After graduating only one senior last year, the boys varsity basketball team returns with many of its key contributors and enters the season with high expectations. The returning players have had an extra year not only to get stronger and improve their games individually, but also to develop better relationships with one another.

“They have a great attitude and are very unified as a group,” said Coach Mark Fiedor. “The guys know each other better, they have seen each others’ games develop and I feel like the guys have a better idea of what the strengths of their teammates are.”

Last year, the team started 4-1, but after a losing streak, the team ended its season by missing the playoffs by one game.

“Because of that common experience and the fact that we’ve got a lot of these guys coming back, it makes it easier to deal with adversity,” said Fiedor.

According to senior team captain Josh McDowall, there is a lot of talent coming up to the varsity team this year that will help them get to the playoffs.

“We all need to become like a big family,” said McDowall, “which will probably happen in the season because we’ll have a lot of ups and downs and we’ll need to play through those.”

McDowall is very confident that the team will perform well and be better than it was last year. He guarantees that the games this year will be a lot more entertaining.

In addition to the team’s chemistry and talent, Fiedor sees other strengths in his team.

“I expect our team to be a great defensive team and a great rebounding team; that’s going to be our focus. Lots of pressing, lots of running, coupled with an outstanding attitude,” said Fiedor of his team, one of the larger teams in terms of size he has had in recent memory.

Fiedor also wants to see a total unification of purpose.

“It’s the most talented group we’ve had here since Jeff Adrien,” said Fiedor, referring to the former star basketball player and Connecticut Huskies’ captain, who’s currently playing for The Golden State Warriors. 

Fiedor said that the players are mentally tougher, more mature, and generally bigger than in the past.

Junior Lake Berry, who played on the team last year as a sophomore, said that the team was on the immature side last year.

“Kids would whine in practice, kids wouldn’t sprint, kids wouldn’t rebound. Coach made it clear that this year’s not going to be an easy year,” said Berry.

Last year, the team ran into some trouble after a fast start.

“The first couple of games that we won last year really went to our head,” said Berry, “which led to losses against better competition out of the Bay-State Conference.”

Fiedor agreed that last year’s team did not play to their potential towards the end of the season.

“The coaches and the players aren’t going to let that happen again,” he said.

According to Berry, the team needs to stay focused and start games off well. Berry added that playing together with teammates over the summer helped both the team’s chemistry and maturity.

McDowall has high hopes for this upcoming season.

“This year, we’re determined, we’re hungry and I believe we should have a great season,” said McDowall.

Fiedor is confident that the team will achieve success, as long as they keep their focus.

“The main focus is working hard, keeping our attitudes right, and trying to reach our potential,” Fiedor said. “If you do that, the game winning usually takes care of itself.”

Josh Slavin can be contacted at [email protected].