Issue 3Shawnee Mission North High School Volume 91Overland Park, Kansas

M I S S I O N

Boys basketballexperiences changes

Senior Nathan Atkins attempts a lay up during the game at Northagainst Blue Valley Southwest on December 4. Photo by Gabe Alejos

Shawnee Mission North High School Volume 91 Issue 4Overland Park, Kansas

December 20122 | Mission Magazine | smnmission.com

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North’s basketball season has just begun and new changes have been made to this year’s teams.

Varsity coach Brendan Hair said tryouts were very difficult.“We had some very tough decisions to make but I thought they went

really well,” Hair said. “It’s always difficult process, it’s never fun to tell someone they didn’t make the team.”

Senior Ricky Gonzalez made Varsity and said tryouts went well.“Tryouts were good,” Gonzalaz said. “Everyone worked hard but unfor-

tunately not everyone can stay on the team.”This year only one junior made the team.“That’s kind of the way it worked out,” Hair said, “We just kept the kids

we thought were going to be best for our program.”Junior Scott Johnson is the junior who made Varsity.“It’s an honor and blessing to be on the team and play as much as I do,”

Johnson said. “But it’s also a responsibility when you’re representing your entire junior class.”

Gonzalez said he originally didn’t understand the cuts made to the team.

“I was confused when I got the news,” Gonzalaz said, “but that was his decision and I respect that.”

Although many were confused by the adjustments, senior Nathan At-kins viewed them with a positive attitude.

“I think the freshmen on the team have the most potential. They’re younger and have a lot to learn,” Atkins said. “Also, they’re getting Varsity

experience early on, so in a couple years North should have a very strong Varsity team.”

Hair said there’s one main goal they want to work on this season.“The biggest goal we can focus on is to just get better every day,” Hair

said. “We’re a pretty inexperienced team but there’s some potential there, so our whole thing is to just try to improve and improve.”

Freshman Marcus Weathers made JV and Varsity. He said he has his own goals for the season.

“I want to see the team work hard and win,” Weathers said. “We need to want it and work hard to achieve it.”

Hair said the team can accomplish these goals with their practices.“It’s just working hard in practice, there’s no magic pixie dust that’s go-

ing to help us,” Hair said. “So far the guys have bought in, every day we’re getting better, we’re improving.”

Hair said he’s confident the team will be successful this season.“I think on any given night we could beat anybody,” Hair said. “There’s

no doubt we’ll have to play well to beat those top teams but we’ll be capable of doing it.”

Gonzalez said a loss will be a struggle for the team.“The hardest thing to face is defeat,” Gonzalaz said. “But we have to get

back in the gym the very next day and learn from it and grow as a team.”Hair said he tries to encourage the athletes twice as much as he corrects

them.“I think you just keep talking to them and praise them. Everyone wants

to be told they’re doing something good,” Hair said. “You have to tell them what they’re doing wrong so they can improve that but you also have to tell them what they’re doing right.”

Tryouts leave Varsity with young squadNorth boys’ basketball players focus on getting better every dayBy Kyle Milligan

Varsity basketball huddled up for a time out during the home game against Blue Valley Southwest on Tuesday Dec. 4 Photo by Gabe Alejos

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Volume 91 Issue 44 | December 2012 | smnmission.com

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