Despite the varsity boys season not doing well the last two years where they went 2-25 (2022-2023 season and 14–13 last season, they have high hopes for this upcoming season.
The team lost several good players due to graduation, but kept some good players who are taking on leadership roles and working hard to improve the team’s level of play.
“It’s different now for sure, but we have had a bunch of guys step up into that leadership role, so that’s beneficial for the whole team,” sophomore Tyler Pimentel said. “They’ve been getting me ready for the varsity level, and I’m thankful for the guidance from them because from freshman to varsity level is a huge jump and hard to adjust too, but that veteran mentor role that the older guys took on has made it easier for me.”
To improve their season record, athletes who hope to be on the team are attending pre-season workouts almost every day after school with varsity coach Jon Hardy and the veteran players.
“This year, I have a plan to achieve more and do better,” Hardy said.
To accomplish this, athletes who hope to be on the team work almost every day after school to improve their skills.
“In workouts, it’s a variety of different things we go through, but we are consistently working on getting in shape, getting up and down the floor. Also getting stronger such as weight lifting and it gets hard sometimes,” Pimentel said.
Preseason workouts focus on conditioning including weight lifting, running hills, and running the neighborhoods which help prepare them for a good season.
“This year our team is going to work harder, play harder, and hopefully have a better plan which is going to give us a better record than our last year’s record and I hope our plan works out effectively,” junior Jayden Dickerson, who was on the junior varsity team last year.
Despite the hard work, players continue to compete because they love the sport.
“It was the first thing I really wanted to try. Nothing else interested me until I saw an orange ball and a hoop and have been working to get better ever since,” Pimentel said.
The team has a couple more months before they take on their first opponents but will continue their pursuit of a winning season and continue to improve their record.
“I feel like we are headed in the right direction for an amazing season and hopefully better than previous years. We have a lot of leadership in this group that I really like and love to have on my team,” Hardy said.
