By June Peers

The varsity boys basketball team is working hard to ensure that they accomplish new feats for the 2024-2025 basketball season.

“We want to play a fast, fun style of basketball,” Coach Jonathan Bent said. “I anticipate that if we are able to make shots, we should fare pretty well this year.”

The players are also confident in the team’s ability to gain crucial skills during the season.

“I expect hard work from everyone. For everybody to play well, we also need to communicate with each other,” junior Mateo Achoyan said.

Easing into the new season, the team has played a few games. In a scrimmage against Castaic High School, the team won by a landslide. This was a monumental game, as they achieved a record for the most points scored in the last 20 years of GHC basketball history, ending with a score of 96-35.

Additionally, they played in an alumni game where former GHC players competed against the varsity basketball team. The alumni emerged victorious, but the varsity players were able to prove that they could persevere through challenges, scoring significantly more points in the second half of the game than they did in the first.

The team is excited to tackle a new season due to their many achievements. In recent years, the team has been in between the open division and placing as a high seed in Division 1. Last season, they placed as quarterfinalists. Other notable triumphs from previous years include reaching the semifinals and qualifying for a state round.

It’s important to note that basketball isn’t just about shots, wins, and trophies. Camaraderie and the memories the players create throughout their careers are what add meaning to the sport.
With Bent’s 18 seasons of coaching experience, he values building connections with the players. He is still close to many former players who have grown up, gotten married, and had kids. Bent finds this aspect of coaching the most rewarding.

“I like to think that I’m a transformational coach,” Bent said. “You get to see the growth and maturity through the course of the season, but then, you get to see the growth and maturity through a lifetime.”

Overall, under Bent’s coaching, the GHC varsity basketball team is in good hands. With their dedication to practice, numerous achievements, and a recent successful game, the team is ready to approach a new season.