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Freshmen Basketball
by Ryan Eshoff

A new generation of basketball talent has ascended to the high school level. Will there be a “Player of the Year” among them? Though it’s too early to tell that, the boys freshmen basketball team has been working extremely hard getting in shape and preparing for the state’s toughest freshmen league. Tryouts, which began November 8, ran for two weeks, leading right up to a Piedmont Hills scrimmage on November 20. While Piedmont ended up with a victory, the team used the game as an opportunity for extra conditioning and developing teamwork for the season.

In need of guidance on how to navigate the VC basketball scene, the freshmen have two amazing sources. Former Valley players Scott Reeves and Matt Cossell coach the team. Reeves, who won Player of the Year and First Team All-CCS honors in high school, hopes to pass on his work ethic to his freshmen squad. Through weeks of conditioning and working hard, the freshmen hope to develop physical and mental toughness for their first season at the high school level.

Against North Salinas on November 30, the freshmen got their first real taste of high school basketball. The squad came out strong in the first quarter, building a solid seven point lead. At halftime, the lead was five. However, North Salinas staged a strong comeback, and ended up defeating the Warriors 57-48. Robby Bustamante and Dustin Lettenberger led the Warriors with 16 points apiece.

Reeves will continue to push his team into better condition in order to sustain a healthy body and hardened work ethic for four quarters of play, and an entire season.