Last season for the Grand Haven varsity boys basketball team was an exceptional one. The squad finished off the year with an 18-5 record. It was a season full of enthusiasm and passion. The Bucs made a playoff run and advanced to the District finals where they fell to the Muskegon Big Reds by a very hefty margin. The lopsided 70-43 score was an inaccurate representation of how good this team really was.

It was a group full of leadership and depth, which got them a long way thus showing how crucial the leadership factor of a team really is.

This year, Grand Haven comes into the season losing four starters from last season and is faced with the challenge of overcoming a lack of big men on the squad.

“The last few years we’ve been blessed with some height,” boys varsity basketball coach Greg Immink said. “This year we don’t have as much so we’re gonna have a little bit of a different look.”

The Bucs may be lacking height but intensity and passion is not at all absent from this team.

“We’ve got some guys that are pretty hungry and that have worked hard this summer and fall,” Immink said. “I think we can be competitive with anybody.”

After losing athletes who played big roles on the team last year, there will be new leadership this season. Returning players like Casey Constant, Bryce Taylor, Malic Love, Kellum Bridgeforth and Dimitrius Neely are looking forward to leading the guys into battle. But it’s going to take a full team effort in order to have a winning season which raises the question, who wants it most?

It’s no question that the basketball at the varsity level is a whole different ball game than it is at junior varsity or freshman competition. The game moves faster, the guys are stronger and the situations are all the more intense. Guys will need to rise to the occasion.

“It’s always interesting to see what guys step up when the lights turn on.” Immink said.

The team has been simulating many of these pressure filled circumstances in practice as well as through scrimmages in order to help the team prepare.

“Our guys are going to have to grow up quick.” Immink said.

On the defensive side of the ball, the playbook isn’t changing much. Expect the traditional man to man defense for the most part this season.

Offensively this year’s team is going to work  the perimeter game to make up for the lack of height in the post.

“I think we’re gonna need to be consistent in our shooting,” Immink said. “We don’t have the size around the basket like last year so we’re gonna have to shoot the ball well.”

This team may have lost some talent and height but coach Immink believes they are definitely a force to be reckoned with.

“I’m really excited,” Immink said. “I think we’ll make it uncomfortable for some teams to come into Grand Haven.”