Gathered in a circle during a recent game, the the boys Howe Sound Sounders players laid out their battle plans for the basketball court before springing into action.
They ended their huddle with a chant that echoed across the court, and the game began.
In the time that followed, the players started aggressively pursuing a defensive game.
Each of the Sounders locked onto their targets, trying to stay man-to-man.
It was an example of the type of game that the team鈥檚 coaches, Jens Ourom and Toran Savjord, have been drilling into their players.
鈥淲e have to spend a lot of time on basic defensive fundamentals and strategy, in addition to basically rebounding in order to make up for having a physically smaller team than a lot of our competition,鈥� said Ourom. 鈥淥ffensively, this is a really talented group that can actually play beyond their years in terms of maturity and skill level.鈥�
鈥淪o really, it鈥檚 on the defensive side of basketball and rebounding that are two of the main focus areas for us,鈥� he said.
Ourom said the team鈥檚 management has tried front-loading the players鈥� schedule so they鈥檒l be exposed as much as possible to high-level competition early in the season.
It鈥檚 hoped that pitting players against tough opponents will force the team to sharpen their skills in time for the North Shore Championship.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e highly skilled and extremely mature,鈥� said Ourom. 鈥淔or me just being a community member and an alumni essentially, it means alot to see that the... trajectory for school sports in the school district and in our community is on the right track, both in terms of competitiveness and skill level but also just in terms of their attitude is outstanding.鈥�
Similar sentiments were echoed by Savjord.
鈥淭ruly, you win basketball games through defence,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 big part of defense is intensity 鈥� your hustle.鈥�
Savjord said that effective play requires communication, especially for the defensive style the team is employing.
鈥淚f our guys are talking, you know they鈥檙e going to be in the game,鈥� he said.
As for the players, it would seem they have their sights set on executing the game plan both coaches laid out.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just trying to gel altogether, trying to get the chemistry altogether,鈥� said Angelo Mangune in between shooting hoops on the court.
He added that he wanted to focus on developing his opposite hand, his quickness and stamina.
鈥淛ust win 鈥� just going to keep it simple, said Anviro Dhesi, summing up his mindstate before a game.
He said the team鈥檚 strategy involves 鈥渓ots and lots of passing, spreading the floor, running fast breaks.鈥�
鈥淢ostly because we鈥檙e a small team,鈥� he added. 鈥淲hat we usually do is run the floor with speed and finish with contacts. That鈥檚 our strategy.鈥�
As of Jan. 29, the Sounders have recorded two wins and two losses and zero ties, for a total of four points.
The Sounders will be playing their next game at Bodwell High School at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 31.
