This year the 8th grade boys basketball team has the ability to go to the championship. Their 2023-2024 record might not seem to be the record of champions, but it doesn’t represent them as a team. Although they have lost more than they wanted, they are a very good and well rounded team.
8th grader and point guard, Asa Lantz, shares his opinions on the start to the season and the teams struggles. “We have had our ups and downs all season and have struggled a lot but when we play as a team we win and have fun. There have been many close games I feel like we should’ve won and I feel like our record does not represent us as a team because we have lost a lot but we play a tough schedule and haven’t played to our full potential yet. I have struggled to stay healthy and we’ve had guys missing games and practice a lot but when we are playing together we play well.”
Lantz expresses his hopes and predictions for how the season will end, “I think it will be a challenge to get far, but we can do it. I hope we can get to the championship and win it all.”
Lantz also shares his goals he overall hopes to accomplish for the season, “I mean as a group I obviously want to win a championship but individually I just want to be able to get better every day and be a leader.”
8th grader and versatile player, Izaiah Redd, explains the rocky start to the season, “I think our season has been rocky, we could have definitely been better. Our games have been pretty good, although we could have definitely worked harder. We’ve lost a lot, but that doesn’t bother us because we know we are good enough to win it all. The whole team has struggled a lot and everyone has had struggles, but we’re working through them as a team.”
Redd also expresses his hopes and tells his prediction for the outcome to the season, “I do think we will make it far in tournaments. It will be tough but we will make it happen. I’m hoping we end the season off on a championship win.”
Redd has one goal overall for this season, “The biggest goal I have is winning the championship.”
8th grader, and power forward, Anthony Placanica talks about how the season’s going, “So far the season has had its ups and downs. We’ve had a lot of loss this season, but that doesn’t represent who we are. All together as a team we have great players that are good at different things. It took us a minute to learn to work with each other and get more consistent, but when we did we improved a lot and started winning more.”
Placanica shares his opinion on how tournaments will end up, “I believe the tournament will be up for debate. Poland’s a really good team, but I think we can beat them. I hope we win the championship so that our hard work ends up paying off.”
Placanica has a great goal overall to end off the 2023-2024 season, “Overall, my goal is just to improve. As a player I have many things I could improve on, and as a team we also have many things we could improve on. By next year we can all be great and have another chance at a championship if we don’t win this one.”
Whether they win the tournaments or not, they are the future of Lakeview Basketball. Overall, Lakeview’s 8th Grade Basketball team has a bright future. Wish them good luck at the tournaments, and support if you can.
