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Warriors’ new head coach proud of his team

Feb 09, 2017 02:43PM ● By Bryan Scott

The Warriors boys basketball team gathers around new head coach Bernie Graziano for final instructions in its win over Cyprus 72-50. (Greg James/City Journals)

By Greg James | [email protected]

The Taylorsville High School boys basketball team has inherited a coach that has spent lots of time at other schools in the Granite School District. The players hope his experience can help them take a step forward toward their goals.


“I am really proud of our guys,” new head coach Bernie Graziano said. “We have competed in some very tough places to play. I feel like we have some areas we need to improve, but we have played pretty well. We have been making the extra pass and going after the defense.”


The Warriors have three players averaging in double figures: Crosby Bringhurst, Marc Pacheco and Daniel Springer. 


“Different kids on different nights really lead us,” Graziano said. “Marc is one of the leading scorers. We are very athletic and hard to guard. Jameson Larsen and Crosby Bringhurst are great athletes. The team likes each other and that is important. They are high character kids and very respectful.”


Pacheco is a senior and stands 6-foot-4. He scored a season high 21 points against Olympus Nov. 29. Springer is a 6-foot-2 senior guard. He leads the team in assists by averaging almost three a game.


Bringhurst, a 6-foot-4 senior, has signed to play baseball at Kentucky and averages 11.1 points a game for the Warriors basketball team.


Their biggest win of the season was a road victory at Woods Cross. The Wildcats had only lost only one game all season. Four Warriors scored in double figures; Taylorsville led most of the game and pulled away in the end to win by six, 72-66.


“We just need to work on turnovers going into our region games,” Graziano said. “There are no nights off in our region. We are going to need to play defense and stay in games and pull out a few close ones.” 


The start of region games found the Warriors on the wrong side of the scoreboard in its two opening games. They lost to Brighton 80-57 and Jordan 69-49. 


Taylorsville competes in Region 3 against Bingham (defending state champion), Copper Hills (runner-up), West Jordan, Cottonwood, Brighton and Jordan.


The Warriors last appearance in the state tournament was the 2014-15 season. They lost in the first round to Viewmont. 


“These kids are a lot of fun to coach,” Graziano said. “I think they are committed to trying to achieve our goals. They’re great kids, and I love them. This is all about the kids, and we have goal to make it to the state tournament.” 


Graziano is in his first season at the helm of the Warriors basketball program. He has coached at Granger, Cottonwood, Fremont, Skyline and Hunter.


The state 5A boys basketball tournament is scheduled to begin Feb. 27 at the University of Utah and Utah Valley University. The Warriors must finish in fourth place or better in Region 3 to qualify for the tournament.