This year is unlike any other year for the boys’ basketball varsity team. Three freshmen are on the team in comparison to last season, when there were no freshmen on the team to start the season. It’s not because of a lack of talent, but rather the freshmen being deserving of their spot. There are more freshmen on varsity than sophomores. The year has not only been different for the three freshmen starting their high school basketball careers on varsity, but also for the upperclassmen who have not had to deal with freshmen on varsity.
There’s always been a debate about skill versus seniority, but the upperclassmen understand that they are on the same team as the freshmen and instead try to help them grow. “I feel like we have pretty good team chemistry. We have four different grade levels. I feel like it’s pretty special,” said freshman Dylan Moran.
The varsity basketball team is normally composed of seniors and juniors, and occasionally some sophomores, but rarely a solid amount of all four grades. The connection between the four classes is crucial for a successful basketball team during practices, but also during games.
In the past, the Frosh and JV teams have been more achievable for players and have also fostered the development and camaraderie of the underclassmen. With three kids missing out, though, it is possible that their immediate jump to varsity may hinder their development. However, senior Noah Henry disagrees. “I think it’s good to be able to see them develop, being as young as they are.”
The team has had an up-and-down season up to this point. They currently sit third in league standings and 17-10 record. Moran said, “I feel like it’s been going good. We’re working on [being] great, but we just [have] to focus on today, and focus on trying to win the League.”
The team believes they have much more to achieve and win, and they are confident in their potential to improve. Freshman Dominic Byra, who starts at point guard, echoed what his fellow freshman said, “I feel like we can take the next step and become a better team.”
Playing against upperclassmen who are much stronger and more experienced than freshmen is no easy task. Adjusting to having a freshman starting at point guard is also difficult. Byra believes the biggest challenge of being on varsity as a freshman is “playing the older kids, like pure athleticism, and physicality.” A lot of work has to be put in for the freshmen to develop and adapt to the challenges. Moran said, “There’s a lot of stuff that goes into it in the off-season that not a lot of people see.”
As Moran testified, team bonding has been built since the summer with routine tournaments and trips to 7-Eleven. Due to the talent of the freshmen, they’ve known they would be on varsity since the summer, so the team has had time to embrace them. Moran’s favorite memory of the season so far has been “poker nights” hosted at one of the players’ houses. These events have helped the freshmen get accustomed to what it’s like being a varsity basketball player and the responsibility that comes from representing their school.
