The Ridgeview Boys’ Basketball team is ready and prepared to comeback for this season. Although the season has not fully unraveled yet, many are excited for what is to come.
Senior Jameson Powell has been playing basketball since he was in kindergarten. The course the change of intensity from kindergarten to high school varsity is very different. When asking Powell about the drastic change he states, “ As a kid it was definitely not as competitive and was more seen as a fun activity…” Powell was getting more competitive in the sport when he was younger leading him to play travel basketball. Powell says, “It’s helped me now with being able to compete with people my age.” Powell includes how he has always played above so it made things easier once he got to his own grade level.
Powell believes that the toughest team they may face will be either Bakersfield Christian High School or Bakersfield High School. He states, “ They both have some solid squads and they’re pretty well around, but I mostly see Bakersfield Christian as one of our biggest challenges.”
Senior Braylin Herron has been playing basketball for four years now. Herron’s experience with basketball was inspired by his older brothers. Herron states, “ They all played here and my oldest brother won a valley championship here in 2010, so that really drove me to play.”
When asking Herron how the season is going so far, he states, “Can’t really tell so far, but judging on our upcoming game we should be good.” With their first official game of the season against South High School, it is only just the beginning. Herron believes that the toughest team they may face this year will be Frontier High School. He states, “ They have two almost seven-footers and are overall just an athletic team.”
Campus security and head varsity basketball coach Michael Martin has been coaching here at Ridgeview since 2008. When asking Martin what made him decide to become head coach he states, “ It just gave me an opportunity to get back my knowledge with basketball and being involved with the kids on campus.” Martin sees coaching as an enjoyment and helping the young boys’ grow into young men and giving plenty of opportunities. As the years go on many faces will have joined the varsity basketball team. Martin says, “ This year we’ll have about five or six new players that are really going to contribute a lot.” So far Martin definitely sees this year’s team younger and more athletic than last years. Martin states, “ Last year we kind of depended on more individual players and this year we will be more team driven.”
Martin believes that the toughest school the team may face in league will be Bakersfield Christian High School. He states, “ They have won league the last four years in a row and I would like to beat them.” Overall, Martin’s main focus this season is clear, the determination to try and secure a playoff spot as well as winning a valley championship with his team while also challenging league champions who have held that title for the last four year’s.
