After going 25 – 0 last season, ending with a state championship, the same five starters — seniors Aiven Riley, Van Collins, Tyler Salmon, Keaton Wagler, and junior Ethan Taylor — are returning to have a repeat of last year. 

The Northwest varsity boys basketball team have been conditioning — they run the mile, jump rope, line jumps, step-ups on the bleachers, dribbling with tennis balls and basketballs, ten-in-one’s, box jumps, more step-ups, more jump rope and more line jumps — all summer for their upcoming season. 

“We played a lot of games in June against some very good teams which prepared us for the season,” head coach David Birch said. “In the fall we do two conditioning days a week along with two open gyms to get players in shape.”

The work is rigorous, but the basketball players are excited to improve and return to their playing season. 

“We’re one of the hardest working teams, and it shows through our conditioning,” Salmon said. “I think the hard work and dedication will show itself in season.” 

With out-of-season conditioning and play, Salmon and the rest of the team are prepared to go into the season — even if they’re missing their seniors from last year. 

“The seniors were a big part of the team,” Birch said.” Gabe Hoskins, Deven Bolton, Vince Nixon and Dom Nixon had major contributions to the success of the team.”

But current seniors Brayden Klahn and Ty Jackson will be seeing lots of the court this season. The both of them have worked hard to earn their spot on the varsity team. 

“Everybody thinks the path we had last year was easy, so we have a lot of people to still prove wrong,” Junior Ethan Taylor said.

Their first game was against Oak Park, ranked second in the KC Metro area by 810 Sports, on December seventh where they lost 78-44.

They’re 0-1.
Their next game is today, December 12, at 5 p.m. against Bentonville West, at Blue Valley Northwest High School.