The NDA boys basketball team is off to a rocky start this season. Only winning one of their first six games, the team is looking to rebound when they start conference play.

“It’s been a rough start but we’ll turn it around,” said senior player Josh Cribben.

Having only one senior, the team lacks a sense of experience in their starting lineup. Half of the starters have never played in a varsity game and are trying to adjust to the higher tempo and faster play that comes in any varsity sport.

With the players all really young, the future looks bright as next year all starters will be returning except for one.

The team is seeing a new leader at the helm as well, this being young coach, Aj Alexander. The coach comes in with no prior years of head coaching and is looking to make a name for himself. So much like his team, he is also inexperienced. However, Alexander played high school and college basketball himself. So hopefully his playing experience can translate into coaching.

NDA basketball has had three different coaches in the last four years and in those four years they have advanced past the first round only twice, in 2016 and last year in 2018.

The basketball team will continue conference play this Friday with a game at Sheboygan North. Sheboygan North placed fourth in the conference last year after Pulaski, Bay Port, and Southwest.

The conference this year is just as good as always and with big schools like Bay Port, Preble, and Southwest, it will be difficult for the Tritons to do well.

“We’re in a hard conference and it’s going to be hard to win, but I think we can get it done and hopefully be well suited for the playoffs, which is when we get a chance to complete the ultimate goal,” said Cribben.

Despite their losses, the team has impressed the fans with their hustle and never-give-up attitude.

“That game last week against Sheboygan South was a thriller,” said one fan.  “To tie South at the buzzer after fighting back from a 10-point deficit shows what hustle and determination this team has.  Hopefully they’ll continue to improve and surprise some people in the latter half of the season.”