The Bengal boys basketball players are coming off an Inland Empire League title season and it’s looking like the team is ready to take the next step to better things at the state championship tournament.
At the end of last season, the Bengals won one game against Mountain View by a score of 79-73, but unfortunately lost to Rocky Mountain by a score of 59-64. The 75-54 loss to Capital resulted in the team’s elimination from the state tournament.
However, heading into the 2016-17 season the Bengals have reason to be optimistic. The team members, much like the football team this year, have been together since their sophomore year. Returning seniors such as Troy Ahlers, Trystan Bradley, Keeshawn Clarke, Jaden Phillips, Colton Richardson and Riley Way have all been playing together since they began high school, if not earlier. The team is also returning Junior Braeden Wilson, who has contributed at the varsity level since he was a freshman.
The Bengals kicked off their current season Tuesday, Nov. 29, against Richland High School, losing by a score of 86-81. The Bengals had just three days to recover and move on from Richland to Chiawana Dec.2, The Bengals redeemed their first lost by earning their first win in dramatic fashion — winning by only one point, and a final score of 51-50. The Bengals took on rival Clarkston on Dec. 6 in Clakrston. The theme of the night was coaches vs Cancer with the fans wearing pink. The Bengals gain the victory in another dramatic finish winning by a single point 53-52.