by Macade Maxwell

The St. John Bosco Braves Basketball team tips off their season tonight with the aspiration of claiming the top spots in the state and nation, as they are destined for a redemption year and come back stronger than ever. 

With a lineup full of special talent mixed with new additions and experienced returners along with one of the state’s strongest coaching staffs, the Braves have the secret formula for what it takes to be a great basketball team. 

The Braves roster is the definition of a powerhouse. Some standout players include number two nationally ranked sophomore Brandon McCoy, Jr., who is an absolute bucket and game-changer whenever he steps foot on the court. Other key players include Loyola University Chicago-commit, senior Jack Turner, senior point guard Amiri Meadows, five-star junior Elzie Harrington, junior Kade Bonam, junior Jaison Joyce, and seven-foot sophomore Howie Wu. 

Behind the curtains of every successful program lies a man with the blueprint to success. The Braves are fortunate enough to have a coaching staff with the ability to develop and foster a group of young men and turn them into winners. Head Coach Matt Dunn is gearing his team up and guiding them on the path to Trinity League and CIF Championships.

“It is such an incredible league in every sport, so every time you get to hang a banner it’s pretty amazing and means you have a special team,” said Head Coach Matt Dunn. 

With eyes set on winning a ring, the short-term goal for the Braves is to win consecutive Trinity League Championships. With it being one of the most talented league in the nation, each and every game will be a battle until the final buzzer. 

“The urgency is there, and I currently don’t have a ring at all,” said senior Jack Turner. “Winning it with this team and with the guys I love would mean everything and that’s the goal for this year.”

The Braves mean business, and they are coming for everybody’s necks, while everyone is coming for theirs. The Braves come into the season as the preseason number one team in the Los Angeles Times and the number 15 ranked team nationally by Maxpreps. While other opponents view games against them as their championship, the Braves will continue to maintain their same mindset. 

“We’re not focused on what the other team is going to do and who their star players are,” said junior Elzie Harrington. “We’re just going out there playing our own game and once [game day] hits it’s all about the team.” 

Given the fact that the Braves have everything that it takes to win it all this year. They are using last year’s heartbreaking loss to Corona Centennial in the CIF-SS Open Division Finals to fuel them to bounce back and finish the season off as champions. Instead of using the loss to define them as a team, the Braves only view that game as a learning experience that will only give them confidence when they are in that situation again. 

“It was very heartbreaking at the moment, and it honestly took a while to get over that,” said Harrington. “But I have great people around me, and they all told me to just use it as fuel going into the summer and the next year.” 

The Braves open their season tonight at 6:00pm at the Thunderdome against the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits. Be prepared for a season full of thrillers and excitement with fierce competition each game, as the Braves are looking forward to handling unfinished business.