Selma High School’s basketball season will soon be commencing. Selma High’s boys basketball team’s first game will be taking place on November 21st against Sunnyside High School. The game will be played at Reedley College. As for the girl’s, their first scrimmage is taking place on November 7th and their first official game will be on November 13th at Matilda High School.
The boys basketball team and the girls basketball team have to share their occupancy time at the gym. Their practice schedules differ every week. One week the boys basketball team will use the gym from 4p.m.- 6p.m., and the next they will cede that time slot for the girls basketball team, and they will use the gym from 6p.m.- 8p.m.
The boys basketball team began to condition for the basketball season in the summer. The try-outs started on October 23.
Coach Vargas, the head-coach for the boys basketball team, believes that it is all within the athlete to be motivated.
“It’s an expectation we have. When they come in they have [to have] a good attitude, the competition, and how hard we make them play [also motivates them],” commented Coach Vargas.
“Trying to get better with my friends and my teammates, and having a good time [is always enjoyable],” stated junior Aaron Ramirez. “I’m looking forward to having a good season with my teammates and trying to improve as a player.”
In order to improve as a player every season, senior Roshan Dail thinks that effort outside of practice is needed in order to refine skills.
“I strive [to improve] by putting in work outside of our practices. Practices are what gets us to the middle of the season. What you put in outside of practice is what gets you to play-offs,” Roshan Dail commented.
Dail considers teamwork to have a great impact on the development of the team, and the outcome of their season as well.
“Teamwork is the way that we grow. If you play individually then our team can’t play at the same level, but if we grow to play together, that is when we win games,” communicated Dail.
On the other hand, the girls try-outs began on October 16th and the official practices began on the week of October 23rd. The team kicked off their season with conditioning in order to be prepared physically for what is to come.
With every season of basketball the players anxiously await to showcase their improvement from previous seasons.
“I am looking forward to winning the league because we have a really good chance at achieving it. It’s my final year, so I want to make the most out of it,” remarked senior Isha Panu. “What I enjoy about basketball would be the competitive edge and peace it gives me. It is also something I get to do with my friends [and] teammates.”
Junior Daviana Chavez hopes to make it further into playoffs this year.
“Learning from mistakes [is a way to improve], and to be better mentally prepared,” stated Chavez.
The varsity girls basketball team, trained by Coach Alverez, focuses on discipline in order to be prepared for the upcoming season.
“We’re really training discipline. [We are] making sure that we’re doing the little things on the court and in the classroom to make sure that we’re prepared for the season,” commented Coach Alvarez.
As the basketball season progresses it can get complicated for members of the team to manage schoolwork and a sport. For this reason Coach Alvarez believes that it is essential for the team members to maintain good discipline even off the court.
The members also believe that teamwork is indispensable to having a successful season.
“Teamwork influences the way I play [because] I always know that my team has my back, and basketball is all about teamwork. Without it, we can’t really achieve much,” Panu explained.
“If we are not all on the same page it doesn’t flow well. When we are connected as a team we can play well,” expressed Chavez.
Both basketball teams work to form a good sense of individual improvement in order to translate it into good teamwork. The teams’ hope will inevitably lead to positive results throughout the season.
