Joe Ortiz had a long-term basketball vision in mind when he started at ThunderRidge, one that leveraged a feeder system with a combination of discipline and talent at the varsity level.
Vlasin recalled Ortiz as a “feisty little competitor” on the court. Ortiz was only a role player for Vlasin’s Lions, but his basketball I.Q. as a young assistant at Littleton was evident.
“ has a very high interest and involvement in the feeder program,” longtime ThunderRidge assistant Bob Rusk said. “He gets to know kids at that level and develops relationships with them; he’s able to predict what ones will be future varsity players, future varsity starters. He works hard at developing those relationships early. That’s where the expectations for the program begin to be set.
The pillars of Ortiz’s program philosophy haven’t changed, but the Grizzlies’ style of play continually evolves. Ortiz’s ability to adapt his team’s playing style to its personnel each season has kept ThunderRidge at the top of the Class 5A heap. That 62-41 setback on Feb. 8 was an eye-opener, as was the test ThunderRidge got in its first playoff game last Saturday. Heritage, the No. 33 seed, opened the Round 2 matchup on a 13-2 run before ThunderRidge battled back for a 54-48 victory to advance.ThunderRidge Grizzlies head basketball coach Joe Ortiz during round two of the Colorado 5A basketball tournament against the Heritage Eagles at ThunderRidge Feb. 26, 2022.