Boys basketball coach Kyle Carhart is excited about the upcoming season because every player on the team brings something different to the table.

“I am excited about these new players, and feel like each of them will provide their own unique contributions to the team,” Carhart said. “Several of them, and their teammates, have had success in a variety of sports which speaks to their competitive nature.

Last winter, the boys concluded the season with a 13-6 regular season record and finished third in the OK White.

This year, with five seniors and key players such as Jake Koning, Nate Delaney, and Jonas VanderWoude, Carhart hopes to build on the momentum from the 2021 season.

The 2022 basketball roster is full of new faces as well as experienced returners. This winter season, a multitude of players have worked their way up to varsity after playing for JV last year: Adam Gray, Owen Godley, Ty Hudkins, J Coe, Roman Brummel, Quincy Henry, and Brady Miller.

Carhart likes the camaraderie among the players.

“The team gets along well with one another and that is obviously important when looking at the inclusion of new players,” he said.

Carhart, who is in his fifth year as head coach, thinks the keys to success this season will be teamwork and defense. The team allowed an average of 56 points per game last season and is looking to lower that number.

“Each of them will be expected to have a team-first mindset, to help work together towards our common goals,” Carhart said. “Additionally, all of them will have to work to impact the game on the defensive end of the floor. It will be crucial for our team success that we have a variety of players who can help us get stops.”

The Rangers play in a tough basketball conference that holds local powerhouses like Forest Hills Northern, East Grand Rapids, and Northview. Senior Nate Delaney wants the team to make a long playoff run and pay back some of the teams that beat them last year.

“As a team, we’re working towards a conference championship title and a far run into playoffs,” Delaney said. “We’re hoping to make it to Breslin Center this year. Of course, we want to beat Northview–a team that’s ranked pretty high– as well as Forest Hills Northern that we lost to last year. Big rivalries are always fun to play against and win.”

Rangerball’s season begins on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. when the boys travel to Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg.

Senior guard Levi McKenzie, who hopes to play college basketball next season, is looking forward to getting the season underway. He said the team has something to prove.

“I am super excited to start the season off with this group,” McKenzie said. “I think we’re gonna surprise a lot of people who are underestimating us.”