The Neuqua Valley basketball season is about to get underway and the team looks to come back stronger than ever. The team is coming back strong with eleven players from last year’s squad. Neuqua played well last year, winning in regionals and sectionals, and making it to the elite eight in state. When Coach Todd Sutton of the varsity team was asked about team goals, he said they were the same every year. Coach Sutton encouraged his team to “Play very hard, play very smart, and play as a team. The rest will take care of itself.”
This strategy seemed to work well last year, as the Wildcats advanced far in the playoffs. They made it into the elite eight before being knocked out by the Richard Bulldogs. Sutton did say that the team had challenges ahead of them. He feels that some of the players are showing a lack of dedication, and one of the biggest challenges will be to play as a team. In order to build the teams chemistry the players like to get together once a week and hang out. When asked who the team leader was he quickly replied, “Derek Raridon. Derek has been a good leader and has been the hardest worker for a long time.” The senior class of players is very experienced and they know how to win together. They have won conference every year they have played, and they are winners as Sutton says. Chris Shonkwiler, a senior on the team said, “The team expects to excel beyond last years accomplishments.”
Neuqua Valley will face top competitors this year, and Sutton is very pleased with how the schedule turned out. One of the top teams they will face is Zion, as they are nationally ranked. Morton, who is also on the schedule, is a top ten team. East Aurora, another tough competitor, has the talent to be a top ten team says Sutton. Sutton is excited to see his team band together and take on the tough competition. The season tips off November 24th, at the York Tournament, and the first home game is December 5th.
By Patrick Backes, staff writer
