BASKETBALL: Poly’s boys’ varsity basketball team prepares for a successful 2015–2016 season.
By Natalie Apostol, Staff Writer
The transition from fall to winter brings out the winter sports, including Poly’s boys’ varsity basketball team. Although they lost many players, the team, which now consists of eight seniors and three underclassman, still plans to dominate on the court. “I expect to have a strong team still with the experience we have under our belts,” Dylan McDowell (12) said.
The three underclassmen are restlessly working to keep up with the seniors on the court and to gain varsity experience before their senior year. “My personal goals are to learn what I can from the upperclassmen and prepare for my next two years. It’s difficult being an underclassman on this team with eight seniors, but I just need to work twice as hard and do my best to keep up,” Carlton Brown (10) expressed.
A strong bond on and off the court is an important key to having a successful season. “This year, we have a lot of camaraderie since [many of us] have been playing together since we were at a young age. We practice once or twice a day and spend time with each other off the court, growing that bond to make that run on the court,” McDowell stated. A strong bond allows the athletes to trust each other and work well against opponents who may not have a similar connection together.
The male athletes have set individual and team goals that they have confidence in achieving. They plan to advance far into California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) through teamwork, persistence and heart for the game. They continue to grow as a team by practicing regularly for up to eight months prior to season, as well as practicing almost every day of the week. “We’re definitely more focused this year than we were last year; we’re working harder, listening to our coaches, running plays better and are more involved in what we need to do,” Terrell Brown (12) mentioned.
This nascent era of Poly basketball will be more successful than previous years with the new team of determined young men. As the season unfolds, they are working towards bringing another title home to Poly and making school history.