With winter sports starting, the JV boys basketball team is getting ready for this season. Coach Moulder and his team are ready for this season to start. Last season the JV team had a record of 20-5. This season so far, the JV team has a record of 3-3 with wins against Parkway North, Parkway Central, and Oakville.

At the JV level, players often stay for one season, maybe two. With this in mind each year, Coach Justin Moulder says “every year is retooling to a new group.”

Moulder’s hope for his JV team is to prepare kids to contribute to varsity. This season Moulder has three returning players: juniors Joe Vankirk, Derek Becker, and Eli Veltrop.

“Our goal is to improve and build the players to being contributors on the varsity level in the future,” Moulder said.

Moulder also said what he expects from his returning players this season.

“Joe and Derek have JV experience from last year’s 20-5 team. As juniors, I look for them to draw from that experience and lead the team both on and off the court,” Moulder said.

Becker, one of the key players on the team, spoke about the strengths and weaknesses of the team.

“Our weakness is shooting the ball right now,” he said.

However, he said the team has strengths as well.

“Chemistry on the team. We all are really good friends with each other. We know how each other play,” Becker said.

Becker and Vankirk both got into basketball at a young age.

“I first started watching [basketball] in 2010. I was playing before that. I guess I just really liked playing it,” Becker said.

Vankirk also got a spark in his interest of basketball just from watching the NBA.

“I started watching the NBA, that’s when I started liking basketball,” said Vankirk

With height being one of the key factors in basketball, it is good to have a tall team. When asked about the tallest person on the team, Becker responded: “Me at six-foot-four.”

Another advantage for this season’s team is that there are no injured players, which keeps a bigger roster and gives everyone the ability to contribute to the team.

The JV team will be participating in the Parkway Invitational Tourney at Parkway North High School starting the day after Christmas and ending on Dec. 28. Their first game will be against McCluer North High School.

According to the two key players, the goal for the team this season means a lot to the players. They wanted to get a better record, play the best as they can, and improve together.

“We want to end with a positive record and prove as a team,” said Vankirk.