Boys Basketball loses many players due to injuries

By: Kingston Mills

January 26, 2024

Winter is here and the season is ramping up for Colgan’s Varsity Basketball Team. This is the eighth consecutive year of Colgan basketball since the school opened in 2016. The team has an experienced group of players including eight seniors. Success can be determined by several variables, but something all great teams share is preparation. The team competed during the off-season in games against rivaling schools in the Fall. They also held workouts heading into the tryouts.  

“We competed hard every day we had workouts,” Sophomore Brian Doty said. 

Some significant changes have taken place since the previous season. Last year, the Sharks finished 18-8 and achieved a respectable 7-5 record in regional play led by First Team All-District players Skylar Smith and Nate Ament. Smith has graduated and Ament, ranked top fifteen for the class of 2025, transferred to Highland School back in August. In addition, current Junior Eann Pennix who earned All-District Honorable Mention honors departed.  

Senior Shaun Trotter said, “Team goals this year are to win the district championship. My mindset is to go all out because it’s my last year, trying to go out on a high note.” 

Unfortunately, premature injuries have affected the team. Seniors Elija Robinson, Larenzo Murray, and Hudson Bock have been limited in early season action. Player health is important to performing at the max. 

“It’s made the bench players fight even harder to get a spot on the starting five,” Doty said when asked about the effects of the injuries. 

At the lower levels, player development is a priority. Freshman and JV teams are great opportunities for the underclassmen of the program to work on their game and prepare for an advanced level. For freshmen, the transition in athletics from middle school to high school can pose challenges. Adjusting to an increasingly rigorous schedule, fighting with more athletes for limited spots, and a surge in competition are just a few reasons why.   

“Remembering the plays is the hardest part, there’s a lot more plays. The biggest difference is the amount of people at games,” exclaimed Freshman JV guard Jaden Amoah. “JV helps me with the basic sets of varsity plays while playing against good competition.”  

A long season awaits the Sharks. Colgan will rely on the work before the season and lean on the team's fundamental principles. Battling the challenges that come along will prove to create the integrity necessary for success.