Varsity:
In the world of OHS sports, boys basketball continues to shine and make a name for themselves. Boys basketball has grown a lot since last year due to their increased focus on friendship and comradery.
“I feel like we definitely like each other more, and we’ve become [better] friends and family, and have that closer bond that we didn’t have last year,” said Jason Cullum, senior.
OHS basketball has not just improved their relationships off the court, they have also shown great growth within the lines as they push themselves to their max.
“Our practices are definitely more intense, we take more time focusing on the little things that matter, and we also do a good job at scouting the other team,” said Michael Simcoe, junior.
The team only has a few losses this season so far, but the adversity they are faced with still requires perseverance in order to continue their widespread success.
“We practice everyday to get ourselves exposed and used to those kinds of moments so that when [adversity] comes in the game, we’re ready for it,” said John Simcoe, junior.
The OHS coaches are very supportive of the players, helping them push through tough situations and keep their heads up.
“If we give our best version, and we lose a game, then we take our hat off to them and get back to work; If we give our best version and blow a team out we take our hats off and get back to work,” said Josh Cole, head varsity coach.
A lot of teams get too arrogant and finish off the season poorly, but OHS has been working on keeping their success going and making a run in the playoffs.
“[We] don’t get in over our heads, don’t become too arrogant, and just keep working because our end goal is a championship,” said Michael Simcoe.
The whole team has one common goal, and they all work towards it. Whether it be training together, building bonds together, or even having ‘Focus Fridays’ where they meet with mentors.
“I think everybody has the same answer on the team: just to win state, I think we have a good shot at it, we just have to keep working,” Cullum said.
JV:
A lot of people get lost in the freshman and varsity levels of high school athletics, but JV basketball has gone above and beyond, having a fantastic season so far and although they have experienced lots of success, they stay humble.
“We just try to stand out…we just play basketball, and if we win that’s good for the whole program,” said Connor Skinner, junior.
The JV team has undergone many changes since last season, whether it be court adjustments or even the additions of new players, which has allowed the team to step out of their comfort zone.
“We’ve got a lot of the same players, a couple transfers, we’ve just gotten a lot better at defense, we score the ball a lot better, and we’ve gotten bigger,” Skinner said.
The JV team has done a good job embracing new transfers from other schools, working well together and building comfort in a new team.
“People care a lot more here…people have a lot more fun and it’s a different environment,” said Carsen Pavey, junior.
Some of the transfer students also note how the OHS coaches were much more accepting than those from their previous schools.
“[OHS Coaches] are much more supportive and have a lot more understanding,” Pavey said.
The team has also focused more on growing off the court as a brotherhood, so that they can work better, and understand each other on the court.
“It’s been a great season so far…it’s been really fun and we are like a family,” Skinner said.
Freshman:
Every year a new set of freshman basketball players join OHS and have to make the tough adjustment from middle school to high school athletics.
“The biggest jump has probably been the pacing of the game, just how fast it is,” said Liam Pavey, freshman.
A lot of the players mentioned how the coaches really helped them work through this adjustment and make the transition smooth.
“[The coaches] made it really easy and are patient with us,” said Demarkus Allen, freshman.
While the Freshman team has been pretty successful this season, they have still had some lows and the players strive to change that.
“Our effort throughout some of these games has been on and off, so I feel like if we change that we could have won more,” said Brody Wilson, freshman.
With there being so many options for high schools in the valley, it can be difficult for students to narrow it down to just one option. OHS stands out a lot for athletes due to how supportive the coaching staff was.
“[The coaches] made it really easy and they are patient with us,” Allen said.
The players are looking forward to growing as a team together this year, and in their future seasons, as they go up in the levels of highschool basketball together.
“Just knowing that their basketball program is good and we have a bunch of young players so we’re going to be good in the future,” Allen said.
