'We just want to be the best team possible at the end of the year'

MOSES LAKE — The Mavericks will have a new head coach leading the way from the bench this boys basketball season, with Craig Groth set to take over the program after years as an assistant coach. 

“I’m super excited, especially after being an assistant there the last 14 years and having some other experience coaching at Big Bend,” Groth said. “I’m excited and pumped to lead the program in a good direction moving forward.” 

Prior to spending 14 years as an assistant coach with the Moses Lake boys basketball program, Groth was an assistant coach at Big Bend Community College, where he also played basketball from 2002-04. 

“Being able to play at a high level – see a lot of different things, a lot of different plays, a lot of different strategies – that helped me carry over to coaching,” Groth said. “A lot of these kids want to play at that high level as well, that next level; by playing there, I can help guide them, teach them and give them a helping hand on what it takes to get to that level.” 

Making an impact on youth was something that drew Groth to coaching, he said. 

“I like being a bit of a mental role model to help guide them on a good path on and off the basketball court,” Groth said. “I had a great time when I was playing and always looked up to my coaches ... I feel with my knowledge and experience, I can lend a helping hand to the kids and want them to have the best experience possible while playing and helping them be successful in life.” 

Groth said skill development is a key aspect in his coaching style, assisted by more than a decade of coaching and learning from former Moses Lake head coaches John Hohman and Jake Hunt. 

“We’ll practice that a lot,” he said of skill development. “I feel that my knowledge in that background helps me strategize, whether it’s scouting opponents or figuring out best fits for our guys and putting them in the best positions.” 

Having a new coach can be a big adjustment, with players learning the ways and operation of their new head coach. However, Groth and the Maverick roster are familiar with one another; only two seniors graduated from last winter’s roster. 

“I know their strengths and weaknesses, so that’ll help me put them in spots where they’re capable of succeeding and limiting their weaknesses, but at the same time, developing practices where they’re even building on their strengths and make their weaknesses less of a weakness by getting them to build upon that,” Groth said. 

Moses Lake will enter the 2024-25 basketball season with five consecutive losing seasons in the rearview mirror; Groth said to turn that around, it’ll take hard work and building strong relationships between players and the coaching staff. 

“We just want to be the best team possible at the end of the year,” Groth said. “It’ll be a little bit of a learning curve, a little bit of adjustment from change – hopefully, we’re peaking at the right time at the end of the year so we’re making as deep a run as we can in the playoffs.” 

    New Moses Lake boys basketball Head Coach Craig Groth (pictured) spent 14 years as an assistant coach with the boys basketball program and coached three seasons at Big Bend Community College after playing for the Vikings from 2002-04.