Yuma High School’s boys basketball team is off and running in the 2025-26 season.
The Outlaws opened the campaign this past Tuesday with a 61-39 win at Sterling.
They host Wray on Friday for the season opener, then travel the next morning to Colorado Springs to play The Vanguard School.
Yuma ran out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter Tuesday, and never were threatened by the Tigers. The Outlaws led 34-18 at halftime, and led by more than 20 for much of the second half.
The Outlaws did not shoot well at 35 percent, but still had 10 players score. Brody Sheffield had 16 points and three assists, Iann Duran 11 points and six steals, Alex Castillo seven points, Reyli Trejo six points and three rebounds, Noe Quezada five points, David Covarrubias five points, 12 rebounds and three steals, Stevie Seward four points and three rebounds, Osvaldo Pensado four points and seven rebounds, Jose Mario Ross two points, and Jalen Rose one point and three assists.
Sterling shot just 29 percent and had just one player in double figures. Neither team shot well from deep nor at the charity stripe in a typical early first game.
“I like where we’re at,” Yuma coach Dave Sheffield said earlier this week. “I would like to have more practices but the games are here now.”
The Outlaws got off on the right foot earlier this week. Now comes the traditional December rivalry game with Wray.
“It’s Yuma-Wray,” Sheffield noted. “Any time it’s Yuma-Wray it’s going to be a tight game.”
He added that Vanguard also will provide a stern test as the Coarsers are long and athletic.
Yuma boys have been in three straight 3A state tournaments, including winning the 2024 title. This will be their last season before dropping down again to 2A. Yuma enters the season ranked No. 5 in the 3A preseason Top 10. Vanguard is No. 9.
The Outlaws return senior Brody Sheffield, one of the top scorers in 3A, along with fellow seniors Noe Quezada, David Covarrubias and Reyli Trejo. Senior Jesus Hermosillo, standing at 6-foot-4, has transferred in from Lone Star.
Juniors Alex Pensado and Iann Duran are key returning players. Underclassmen looking for time in a deep rotation include sophomores Jalen Ross, Jose Mario Ross and Stevie Seward, along with freshmen Alex Castillo and Osvaldo Pensado.
“We’re going to be like we were in 2022, a lot of pressing and running,” Sheffield said.