District Champions. That is the goal in mind of the varsity boys’ basketball team. And this year is no different from any other.

The only way to accomplish this long-term goal is if they have one hundred percent “buy in”, which they have.

“Based on last year the boys are now more eager to be more successful,” coach Chris Thomas said.

Both the coaches and the upperclassmen on the basketball team are trying to set the examples for the underclassmen in the program.

“We expect the boys this season to help us build a program for underclassmen to want to continue the tradition,” Thomas said.

The players admit that this year’s team will be a different group of guys that show up on the court.

“We are going to be way better players this year because we have a different mindset than last year,” senior CJ Ross said.

The team will play their regular district foes, and they know what to expect from their opponents this time around.

“I think the boys will do well this year, we have a lot more senior leadership to count on,” Thomas said.

Not only has the mindset of the players changed, but also the way they have worked to become better players overall.

“The guys have worked really hard, they’ve showed up to summer workouts everyday. You can see the difference the time in the weight room and on the court has made,” Thomas said.

“We work really hard during the season and during pre-season to compete with, and beat the other teams,” senior Fredd Richardson said.

Finally the time has come for basketball season to begin.

Basketball for most of the players is a passion, and having automatic friends on the team who share the same passion is just a plus.

“I will miss seeing everybody I’ve played with for all four years,” Richardson said.

The coaches hope for this season to be better overall, and hope that all the positive changes that have been made will last throughout the season.

“We would like to send the seniors out on a good note,” Thomas said.

The entire program has made many changes in order to have a better outcome this year.

“I would like everybody to know that this season we will redeem ourselves from the last basketball season,” Richardson said.