BY JAMIE HAZEL
Sports Editor
The boys basketball team’s rooster has not changed much, but their talent has developed. This will be the boys’ second year playing together with almost the exact same team, providing a rare opportunity for a successful season.
Graduation stole only one player, allowing the boys to focus less on creating new chemistry and build on the existing group dynamic. “We will be coming into this year with a more mature team,” explained junior Jaylen Jones, who has 215 career points. “We have been playing together for years.”
Last season, the team went 8-5 in the red division, and, due to the hard work displayed throughout the summer, it should only get better. “We want to be a top seed in the Red Division and compete for a GMC and State Championship come playoff time,” said senior Brandon Medel.
The boys maintained momentum by taking part in a three-week summer camp, and spending five days a week in the gym practicing or playing games. “We’ve been playing in summer and fall league games while working out,” said senior Brandon Medel who has 348 career points despite being out to injury his junior year.
Some argue that the defense carried last season, so a summertime goal included improving the offense. While the boys look good, this final piece clicking has potential to be a gamechanger. “I believe that if our offense is consistent, we are a hard team to beat,” said senior Krish Patel, who has made a total of 164 three-point shots.
The boys have plans of hanging a banner on the wall. Their efforts throughout the offseason heavily support this goal. “From the day the season ended the team as a whole has put in a lot of work to get better and fix the mistakes that we made last season,” said Patel.
The season opens up at home at 11:30 am against Point Pleasant Boro on Saturday, December 14. The teams have not met on the court since 2012. Be there to watch Old Bridge basketball history unfold.
Posted on 12/9/24
Photos by Kaylee Weingarten and Abigail Persuad
Knight Life 