Ballin’ is Back

This time each year, TJ and the Hoop Squad gets ready for the Basketball season, and a sense of hope surrounds this year’s team.

Artwork by Ed Gloor

After some scrimmages over the weekend, and another week of practice upcoming, TJ Boys’ Basketball is getting ready for their season opener on Monday, December 5^th against Green Mountain.

TJ looks to compete again in the 4A DPL (Denver Public League), after coming close in last year’s campaign. Head Coach Grant Laman said about this year’s league, “It’s always fun to play in this league. We stay right in the mix each year.” But according to Laman, winning league will be no easy feat for the Spartans. “East is the favorite, and they are a big team. Lincoln just added a seven-footer, and George puts out a good team each year,” said Laman

For the Spartans to win league, it all starts with – of course – the play of the team. The lineup is still in the works for the Spartans, but will be decided before the season starts. Laman says, “Honestly, we are going to have some talent. We have returning starters that got some great varsity time last year. It just depends whether or not all that talent mixes.”  Laman is also hoping to set the defensive tone of the games. “Great defense creates good offensive opportunities. It’s proven that defense wins games,” says Laman. TJ will also keep the pace and momentum of the game up with the substitutions on the Varsity bench. “The overall strength of this team is depth. Everyone can keep up on our team, and that’s a bonus,” said Laman.

The Spartans will also have to take advantage of league games that fall on their home court. TJ has a spirited student section at each basketball game at TJ thus gives the Spartans the true meaning of a home court advantage. But with the new gym in need of some corrections, TJ won’t have a home game until January. However, with a slew of road games at the start of the season, TJ will host five home games in the first two weeks of the New Year. “We’ve get South, George, and Montbello all at home, and we need the students for those big rivalry league games,” said Laman. “But the biggest home game that the school is getting everyone hyped up for is the Rock Canyon game on Friday, January 6^th , and we want it to be like the Homecoming basketball game,” said Laman. TJ will be bringing back alumni and getting students pepped for the game.

TJ always keeps hopes high for the basketball team, and this year is no exception. TJ will have to start fast on the road in order to be in a good position coming back to TJ’s new basketball court.