By Bralynn Sampson |
The upcoming basketball season has many people flustered on whether this could be a good year for the team or not. Since Roosevelt has went to playoffs for the last two years, there was a lot of pressure. Over the past few years, the team has gone from 5-7 to 8-4 in district last year.
Osiris Watson is a senior and he has played since his freshman year. He has seen the growth of the team.
“I believe the team will go to the playoffs, and strive in district championships,” Watson said.
Like in past years, the 2015 to 2016 record for the season was 15-13, and district 6-6. Last year’s season the record improved dramatically to 22-11, and their district was 8-4.
Their season ended with a challenging game against Wagner in the second round. Wagner won in overtime that night with 73 points, but Roosevelt came close with 70 points.
“That’s one of the hardest games the team has played,” Watson said.
With some students graduating and others new to practice, coach Manny Flores is busy preparing them for the first game next week as well as game of life.
“I expect our kids to complete in the classroom as well as on the court,” Flores said.
There are set team goals that they plan on meeting. The focus is not only athletically but academically as well, he stresses the many obstacles and challenges that the team will have to overcome, in order to obtain these goals.
He continued on a more serious note to say his goal is to teach them how to become young men, while using basketball as a tool to help accomplish that.
Their season opens officially Monday against Jay at Paul Taylor.
