[01/05/10]
Lengthen your line - “It is always better to improve and strengthen your own line or knowledge than to try and cut your opponent’s line”.

 

In the spirit of trying to improve everyday, the Golden Knights have worked hard in the off season with team strength and conditioning, individual skill workouts and over 50 games against top tier basketball programs such as, Long Beach Poly, Dorsey, Taft, Santa Monica, Crespi and La Canada.

 

This year's team presents a new learning experience. Trying to mesh seven full time basketball players with eight dual sport (football/basketball) athletes is not quick or easy and poses several expected challenges. Much of the progress earned in the off-season has been slow to translate in the pre-season as the delicate balance of team chemistry is integrated with respect for those players that are committed to playing two sports.

 

Finishing the pre-season 7 and 5, the Golden Knights Varsity basketball team has been a work in progress. Two of the losses came against La Canada (11 and 2) and Montebello (15 and 1), while the highlight is a victory over an experienced (12 and 1) Mark Keppel team. Overall, the program is headed in the right direction and the team seems to be catching its stride. The pre-season included three tournaments (12 games) with nine games against schools from higher CIF divisions. Despite lacking total team chemistry, the Knights earned their way to the Championship game in the La Canada and La Salle/Temple City tournaments. Although twice the Knights came up short, falling to more established/experienced teams, they learned valuable lessons along the way and showed significant progress.

 

As the team heads into the 14 game Mission League, they will focus on daily improvement, one possession at a time “1PAAT”. This year’s team is led by senior captain Tommy Jordan, a Second Team All Mission league shooting guard. While the teams’ chemistry is still emerging, Jordan will be joined by senior point guard Spencer Nieves, Junior Sevan Zarafian and Sophomore Emerson Castenada. Also providing much needed defensive strength in the middle is Nick Lupica, Ian Hamilton, Justin Posthuma and Dietrich Riley.

 

With almost one month until CIF playoffs, the Golden Knights have a long way to go, but expectations are high.