The boys varsity basketball team played in a scrimmage against Evergreen Valley High School today in the Blackford gym at 7 p.m.

Since the game was a scrimmage, the overall score was not tallied throughout the game. Points were tallied throughout each quarter but were reset before the next quarter started.

The team maintained a lead throughout all four quarters against the players from Evergreen Valley High School. Keller described the strengths of Eagles in this initial game.

“We boxed out and played defense, and that’s going to be our strength all year,” Keller said. “We did well for an opening scrimmage.”

Out of the eleven new players who joined the varsity team this year, five are underclassmen and two are freshmen. Five members remained from last year’s team.

“Anytime you’ve got five underclassmen on a varsity team, it’s very unusual,” Butch Keller, head coach of the varsity team, said. “[However], everybody’s working hard and the chemistry is at an unbelievable spot so early.”

Jack Connors (9), a freshman on the varsity team, described his experience playing on the team for the first time

“It was really fun,” Jack said. “Everyone was really supportive. I think we played defense really well by guarding our men.”

Despite most of the members being new, the team was able to communicate effectively with each other throughout the game.

“The biggest thing that we had this game was team chemistry,” co-captain Jordan Goheen (12) said. “We really worked as a unit on offense and defense, and it really came together in a beautiful fashion.”

Keller also mentioned areas where the team could improve.

“We’re in too big a hurry [and we] need to slow down,” Keller said. “That just comes with practice.”

The team will play its next scrimmage this Saturday against Aptos High School. League games will start after Thanksgiving Break.