Coming off the first regular season game with a win over Parkway West, 69-31, the varsity boys basketball team looks to continue the win streak. The first home game for the varsity boys kicks off on Nov. 29 in Gym A against Central.

In the win against West, senior AJ Sommer led the scoring for the Patriots with 21. Seniors Matt DeRouse and Jack Mullen each had 12 points.

As the weather is becoming colder outside, the excitement for winter sports continues to heat up. The overall source of heat for this season is focused on one program, the varsity boys basketball team. Last year’s head coach, Mitch Stevens, led his 2016-2017 team to the conference championships. After Stevens finished his coaching career with over 200 wins, he decided to step down from the head coach position. P.E. teacher Matt Roach has taken the reigns. Roach has been an assistant coach on South’s varsity basketball program for 11 years and is well experienced with the fundamentals of coaching. Roach said he knows he has a challenge ahead, filling Stevens’ shoes.

“There are some big shoes I have to fill this season. My goal is to take what I learned from Stevens and build upon that, trying to make what he taught me even better. He’s equipped me to be a head coach and it’s my job to make it my own,” Roach said.

  The phrase, “Coach Roach,” isn’t something that is just now being talked about. Roach has been very connected with coaching lower levels of South’s basketball programs, even Junior Patriot levels. Roach also coaches girls cross country in the fall and is involved with leading the A+ program and Young Life at South this year.

“Roach is a very positive, familiar face to anybody who attends or has been to Parkway South,” according to senior forward Matt DeRouse. “I was in middle school when I started playing basketball for the Junior Patriots. That was probably the first time I heard of Coach Roach. Having him now lead me my senior year as a head coach really shows the impact he’s had on my basketball career. I think he’s a great choice to be in charge of the program.”

With the overwhelming amount of player and student support for Matt Roach, “The mindset for the season ahead is positive,” Roach agreed.

With the upcoming season having a large number of rigorous opponents like Kirkwood, Eureka, Lindbergh, and DeSmet. It challenges the returning players to perform at their best this season.

“To be able to compete against these teams we have to be able to establish our leaders and work out our chemistry,” according to junior forward, Mitch Ellebrecht.

“The biggest goal is to develop the guys to be better people. Wins will stem from better-characterized guys, the goal for my team is they will do whatever it takes to improve. Developing character is key both on and off the court,” Coach Roach said.