remember us as a team and as a coach who gave our all every year,” Spencer reflected. “I love the game of basketball and love teaching it to the girls who play the game. I want people to know that we were successful because the girls believed in us. They believed in each other. They believed in team. We played as a team. Everyone knew their roles and played unselfishly. They showed true character of the highest grade.”
Spencer looked contemplative when asked for a summary. “Regardless of where I teach or coach, I’ll forever be a Thunderbolt.”
