Samuel Wong / staff reporter
After two years of covid, the training of the grade 9 basketball team resumes. They are back to pre-pandemic training which is skill development and building culture. According to Bingley Jason, the basketball team’s coach, “The best teams are teams that players lead. The seasons are going to be determined by how quickly they ‘jell’ together as a team and how well they hold each other to countability of a standard of a to be there or support for each other,” added Bingley Jason.
This team is probably one of the more athletic grade 9 groups in the past ten or twelve years. They are deep in the guard position and their speed is high. This can lead to better offensive and defensive plays. The coach said grade 9 needs to work on everything to master basic skills and make better decisions in a game. Bingley Jason said, “It takes thousands and thousands of hours and that will depend on the level of commitment.” They will practice for four to five times a week and spend more time in the gym.
They will focus on the processes developed which are their work habits, character on and off the court, ability to support teammates and overall work ethic. “Because if they can control those things not only this year but over the next 4 years I think they have a chance to be one of the better teams in our district and maybe have a chance somewhere down the road to have opportunity to get to a higher level of basketball,” said Bingley Jason.
The Talons will host an exhibition game against Maple Ridge on November 29. And the tournament will tip off on December 2.