On the cool Saturday afternoon of December 2, 2023, Regis’s JV basketball team took on Mullen’s JV at Guy Gibbs gymnasium. It was the first matchup between these teams in several years since our sophomore team took on Mullen’s JV last year to create a better matchup. The Raiders, wearing white, got off to a quick start after the ref blew the whistle for tipoff. Starting center Deion Cesario-Scott tipped the ball to guard Joseph Haubert who played a give-and-go with club teammate Jamie Villier for an early layup. The momentum continued throughout the first half with August Tregenza and Brandon Hawkins chipping in to demonstrate early dominance and show signs of a blowout.
The discipline coached into these boys by Coach Dave Wilsea was apparent in the hustle to defend after scoring and the constant traps, blocks, and steals. The team’s ball movement on offense resembled that of a squad that had been building chemistry for years. In response to the question of what sets the team apart from others, Flynn Larson stated, “We play for each other. We’re not selfish at all. We always make the extra pass and we’re looking to set up our teammates which makes the game go easier.”
The fresh energy from non-starters and the gradual arrival of fans for the following Varsity game kept the momentum on Regis’s side. “In the second half we really turned up the pressure and turned up the intensity and energy and that really made us extend that lead,” says guard Flynn Larson.
The boys look to keep up their momentum going into the rest of the season. Guard Matt Burns says that he expects the team to, “continue to play together, get better at what we do, and just having fun together and build that chemistry.” The strong start against a rival team with a score of 83-31 promises a successful season to come for the JV Boys basketball team.