After last season ended, the basketball team eagerly awaited the start of next season. They thoroughly thought out the last season, and agreed upon some new changes to better shape the team. During the summer, the players had to participate in conditioning to get an early start on the season and practice for what is to come. An optional Fall League opened this year, enabling the team to get a head start and a run-through of what the season should look like. Many players participated in the fall league, allowing them to bond with their teammates and get extra practice before the winter season begins. Along with that, open gyms began in early September, enabling the team to create a bond before the season. These open gyms included drills, team bonding, and practicing new skills to prepare for the upcoming season.

“I liked how we got in more leagues and that more players showed up at practice; definitely made this preseason a lot better,”Malikhi Piersol (10) said.

Many players who participated in the fall league have said that they feel as if it helped a lot and was a lot of fun getting a feel of what playing with new teammates was like. Teamwork is a crucial part of the game, so it’s important that everyone shows up to get to know each other and practice playing together. Beginning to trust teammates makes a difference in the team and on the court. Putting in the effort to become friends with teammates leads to connections on the court, and life-long friendships. It is crucial that the upperclassmen bond with the underclassmen so they can build trust and communication to create a unified team.

The preseason is a great time for freshmen to adjust to their new environment and get to know their teammates. Along with that, they get the opportunity to work on new skills. As players get into high school, they have more chances to grow and enlighten themselves about the tricks of the game.

“I feel that being part of the high school team last year while being in 8th grade made the jump much easier–the bond came easily, since I basically had the experience of a sophomore” Chase Andrews (9) said.

While most freshmen are new to the high school team, Chase has played with the team since his 8th grade year. This gives him a sense of comfortability seeing familiar faces and playing with his teammates prior to this year.

Compared to previous years, this preseason stands out by showing the team’s commitment and motivation. From conditioning to open gyms, the players have been on the ball and prepared for it all. The team is striving to see growth and get some more wins this year, while building a connection within every player. All the players showing up ready and excited has already set the tone for this season, leading students to believe it will be a great one.