Men’s Basketball Team Approaches Pre-season

“Deon Sanders said it best,” said sophomore player, Cole Luckett. “If you look good, you feel good, if you feel good, you play good, they play good.”

With basketball, there is a reaction to every movement. Sometimes, the slightest movement at any given time can alter a play. You could be dribbling across the court at one point and lose the ball in another.

This year, the team consists of four sophomore players and eight incoming freshmen players. Practiced since early October and recently finished their last jamboree, the team now eagerly anticipates the preseason.

“We have all new members and we are trying to figure it out,” said Coach Ryan Blassingame, also known as Coach Goof. “A lot of us are spread out playing different styles of basketball.”

Early in November, the Gator team visited Bellevue College participating in the Jamboree. Various teams who competed in the NWAC league played three 20 minute scrimmages among each other. The Green River Team played against Olympic, Lane, and Yakima college. The objective of the jamboree was to evaluate various playing styles, fine tuning any strengths and weaknesses the team had. Both red-shirt and active starting team members played during these matches.

As the preseason approaches, many of the players expressed excitement as they continue to work with each other. A few sophomore players vocalized their hopes for the preseason leading to league play.

Michael Williams, one of the sophomore players, said, “My hopes for the preseason is to use it as a learning experience preparing ourselves for league play.”

“We hope to play together to have a winning record going into the league play,” added Armann Brar.

Lars Stenseth also mentioned, “I hope we can work with our consistency during practice and play during preseason.”

Many of the Green River players understand the importance of practicing. Often, the starting players would be under the eyes of the coach and receiving constructive firsthand coaching. The red shirt players on the other hand would practice individually, honing their dribbling, shooting, and working on conditioning drills such as running and passing drills.

“It’s important to work on defensive plays because we are not big in height so we need to be able to move fast on our feet.” said McGrew, sophomore player. “It’s also important on individual skill work because we need to be accurate in shooting the ball as well as dribbling with consistency.”

“It all starts with improving individual skills,” said Luckett. “If one person does their job and if everyone follows it, we come together in defense which makes it difficult for the other team to score.”

“Both individual and team development is important when improving our players skill level,” said Goof. “Getting our player to play at a 4-year college skill level is our premise. Therefore, both individual and team skills are important.”

Coach Goof not only vocalizes with his players during practice, he plays with them. Sometimes, with a fast paced game such as basketball, it is hard to visualize the play at hand and execute it. Therefore, by playing with his players, he hopes to lead by example using a hands-on approach.

“I think it’s very important to play with our players,” said Goof. “If they see an old man like me playing and leading by example, it helps with our overall development as a team.”

Last season, the Green River team, finished in 6th place in the Western Division. The year before, the team tied 3rd in the Western Division and 4th in the NWAC championships. While the team and Coach Goof decide to strap on to their new fresh pair of shoes or their worn out pair of Jordan’s that some have played with since ’94, the team eagerly awaits the preseason and hopefully league play.