The squeak of basketball shoes echo around the gym as the roughly twenty boys race across the court, chasing balls and shooting layups. Coach Heyen stands from the sidelines, shouting instructions and encouragement to the potential players at the boys basketball tryouts that took place on November 17, and will continue until the 19th, in the CHS gym at 5:30.
Right now, the team is in the tryout process, where students who want to play for the school display their skills and athleticism so that they can be placed on a team, either varsity, junior varsity, or C Team, that will best fit them and their knowledge and skill.
Team Manager Ilsa Dronen, sophomore, is in her second year of managing this team and sat through tryouts on the 17th. She said, “There was not a lot of team stuff, just a lot of individual work, or partner [work].” She explained that she thought that they did not do a lot of conditioning and had more of a laid back practice than what she and the players were expecting. “There are a few that are obvious leaders on the court,” she said while talking about how the boys seemed energetic and excited for the season.
While the season has officially started, the first game will be held on December 9th at home. Former varsity player from last year Mac Carlson, sophomore, said, “I think we’re ready. Obviously some of the guys that will play key roles for our team are not able to practice because of football, but I think that our coaches will come up with a good game plan for us to play to the best of our ability.”
Ultimately, Cashmere is very quickly shifting gears from fall sports to winter sports, paving the way for the basketball team to possibly go even further than last season, when they lost in the round of 12 to the Seton Catholic Cougars.
