As the winter sports season starts up, the boys basketball team looks to start the season off right with a win in their home opener on 11/29 against Bethel Academy (result not available before pub date).
Bethel Academy is a newly formed school, and they should be a tough test for the Atoms. Despite this, the team is prepared and they are ready for the challenge.
“We are very much ready for this. We have worked hard all offseason and I believe that we are a tough challenge for any team to beat,” senior point guard Davida Raharinaivo said.
The team is also preparing for their season opener by working on what they need to improve on in practice.
“We have been working hard on our defensive game plan and moving around more on offense so that we are ready for the season,” senior guard Andrew Nields said.
After the teams home opener, they play Gainesville and Robinson on 12/1 and 12/2 in a tournament at Robinson high school.
This tournament should be a great test for the Atoms.
“These games give us a great chance to test our skills and prove ourselves as one of the best teams in the region,” senior guard Steven Liu said.
The team is coming off of a successful season last year. They finished the season 3rd place in the district, with a 15-8 record. The team also won the George Long Holiday tournament last year, as they beat Woodson 73 – 55 in the championship.
“Last year we had a lot of very talented players on the team that helped us win games,” Nields said. “Most of the key guys from last year’s team graduated, so we have put in a lot of work this offseason to step up and get better.”
During the offseason, the team participated in a summer league, a fall league, multiple weekend showcases, and had Green Days. These have all been very helpful in preparing the team for the start of the season.
“Green Days and fall league have done a great job at getting us better and preparing us for the season. They give us an opportunity to get better as a team and further our team chemistry,” Raharinaivo said.
The Atoms started their season with their first scrimmage last week against Mclean on 11/22. This scrimmage was a great opportunity for the team to work out any flaws and work on things they need to improve on before the regular season starts.
The scrimmage went back and forth between the two teams, but the Atoms ended up with the win.
“The scrimmage was good for us because it allowed us to see what we need to improve on. There were times where our offense wasn’t playing at a high level, and this is something that can definitely be improved,” Liu said.
Although the team’s offense wasn’t playing to the best of its abilities, the team stepped up defensively, which allowed them to win the game.
“This scrimmage was very useful for us because it showed us all the things we need to work on in practice before the regular season starts so we can be more prepared for it,” Raharinaivo said.
The Atoms have another scrimmage at home on Saturday, 11/26, against Langley.
This will be the teams last scrimmage before they open up regular season play against Bethel Academy.
The team has a lot of goals and they want to accomplish this season, and they have a great opportunity to do so this season.
“My goal is to win a district and region championship, and make it to states. I believe that we have the talent to do so,” Liu said.