By Carter Sampson

Twelve players on the JV team, 13 on the varsity. Sounds like a basketball team with a surplus of players, right? Except for in this case, it’s the same players on both teams. Our Tempe Prep Knights are battling against varsity teams from schools with 1,500 students, with a grand total of one senior and two juniors.

This season, Coach Lambros has introduced a new system of play for the team, which he calls “High Octane Basketball.” The idea is to make the other team run and raise the tempo of the game. This requires shooting as many 3-pointers as possible and playing press defense the whole game.

The Knights have played one tournament and four regular season games. During the tournament, their offense had more points combined in the first day than any other team. This shows the potential for the team.

Also, the JV squad holds a 2-2 record, showing how well our young team competes against teams of similar ages, despite the opposing school’s superior size.

One of the outstanding parts of the start to the season has been lone senior Quinn Collins. Quinn has been a dominant figure on the court, leading the team in points, rebounds, and steals. He plays every position on the court, forcing the other team to adjust to him on the fly. Not only has he been a fantastic player, but he also has established himself as a great leader of the young team.

Quinn says, “It’s a good opportunity for me to exercise my leadership skills, and to help the young guys prepare for the next seasons, and just help them become better leaders.”

We look forward to more fast basketball and success. The next Knights home game is Jan. 12 against Rancho Solano. Let’s attend and support our team. Go Knights!