JV and Varsity Basketball play in tournaments and hold practices before their regular season

Sophomores Ally Arora and Alyssa Alvarez play a in a one-on-one scrimmage game, while seniors Maya Melrose and Jackie Wong practice their defense.

Sophomores Ally Arora and Alyssa Alvarez play a in a one-on-one scrimmage game, while seniors Maya Melrose and Jackie Wong practice their defense.

Neely Metz, Copy Editor
December 12, 2014

Neely Metz
Senior Reporter

Paired with brand-new coaches and practice routines, the month-long basketball preseason aims at preparing players for the league season beginning Jan. 6, with varsity playing a total of 10 preseason games and junior varsity playing seven.

“Preseasons are a great opportunity to try different positions playing,” Athletic Director Elena DeSantis said. “You really know where you stand as the league comes.”

The preseason for the junior varsity and varsity teams also includes games, practices and tournaments against teams in the Bay Counties League. Coaches Ren Marquette and Norman Canta are using team practices as a time to build experience and confidence on the court, with both varsity and junior varsity practicing together.

“The preseason is extremely important for having a chance to see how people perform under pressure and finding out what everyone’s individual strengths are,” Marquette said. “By the time we get to the league season, I have a good idea of how I want to defend with them and how I want to use them on offense.”

Coaches often schedule preseason games that challenge the team’s existing abilities, according to DeSantis. If competitors are too weak, coaches may not have the opportunity to address needed improvements and help the team advance.

Competing against teams that are too difficult can be just as problematic.

“If your team is not as strong as the year before and you have a really tough preseason schedule, you will be beaten down,” DeSantis said.

Games won during the preseason are not counted towards the final league standing, but a positive preseason record can come in handy for teams who have not placed high in the league. Teams with a winning record of  50 percent or higher can apply to play in the North Coast Section championships, and preseason scores can count as part of the won games.

Preseason competitions assist in giving new athletes with varying backgrounds of experience, a feel for the games first hand.

“Preseasons give us the opportunity to play against another team instead of our own players.” varsity player Alex Farran said. “It gives us more experience dealing with refs and actual game situations, and they’re also teams that we’ll see in the future.”

Basketball is the only sport taking place throughout the winter season, with the preseason lasting from early November to the beginning of January.

Preseason practice will now go into the fourth day of Winter Break that begins Dec. 19. Despite the lengthy preseason, basketball players accept the opportunity they are given.

“The long preseason isn’t ideal, but I definitely understand because basketball is a big commitment,” Farran said.

Paired with brand-new coaches and practice routines, the month-long basketball preseason aims at preparing players for the league season beginning Jan. 6, with varsity playing a total of 10 preseason games and junior varsity playing seven.
“Preseasons are a great opportunity to try different positions playing,” Athletic Director Elena DeSantis said. “You really know where you stand as the league comes.”
The preseason for the junior varsity and varsity teams also includes games, practices and tournaments against teams in the Bay Counties League. Coaches Ren Marquette and Norman Canta are using team practices as a time to build experience and confidence on the court, with both varsity and junior varsity practicing together.
“The preseason is extremely important for having a chance to see how people perform under pressure and finding out what everyone’s individual strengths are,” Marquette said. “By the time we get to the league season, I have a good idea of how I want to defend with them and how I want to use them on offense.”
Coaches often schedule preseason games that challenge the team’s existing abilities, according to DeSantis. If competitors are too weak, coaches may not have the opportunity to address needed improvements and help the team advance.
Competing against teams that are too difficult can be just as problematic.
“If your team is not as strong as the year before and you have a really tough preseason schedule, you will be beaten down,” DeSantis said.
Games won during the preseason are not counted towards the final league standing, but a positive preseason record can come in handy for teams who have not placed high in the league. Teams with a winning record of  50 percent or higher can apply to play in the North Coast Section championships, and preseason scores can count as part of the won games.
Preseason competitions assist in giving new athletes with varying backgrounds of experience, a feel for the games first hand.
“Preseasons give us the opportunity to play against another team instead of our own players.” varsity player Alex Farran said. “It gives us more experience dealing with refs and actual game situations, and they’re also teams that we’ll see in the future.”
Basketball is the only sport taking place throughout the winter season, with the preseason lasting from early November to the beginning of January.
Preseason practice will now go into the fourth day of Winter Break that begins Dec. 19. Despite the lengthy preseason, basketball players accept the opportunity they are given.
“The long preseason isn’t ideal, but I definitely understand because basketball is a big commitment,” Farran said.