While the boys basketball season has come to an end, a group of hardworking sophomores gained valuable varsity experience that should help the team next year.

Sophomores Bryson Smolko, Sadiq Anderson, and Nolan Macurak were big contributors to the varsity team this year. They took advantage of the playing time they got and showed what they can do.

Smolko’s best moment this season was his double-double against Penn-Trafford, earning player of the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Smolko enjoyed this season and is excited for his junior and senior seasons.

“There is always pressure from other people because I am only a sophomore. I still have time to develop and two more years to get better,” he said.

Smolko earned a starting position this year, which is a big step for a sophomore.

“It’s a good feeling that you work so hard and get that starting spot,” Smolko said. “I am just finally a little relieved and I have to just keep working.”

Macurak was another sophomore contributor this season. Macurak’s biggest impact was the varsity game against Thomas Jefferson, where he scored 10 points.

“I was happy with how the team and I played,” Macurak said.

He first started getting varsity time when he was scoring 30 points in his JV games. Coaches soon learned they could trust him on the varsity court.

To Macurak, encouraging each other and keeping a positive attitude has helped the team maintain a good culture even through difficult times.

Senior Gavin Sakely got injured at the beginning of season, and he was impressed how the sophomores then stepped up.

“I would say without the sophomores this season, we would barely even have a basketball team,” Sakely said. “Thirteen out of the 21 of our players are sophomores and a lot of them help us out big time on the varsity level.”

Sakely credited Anderson in particular for standing out and being a consistent starter for the team. He also has proven to be an essential shooter for the team.

Smolko and Macurak agree that working hard and being coachable are keys to success.

“Staying consistent and listening to my coaches and my teammates to help me get better,” Macurak said.

After Sakely’s injury, he focused on improving the sophomore’s game as much as he could.

“The strongest part of my game was always my defense and rebounding, so I’ve been trying to help them with some tips where I can, especially in those areas of the game,” Sakely said.

Smolko and Anderson agree that senior Max Marzina also has been a motivating captain and role model for the team.

“Max took me after school a lot to shoot and train with him, and he showed me a couple of moves that helped me,” Anderson said.

Smolko agrees that Marizina is a motivator for the team overall, but especially the sophomore class.

“Especially over summer league, he would help us and tell us anything we needed to do,” Smolko said. “He would always be saying stuff you did well and stuff you needed to improve on.”

Marzina tried to help out the sophomores as much as he could. He is appreciative of the work they have put in.

“I try to just keep them calm on the court in big games,” Marzina said. “I tell them where to go when they are confused and just try to lead them the best I possibly can.”

The current sophomores are hopeful for success during their next two years of high school basketball.

Smolko believes sophomore Chris Kozar will play a key role as a starting guard next season. He also believes that Macurak will be a valuable part of the team as a standout shooter.

Building team culture is important for strengthening the team before the upcoming season, he said.

The returning players will be “just spending a lot of time in the off-season working,” Smolko said. “I want to get better with my teammates and spend more time with them to get the chemistry.”

This season may not have ended the way the team wanted it to, but this group of contributing sophomores gained valuable experience for their next two years.

“I think our senior season we are going to go very far into the playoffs, since we will have more varsity experience because many of us got varsity time as underclassmen,” Anderson said.