Montezuma Storm basketball takes Monday practice to Towaoc

Montezuma Storm Basketball, a nonprofit program that serves children in grades 5-12 in Montezuma County, has moved some Monday evening practices to Towaoc.

The coaches needed practice space and wanted to make practice more convenient for players and their who live outside Cortez.

“We have players who live in Towaoc and play on the teams, and so it is helpful have practice down here too,” coach Todd Plewe said. “I think it helps families to not have to travel so much.”

Deron Ethelbah, a seventh-grader who has been playing basketball for four years, said he thinks the practices help communication with the team.

“We have a lot of players who are members of the tribe, so it works out good for them too because they live here,” coach Dusty Veach said.

The Montezuma Storm is a community effort to get kids interested in basketball and play in tournaments in the area.

“We go around and play in tournaments around the Four Corners and Western Colorado area,” Plewe said. “We just finished our tournament in Moab. We host a tournament up in Cortez, and the idea is to let these kids have fun and get them acquainted with basketball and get them working as a team.”