By Matt Browning
As of January 30th, the Little River boys basketball team was 11-1 and ranked No. 3 in Class 1A in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll.
“We have done a great job of coming to practice with high energy and effort daily,” said head coach Erik Base. “We feel like we are continuously getting better and hope to continue as the year progresses.”
The Redskins have a long list of things they want to accomplish this season: win their preseason tournament, midseason tournament, Wheat State league title, sub-state title and ultimately a state title.
They have done it as a true team who focus on the betterment of the group rather than individual accolades.
“The way that this team shares the ball is incredible,” Base said. “Truly do not know who will be the leading scorer for us from night to night. There have been games were the two listed above had two to four points and then the next night they would have 20.”
While there is incredible balance on Little River’s team, the two leading scorers are Jaxson Konen and Jaren Garrison. After those two, there are so many more players who have stepped into a variety of roles.
“I feel like we truly have 10 to 12 guys that can come in for us at any given time and not lose a beat on the floor,” Base said. “This is also what allows us to have such competitive practices and gain the competitive edge each and every day.”
The Redskins got a taste of postseason basketball last season when they fell to Olpe in the first round of the state tournament.
“We feel as a team that we need to get back there and work to get it done this time,” Base said.
