The Brave News

by Jackson Smith

Braves basketball have gotten off to an incredible start this season, as they currently hold a 12-1 record behind star players Lamaj Lewis, Jeremiah Nyarko and Scotty Washington. 

Head Coach Matt Dunn has the utmost faith in his team and their future. Coach Dunn says that he is happy to just get to play this year and give his players a chance to get out on the court. 

Coach Dunn is happy with their start, even though he believes that they should have won the game against Santa Margarita. That game went into overtime, and they lost by only three on a last second shot. It seems that all of the players on the team believe that they should have pulled that game out. They’ll have another shot against the Eagles this Friday at home in the Thunderdome.

Dunn says that every team in the Trinity League poses a problem and every game is going to be a fight, and the hardest part is getting ready for another tough team each and every week. But that’s exactly what the Braves need, as Coach Dunn and his squad have set their sights yet again on the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs. 

The team seems to have a great spirit and camaraderie, and Coach Dunn thinks so too.

“Our guys do a tremendous job supporting each other,” said Coach Dunn, as that seems to be an important key to being a great team. Coach sees this team as one of the best he has had, not only in terms of talent, which is without a doubt there, but also in togetherness and really being a team.

“We have built an identity, which is the most important part of our season,” said senior captain Hunter Richardson.

Coach and the team believe that what has brought them down, if anything, is the lack of practice time, which has impacted all teams throughout the state. However, Dunn believes their lack of time together makes the players grateful for any time that they do get together. 

“We got to treat every game like it’s our last, and we got to stay together through these tough times,” said senior point guard Lamaj Lewis.

Dunn sees seniors Lewis, Richardson, and guard Scotty Washington as the leaders of the team.

“They are mature young men and that helps them become leaders. These three help the team in more ways than just scoring,” said Coach Dunn.

The Braves’ biggest challenges will be mental, as they are a team with size, strength, speed and skill that feels very few teams can beat them without them beating themselves.

“Our hardest battle is the mental battle because physically we can beat any team out there,” said Richardson.

The Braves take on “The Team in Red” tonight on the road in what is perhaps the most anticipated basketball game in the Southern Section so far this season, a game that will be televised live on KDOC at 7:30pm.