The boys’ varsity basketball season started off with a new head coach, Brian Miller, who has brought a different view on how to play basketball. The players have been anticipating the start of the season so they can try out their new ideas on the court.

“Practice [length] depends on how hard we [try] in [practice],” junior captain Kj Pruitt said. “We’re working hard so we can accomplish everything [we] can.”

The team has been diligently working through offseason to be ready for its competitions.

“[The team has been] working really hard and they’re going after it,” Miller said. “They had 21 practices so far and played [four] games already. We are [also] trying to establish our culture [and our own] way of style.”

Before the season began, the team had already established a close bond.

“We all have good chemistry and we have fun together, especially on the court,” senior Matthew Norman said. “We laugh and joke – we all get along with each other like a family.”

After their win against McKinney Boyd on Tuesday, Nov. 27, the winning streak of [4-0] has proven hard work pays off. The team aims to keep up its winning streak in the Curtis Culwell Invitational on Thursday, Nov. 29. However, Miller continues to push the players to grow by teaching them to be assertive.

“We are going very up and down [in] fast paces and [we] try to do a lot of possessions,” Miller said. “[We] work to pressure people, make them uncomfortable, [and] try and get in transition and to baskets.”

The new approach to the game is different from other tactics they’ve used in the past. Players have seen their new tactic works in their favor on the court, but they have also come to recognize flaws within their victories.

“I feel we have to improve in rebounding defense [because] our offense is [strong], but we have to work better on our defense, [specifically] on communicating,” junior O’cyrus Girtmon said.