It’s is October and that next basketball season for the BV Tigers program and training is already in high gear for players and coaches who can’t wait to compete this season for state. Varsity basketball coach Dwight Williams is looking to improve off of last year’s 14-7 record which is the first winning record at Blue Valley in 22 years and they were also ranked as high as 4th in the Kansas City Metro area. Coach Williams prior to coming to Blue Valley won the 6a Kansas State Championship as an assistant coach at Blue Valley Northwest. Players at Blue Valley have been training to prepare for the upcoming season. The players have been training since early September by doing weights and conditioning. The freshmen team also had summer workouts in May through July and as well as having a team camp.

“We’re trying to avoid any injuries during the season by stretching and working on mobility and also trying to to get stronger with lifting weights.” Williams said.

A focus has been on maintaining and growing the program from year to year. The freshmen team a year ago went 13-5 under Coach Reeves who will be going into his 2nd year. The JV and sophomore team are looking to exceed last year’s records under coach Braden and coach Lindsey. “I would say that this year that we have high expectations that we put on ourselves and [we] feel that we can achieve those expectations if we put in the effort and the results would speak for itself” Williams said. Varsity assistant coach Mowry who is in his 7th year coaching at Blue Valley and his 4th year as varsity assistant. Mowry in his 1st year was freshman coach. A year ago Mowry was awarded The Joe Amos Coach of the year. “We need to get the season off on the right foot and then improve from there”. said Mowry when asked about the upcoming season.

“It is important we build team chemistry early so we can get the crowd at home going and eventually get to state which is huge” said Mowry.

“As far as expectations for the season are concerned”, coach Williams stated, “State is what we expect right now and we’re just trying to get in physical shape right now. And I feel like we’re coming together”.