By Jeremy McDonald
jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MOUNT ANGEL, Ore.– Kennedy knows how big the next few days of practice are going to be going into next Thursday’s Westside Winter Jam at Westside Christian. They’re young, only returning four from last year’s 2A State Playoff qualifying squad. But anyone who has seen Tri-River Conference Boys Basketball knows that the Trojans are always a tough out as Kennedy prepares for the season ahead.
“It’s going to be very big, I won’t say we’re struggling in practice, but we need to get things going a little bit better and I think we’ll be good this season,” said Henry Beyer.
“The harder we work in practice, the harder we work in games. Build that team chemistry, the tougher team we’ll be,” adds Brandon Sucich.
Beyer and Sucich are two of those returners coming back from last year’s 18-9 overall squad that went 11-5 in TRC play. A young team as well last year coming off their third-place finish in 2023, getting that experience for this year will go a long way for them to step up as leaders this season.
“Work hard. As hard as we can, just work on things that we need to work on,” Beyer said. “I hope we can do a lot better than we did last year. Hopefully things go smoothly and see how things come out.”
It’s the Kennedy Way. To work hard, to play hard. They know they’re undersized, but Rocky has never heard any bell as they close into this season.
“We work our hardest and try to outwork every team we play.. We’re normally undersized, so we work hard,” said Sucich of the Kennedy Way.
The Trojans first hope game is on December 10 against Oakland before opening TRC play on December 12 against Gervais.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
