The boys’ junior varsity basketball tryouts are being held Monday. Freshmen Drew Newlin and Boston Boucher have been working to prepare for the season which opens Tuesday.

Newlin has worked in the gym and at home, focusing on the specifics.

“I used to just shoot around, but now I focus on my dribbling,” he said. “I do this to just improve my game as a whole.”

Newlin has spent much of his time getting ready for these tryouts.

“I practice every day of the week,” he said. “I’ve been trying to put as much work in as possible, so that I can be as prepared for tryouts as I could possibly be.” 

Boucher has also put time into bettering his game. 

“I practiced and worked in the offseason to get better,” he said. “I worked with the coaches and got a lot stronger.”

Last year, Boucher tried out for middle-school basketball and didn’t make the team. 

“Last year, I practiced a week before middle-school tryouts, but this year, I worked hard during the offseason to improve my game,” he said. “I’ve been playing with people who are going to be on varsity and they have helped me grow.” 

Boucher said there is pressure to make the team. He has two brothers, sophomore Jack and junior Matthew, who are both already on the team. 

“I don’t expect to play on the level of my brothers, but I feel like I should play in ninth grade,” he said. “I like the sport and I want to do it for myself.”

Newlin agrees with Boucher about the pressure to make the team.

“Even though I didn’t play last year, everything is more serious now,” he said. “I have to step up my game and leadership.”

By Evangeline Trazzera