It is finally that time of year—the Lakeview boys basketball season is in full swing! The basketball team is back, holding a record of 6-7. With some new players joining the team, this season has been full of surprises. 

The boys have defeated multiple conference teams while also facing teams out of conference. The next game will be held on Friday, January 17th, where they will take on the Hubbard Eagles. Hopefully, the Bulldogs will take home another win with enough cooperation and teamwork. 

This year, the team is full of class diversity. It is led by 3 seniors, Jadon Warner (#11), Carter Doran (#50), and Leo Parise (#2). While juniors Isaiah Lantz (#3), Hayden Newton (#1), Matthew Leonard (#13), and Preston Littleton (#4) also contribute to the Bulldog’s victories. The sophomore class fills the team, consisting of Brandon Steele (#12), Luke Demsey (#10), Trace Goyzueta (#5), Jackson Uphoff (#21), and Jesse Hospodor (#23). And finally, the freshman class, Jackson Stuart (#24), and Nicholas Sulc (#25). 

While this appears to be your average basketball team, the senior players are very unique. Two of the three seniors are returning players from freshman year. Warner felt positive about rejoining this environment, “This season has been more fun than I imagined. Coming back to play this year was one of the best decisions I have made. Being able to play one last time with my friends is something I will always be grateful for.” From this, it is clear Warner was ready to get back into the game and compete with his friends. 

However, Warner was not the only returning player. Parise was also a former teammate, ready to get back into the swing of things. Like Warner, Parise missed the game, saying, “This year has been one of my favorite basketball seasons. It means a lot to get to play with my best friends one last time. I am so glad I decided to rejoin the team because I get to compete again.” There is no question that both of these seniors were ready to rejoin their teammates and play one last time. 

The boy’s basketball team has flourished over the years, especially with Doran’s help. Like Warner and Parise, Doran is also playing his final season as a Bulldog. He is most familiar with the team and the way it functions. With this being said, he highlighted that “senior year has been a blast so far. Now that we are about halfway done, I could not have asked for a better group of teammates to end my senior basketball season. It has not been easy having three new coaches over the last four years, but the bonding and trust we have all built has led to the success we now have as a team. I can not wait to see where this team goes this postseason and in the years to come!” From this, it is clear Doran has high hopes for the rest of his senior season. 

With the weather changing, it has been hard for fans to make it to some games. As the temperature drops, road conditions have gotten worse, resulting in games being canceled and rescheduled. Although this is unfortunate, everyone should come to the games they can! Especially when the roads are good. 

High school basketball is a competitive, exciting, and high-intensity sport. The Bulldogs have pushed themselves to be the best since the beginning of June. With all of their open gyms and late-night practices, they finally have the chance to showcase their talent. With this being said, they deserve our support! If you are ever bored and need something to do, come support your local basketball team! They are worth it. 

Let’s Go Dogs!