Grizzly basketball signs Alamosa's Loch

ALAMOSA, Colo.— Alamosa High School senior Randall Loch has signed a national letter of intent to continue his educational and basketball career close to home, Adams State College men’s basketball coach Louis Wilson announced Thursday.

“We’re very excited to sign Randall.  He is more than just a local kid, he’s a very talented local kid,” Wilson said.  “This is a good day for Grizzly basketball as it’s always a positive measure of your program when the best player from your area wants to stay home to play.”

Loch, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard and forward was named as the Intermountain League Player of the Year earlier this spring after averaging 21.1 points per game for the Mean Moose, coached by his father Brian this season.  Loch was also a second team all-state selection and earned First Team All-IML league honors after helping the team to a 15-8 record, a district championship and a trip to the second round of the 3A state tournament.

Loch scored 34 points in the district championship game, which went to overtime.

As a junior in 2009-10, Loch averaged 18.2 points per game while earning First Team All-South Central League honors for the Mean Moose, who competed at the 4A level that year under coach Wade Mortensen.  That year’s squad advanced to the first round of the state tournament.

Loch, whose sister Crystal just ended a strong 4-year career with the Grizzly women’s basketball team, also tallied 224 rebounds last season, an average of more than 10 a game and finished with 158 as a junior.

In his 4-year varsity career, Loch tallied 1,139 career points and 467 rebounds.

“Randall adds a lot in the way we like to play because of his skill set.  He is a very good match and has a good upside who has a chance to make a very big impact,” Wilson commented.

“He is a fine character kid, good student and shoots the ball well.”

An overall stellar athlete, Loch also earned IML Track Athlete of the Year honors and claimed all-conference honors in the 110-meter hurdles, one of four events he qualified for the state track & field meet in.

Loch plans to major in human performance and physical education and wants to become an athletic trainer.  He is the son of Brian and Dawn Loch.  His oldest sister Jacque, 26, also played volleyball for the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies will be looking to continue their upward swing in 2011-12 after winning an NCAA Division II era (1992-93/Present) school-record 20 wins while advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament for just the second time.  The 2010-11 campaign was the first under Wilson, who also guided the Grizzlies to a new school-record for steals and to the semifinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout.