New coach, AAU push brings renewed promise to Mariposa boys’ basketball

By Dan Tucker

With a seasoned and respected coach now guiding the program, a strengthened Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) support system taking shape, and an enthusiastic wave of community backing behind it, the Mariposa County High School boys’ basketball program appears poised to enter a bright, promising new chapter filled with renewed energy, purpose and optimism.

Former Grizzly standout Bill Flarida has returned to Mariposa County High School to take over the boys’ basketball program as head varsity coach, bringing with him a deep connection to the school, a proven coaching background and a clear vision for building the program from the ground up.

“If you’re going to build a program, you have to start with the freshman team and have them running everything the way you do at the varsity level,” Flarida said. “As a varsity coach, you don’t want to start at ground zero every season, and that’s not the way we’re going to do it.”

As part of that long-range plan, Flarida’s players will participate in AAU basketball during the offseason, giving them additional opportunities to sharpen their shooting, strengthen their fundamental skills and develop a deeper understanding of team strategy.

“I’m confident that by participating in the AAU leagues, we can really boost the program,” Flarida said. Former longtime MCHS coach Trace DeSandres, who helped recruit Flarida for the position, said he believes the offseason component can make a meaningful difference. “I think participating in the AAU program in the offseason will be a big plus,” DeSandres said.

The AAU effort includes both varsity and junior varsity teams. Mariposa’s varsity group is aligned with Liberty High School in Madera as its AAU home court, while the junior varsity team is connected with Golden Valley High School in Merced.

The AAU program operates separately from the MCHS boys’ basketball program and is not governed by the California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees high school basketball in the state. “The AAU is the umbrella you play under; it’s like travel ball but different from the CIF,” Flarida said. “It allows you to practice and play without the CIF rules.”

Building that kind of offseason program requires resources, and Flarida said early community support has already been significant. He said he personally purchased a dozen new basketballs for $1,500, while the AAU season costs about $2,000 to enter. Jason Dubberke of Pioneer Market purchased the team uniforms, Flarida said, and fundraising efforts are helping cover the remaining expenses.

This week, Flarida said the program reached its goal of selling 200 tickets for a shrimp and ribeye dinner fundraiser scheduled for Aug. 1 at VanNess Ranch. The venue was donated by Steve Allison, owner of Allison Sierra, Inc. in Mariposa.

“I don’t think kids should have to come up with the money to play in these leagues, so with the fundraisers you can cover these costs,” Flarida said. “There’s still a lot of community support of athletics here.”

The two Mariposa teams played 20 games in June, giving the players valuable court time before the start of the high school season. Flarida said a contact in the Central Valley offered to prepare the fundraiser dinner with his team, donating their time and expertise. Dubberke also helped secure the shrimp and meat through his supermarket.

“Thanks to this type of fundraiser and community support, these kids will be able to play basketball for as much as their little bodies can take,” Flarida said. “It will just cost them $22 to cover the AAU insurance.”

DeSandres is also returning to serve in a shared role with Debbie Leonard as one of the school’s athletic directors. Flarida said the details of the coaching arrangement are still being finalized, but he expects the staff’s collective experience to give the program a strong base.

Flarida brings decades of basketball experience to the position. A three-sport athlete at MCHS from 1979 until his graduation in 1982, he competed in football, basketball and baseball, but said basketball always stood apart.

After graduating from MCHS, Flarida played at Modesto Junior College before continuing his career at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont. His coach there was Al Hobby, the brother of legendary Mariposa basketball coach Loyd Hobby.

“I had a wonderful relationship with Coach Hobby,” Flarida said of Al Hobby. “He was like a father to me. My dad passed in my freshman year at college, and we got along like peanut butter and jelly.”

At Mariposa, Flarida played three seasons under Loyd Hobby, who said he is pleased to see a former Grizzly leading the program. “He was a very high-level player, and he was always a very strong opponent for the opposition,” Hobby said. “We were glad he was on our side. I think the AAU program will really pay off, and I’m glad they hired him. We’re glad to see that one of the old Grizzlies is running the program.”

Flarida eventually stepped away from coaching and moved into sales, but he said the idea of coaching again in his hometown never left him. After being diagnosed with cancer, treated and later cured, he said his perspective changed.

“In my mind, I always thought I would coach in Mariposa since it was my hometown,” Flarida said. “Then I got diagnosed with cancer, and you think about what’s important when mortality gets put on your plate. After I was treated and cured, if I was going to do anything, I wanted to get back to coaching and teach the kids about the game and what it’s done for me.”

“Sometimes in life, it’s all about the timing,” Flarida concluded.