Coach Jeff Hanke is back as the Union High School head coach. He replaces long-time coach Mike Ross, who coached the Cougars for nine years. Hanke began coaching at Union in 1993 and finished his duties as head coach in 2000. His best finish was second place in the late 1990s. Union reached the 3-A state title game where they lost to Lehi. Hanke has been an assistant coach for the last several years.

Union will open its season with a 5:15 p.m. home game vs. South Summit and the Lady Cougars will play Duchesne in Roosevelt on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

Hanke is looking forward to coaching basketball at Union.

“I'm here (teaches at Union) and I don't coach football any more. I wanted to get involved with our school. I like basketball and it is fun to be around the kids,” said Hanke. “We have four seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores and 12 freshmen.”

The varsity scrimmage between Gray and Black uniform wearing squads ended in a 27-27 tie when Gray team member Colton Nielsen hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Free throws by Gray teamers, Mike Dye and Chris Guinn narrowed the Black lead to one point, twice at 23-22 and 25-24. Kulland hit two free throws to put the Black team up three at 27-24 with 13 seconds remaining in the game.

Roosevelt Junior High 7th, 8th graders and Union freshmen had scrimmages at Union prior to varsity action.

Members of the Union High School Cougar basketball teams for the 2009-10 season are: seniors – Chris Guinn, 6’1,160 pounds; Jesse Kulland, 6’4, 180 pounds; Dillon Murray, 6’2,190 pound; Paul Nelson, 6’4, 205 pounds; juniors – Dylan Braithwaite, 6’1, 170 pounds; Weston Crozier, 5’11, 170 pounds; Colton Jacobson, 6’0, 170 pounds; Kaden Kulland, 5’10, 150 pounds; Brandon Lamb, 6’1, 160 pounds; Braxten Nielsen, 5’8, 155 pounds; Colton Nielsen, 5’9, 160 pounds.

Coach Hanke gave comments about his four seniors after the annual Meet The Cougar Night at Union High School on Wednesday.

“We have a real leader in Paul Nelson. He is a solid all-around athlete. Jesse Kulland is a gifted athlete and has a smooth left-handed shot. Chris Guinn is my warrior. He plays with great intensity. Dillon Murray has great fundamentals and is a smooth shooter with a great touch for a big guy,” he said.

Remaining team members are; sophomores – Clay Crozier, 6’0; Colin Crozier, 6’2; Michael Dye, 5’9; Mitch Hall, 5’7; Braydn Musich, 5’9; Daniel Potter, 6’1; Spencer Ross, 5’11.

Freshmen hoop members are: George Ady, 5'5; Jayde Bertoch, 5'10; Wyatt Carter, 5’5; Chandler Cline, 6’0; Alex Horrocks, 5’10; George Kaufusi, 6’1; Brady Lamb, 6’4; Stephen Merrell, 6’3; Haydn Ross, 5’3;Carver Simkins, 5’7; Weston Walker, 5’8; Jonathan Wood, 5’10.

Guinn, J. Kulland, Nelson, Crozier, Nielsen, Braithwaite, Lamb, Jacobson and Ross saw some varsity play last year with Kulland, Crozier, Lamb, Guinn and Nielsen seeing starting action. Nielsen was a fulltime starter.

Last year Union won seven games over Park City, twice; Carbon, Ben Lomond, South Summit, Evanston and Sheridan, Wyo.

Top scorers in the triumphs were: vs. Carbon, Nielsen, 15; T. Nelson, 12; vs. Sheridan, T. Nelson, 21; Olson, 12; vs. Evanston, T. Nelson, 22; Yazzie, 11; vs. Ben Lomond, Kulland, 18; T. Nelson, 13; vs. South Summit, T. Nelson, 13; Nielsen, Olson, 8; first game vs. Park City, T. Nelson, 27; Olson, 21; P. Nelson, 8; second game vs. Park City, T. Nelson, 26; Nielsen, 14; Brandon Lamb, 7.

Only scorers from those game returning are P. Nelson, Nielsen, Kulland and Lamb.

Union Boys' Basketball

Wed. Nov. 25 – South Summit at Union; Tues. Dec. 1 – Union at Payson; Tues. Dec. 8 – Union at Uintah; Fri. Dec 11 – Union at Grantsville; Sat. Dec. 12 – Union at Ben Lomond, varsity at 4 p.m.; Thurs. Dec. 17,18, 19 – Union at Green River Tourney; Sat. Dec. 19 – Manti at Union, varsity game, Tues. Dec. 22 – Evanston at Union, Wed. Dec. 30 – Union at Kearns; Tues. Jan. 5 – Emery at Union; Tues. Jan. 12, Union at Altamont.

Region 10 Games – Fri. Jan. 15 – Union at American Leadership Academy (ALA); Tues. Jan. 19 – Wasatch at Union; Fri. Jan. 22 – Park City at Union; Tues. Jan. 26 – Union at Carbon; Tues. Feb. 2 – ALA at Union, Fri. Feb 5 – Union at Wasatch, Tues. Feb. 9 – Union at Park City, Fri. Feb. 12 – Carbon at Union.

First round playoff games will be held on Feb. 20 and the 3-A state meet is Feb 25 – 27 at Utah Valley University in Provo.

This year the Union boys and girls will be taking turns at the 7 p.m. starting time with the net result being that some boys' hoop games will begin at 5:15 p.m. in Region 10 battles. Other varsity game starting times are: 5:15 p.m. vs. South Summit; 4 p.m. vs Ben Lomond; 5:30 p.m. vs. Manti, 5:15 p.m. vs. Evanston and 2 p.m. against Kearns.