Basketball players discuss how they stay in shape

By Isaiah Lovett

Opinions Editor 

The boys' and girls' basketball season has started, and injuries are common among players at the high school level. Players have expressed their feelings about injuries during the season.

Varsity boys basketball team at practice, training for the season in the main gym. Photo by Nadia Clark

The boy's varsity team has been healthy so far this season. All players have been fully healthy with no issues and are off to a great start with winning the 2024 Spartan Ram Thanksgiving tournament and having their first regular season game against Thornwood, going 5-1 to start the season.

“Being healthy is important to us because we want to go out and compete and be ready for anything out on that court. I never want to let my team down because of injury. I always want to be out on that court,” Uriel Chapman said. 

However, injuries for the girl’s varsity team have been detrimental. Senior Guard Morgan Johnson has been injured and unable to play in some important games. Despite losing one of their senior guard, the Lady Warriors have been finding ways to win games and are an even 4-4 to start the season.

“Losing our teammate due to an injury is tough, but we have been working hard in practice and getting better every day, putting in the reps to be efficient on the court to go out and win these big games,” Laurel Glover said. 

The boy's varsity team goes through their recovery process after a game and what they do to prepare their bodies for games, especially for back-to-back games.

“For me, after a game or even practice, I ice, and after a hard practice, I take an Epsom salt bath, and I always get a good stretch in before and after practice to make sure I don’t cramp up,” Israel Graves said. 

The girls' varsity team goes through what they do leading up to game day and after practice of caring for their bodies and recovery process.

“Me personality, I don’t have a set everyday routine, but I do make sure to stretch and eat healthy the day of a game, and I definitely ice my knees up because I will be having knee pain,” Debra Wilson said. 

The boys' varsity team goes through their typical meal plan for the week, what their pre-game/post-game meal is, and what they eat to maintain their bodies in great shape.

“I usually don’t eat any real food before a game. I usually keep it simple and eat a fruit bowl from the grocery store or some apple slices with peanut butter that do it for me, and post-game is really whatever my people cooked that night,” Jayden Preston said. 

“I’m [going to] keep it real. I’m either eating Wingstop (a light 6-wing combo) or some McDonalds. I'm not going to lie, but I’m always drinking straight water, and I eat a banana right before the game, so I don’t get any cramps,” Jordan Outlaw said. 

The girl’s varsity team goes through what their typical meal plan pre-game/post-game meal is and what they eat to maintain their body in great shape.

“Pre-game, I’m eating a healthy Chipotle. I get steak, white rice, tomatoes, corn, no beans, cheese, and tomato, and I eat an hour before a game to let it disgust into my body. I don't eat all the time, but usually, when we have a home game, I get Chipotle,” Briah Gordon said.