Lyla Kyser

Senior Blake LaFaive controls the ball in the week two matchup against Grand Haven. “I think we just got to play together as a team. Just the guys playing together and going out there and playing hard every night is very important,” LaFaive said.

As snow begins to fall and the temperature drops, indoor sports begin during winter. Basketball is one of these sports and it captures the attention of many students at West. This year, the boy’s varsity basketball team has to play tough opponents and travel long distances, but the team hopes to improve and go the distance throughout the season. This season, the basketball team has had a very competitive schedule, especially in the beginning.

    “I think we have a hard schedule this year. I think it’s good for us, though, to go down and play some harder teams in the beginning of the season. In the first game, we went down to East Kentwood, and they were a really solid team,” senior Blake LaFaive said.

  East Kentwood is a top 25 ranked team in Michigan, which makes them a tough opponent to beat. The Titans also had to play Grand Haven in week two, which they lost by only two points in a close matchup.

  “I think it’s a rough start, but we’re just kind of figuring it out. Not a lot of us have played together for a while,” senior Carter Grubb said.

  Another important part of the basketball season is the team’s conference. The Titans compete in the Big North Conference, which consists of teams all over northern Michigan. The conference is arguably the most competitive conference in northern Michigan, because the largest schools are in it, which attracts more talent than smaller schools.

   “I think we should win the BNC. I think we have definitely a skilled enough team to do it. We just got to play hard and just play good defense,” LaFaive said.

  But they won’t just be handed the conference title and a spot in the playoffs, they still have to work and compete.

  “You kind of got to just work at practice and prepare yourself as much as possible, watch film, and just trust your teammates that they’re going to be there for you. I think you just have to look ahead at what you can accomplish. We have a really good team, and we can probably go a long way in the playoffs if we stick together. So I think just looking at the rewards and what we can accomplish, I think that’s what motivates me,” senior Brody Jones said.

  Since the largest schools are spread out over northern Michigan, this makes travel difficult and long. But it can also bring benefits when it comes to team bonds and chemistry.

  “On long bus rides, you get a chance to know your teammates more and connect more with them at practice or on bus rides or anything like that. I think it just helps with the chemistry and just overall friendships,” Jones said.

  This season will last from December to mid February, and even longer if the team makes the playoffs. This long season can be tiring or exhausting on the players, causing stress. But they still find ways to keep their mindsets positive and keep playing.

  “I just love basketball and I just keep on wanting to play. Just try to eat well. We eat as a team a lot. We go to Qdoba a lot after practice. Make sure you get good fuel for your body,” LaFaive said.

  They can also stay locked by anticipating certain games, especially ones against our cross town rival. These types of games give players a goal or something to look forward to for the season.

  “Definitely the Central one, at Central. Just the environment and just the rivalry is really big and it’s always such a fun game to play in,” Jones said.

  This basketball season will certainly be an exciting one to watch the team compete and grow. No matter how hard the schedule might be, or the difficulties that come with it, the Titans will keep on fighting throughout it.

  “I think it’s a good schedule, it motivates us because it’s a challenge. We can’t just walk in and win every game. We have to try every day in practice to win games,” Grubb said.