Although the varsity boys basketball team hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2014 under their new coach Andrew Morris the team hopes to become district champions.

“We hope to win the district championship and to keep playing as long as possible,” Coach  Morris said.

The team has suffered from  injuries but junior Jacob Wilhelm said they are confident in their journey to district.

“We’ve got almost everyone back from last year and are getting injured players back,”  Wilhelm said.

Along with the hopes of winning district, the team’s goal is to improve overall on and off the court Coach Morris said.

“The [philosophy] is to help these boys grow into young men and do everything at all times to the best of their ability,” he said.

Sophomore Justin Mabry said he is trying to live up to the coach’s philosophy.

“I just want to try and do my part and step up when needed,” Mabry said.

Stepping up is a strength Coach Morris said is present on the team.

“The biggest strength for us, I think, is leadership,” he said.

Although the team has had to transition into having a new coach, the energy is “better than last year,” Wilhelm said.

Along with the new coach, the team is working on their offensive game.

“This year [Coach Morris] incorporated  a post  game instead of last year where we mostly shot 3’s,” Wilhelm said.

The team has players from a variety of grades from freshman to senior.

“It is really cool I get to play with upperclassmen,” freshman Jed Castles said.

The expectations of the team are set on getting better in every way they can, Coach Morris said.

“We can’t come out and expect [to win]  every night,” Coach Morris said.

Wilhelm agreed that the team has work to do.

“We haven’t been playing as well as I thought we would,” he said.

The 4-10 Wildcats placed third in the Wildcat Classic.