The start of the basketball season has been both exciting and challenging. The past few weeks, the boys have had several victories as well as some difficult losses. The team is smaller with only 17 boys on the team. 

“(The biggest challenge has been) not having a lot of guys,” senior Eli Benge said. “Every game has been like a dog fight.” 

Several of the players said that even the challenges helped them grow as a team.

“Even though we lost, (my favorite was) probably the Chaparral (game),” Benge said. “Everybody played as a team, not just selfish basketball.”

Junior Hayden Frederick joined the team as the starting point guard. He said he hasn’t let switching teams put him behind. 

“It was a big change, I feel like,” Frederick said, “but I got used to it, and I like where I’m at.”

The boys said they are continuing to push through the season and are keeping a strong mindset. 

“(My best advice is) always go 100 percent, no matter what,” sophomore Koy Ast said.

The team plays next Jan. 16 at home against Rose Hill.