Last winter, the boys varsity basketball team made it all the way to the State Semifinals at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center, marking the first Regional Championship title the team has earned in 32 years.
After they lost in the Final Four, the team wrote a note vowing ‘We will be back,’ and all of the teammates signed it. The boys hid the letter in a secret spot in the Breslin Center and have all intentions to fulfill their promise this season.
The team this year returns four of twelve players. Head coach David Chana admitted he feels the loss of last season’s kids and their leadership.
“Last year, those guys were on a mission,” Chana said. “There was a mindset about them just from years prior. They wanted to correct things, so [they] are huge losses for any program. All those guys are just good human beings that want to do right.”
The absence of the graduates was initially off-putting for returners but allowed for a change in the team dynamic.
“It does feel weird having new faces, but we hang out a lot, so the chemistry is there,” senior Tyran Thomas said. “Also, with them being on the team, it’s deep. We have a deep rotation. We could use a lot of guys.”
Despite the number of graduate losses, Chana said that there are “some really good kids that are in the fold.” The basketball veterans, Thomas, junior EJ Ryans and seniors David Snow and Jacob Szurna, have taken a leadership role over the past few months between their optional Fall Ball league and the beginning of this season a few weeks ago.
“For a returner like me, EJ, David, Jacob, we went to the Breslin Center. We know what it takes to get there,” Thomas said. “We just have to show the other guys what it takes, so we have to be leaders.”
First-year Northview student and senior Parker Swartz certainly admires his returning teammates.
“With the veterans, it’s good to have people to lead the way and people to look up to,” Swartz said. “I think that is going to be a big part, because that’s what winning is all about.”
Amongst the ranks of new players is EJ Ryan’s younger brother, freshman Cameron Ryans, who isn’t quite a fresh face to varsity basketball. During the previous season, he could always be spotted on the bench watching practices and games.
“It just inspired me seeing everyone so happy, seeing them winning, seeing Kyler [Vanderjagt] hitting amazing shots,” Cameron said. “I just want to be there, too. I want to recreate some moments like that.”
All of the guys are working to recreate a team that the whole community rallies behind.
“I think especially the community is excited to get back to basketball,” EJ said. “I can’t wait for the feelings during the game when the whole gym is packed.”
Regardless of their impressive track record last season, the players and coach alike know that they have “unfinished business,” according to Thomas, Cameron and Chana. They have a need to prove just what Northview basketball can do.
“We lost in the Final Four, and we need to get back there,” Cameron said. “The team that we lost to, [De La Salle Collegiate,] brought back everyone, so we’ll probably see them again, eventually.”
Still, the team isn’t wholly focused on states. They have a policy of taking the days one at a time, focusing on daily improvements rather than the big picture.
“I think we have a good shot at doing some special things, but we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, and [we want to] just make sure we own the day and handle our business,” Chana said.
The players reflect their coach’s sentiment.
“Anyone we play, we’re not just going to go in and show up and beat them,” EJ said. “We still got to do the work.”
Thomas agreed.
“Any team we play we can’t take for granted,” Thomas said. “We have to come in with 100% every time.”
This insatiable hunger to win and constantly improve is a theme within the boys basketball program.
“We have this saying within our program, ‘You’re only a success the moment you perform a successful act. You have to do it again,’” Chana said. “So, [last year was] cool and everything, but true to our mantra is [we] haven’t done anything. You win a game, that’s cool, but the next day you are not a success. You need to get back and do it again.”
Everybody–the coaches, players and community–certainly has high expectations for this season. The veteran players and Chana can agree on one thing: they are going to fight to honor their note at the Breslin Center.
“We’re coming back for that dang thing,” Chana said.
The first game of this comeback season takes place at home on December 7th. Tip off is at 7:00, and the student section theme is jersey out.
