The Nederland Middle - Senior High School boys’ basketball program has expanded again this year. With two full teams at the high school level (junior varsity and varsity) as well as a middle school team the program is seeing positive growth.

There are three coaches and consistency in the coaching staff. With only one new coach this season, the all-important elements that develop between athletes and coaches–building relationships, trust, team identity, and consistent skill building–will continue with consistency for the Panthers.

While on paper the coaches are listed separately, as Head Coach John Leventhal, Assistant Coach Stephen LeFavier, and Middle School Coach Kevin Cronan, in reality they work together as a team. They are role models for their players.

Leventhal shared that he is grateful for LeFavier’s “tremendous patience that is required to work with the younger players” and for his “understanding of the game.”

When Cronan accepted the position as coach, he made a positive addition to Nederland’s basketball staff. Leventhal said that he has provided the boys’ middle school basketball team “with superior guidance, support, teaching of the basic skills, as well as pushing them to play hard.”

Leventhal said, “This year’s team has focused on playing much better as a team. Last year our motto was ‘Together’ as we started the journey of understanding basketball as a team sport. We came a long way, but this year built on that concept and developed an even greater sense of purpose.

“This year’s motto is ‘Better Together,’ which has a dual meaning. We knew, going into the new season, we must do a better job of playing together and, if we do, we will be better as a team. The kids are embracing this philosophy and they are becoming the ‘band of brothers’ that they need to be in order to be successful.”

The varsity team has three senior co-captains who have embraced their leadership role. Gavin Dillon, Rick Fortunato, and Kiryu Sugishita have helped set the tone for the team.

The team works hard at every practice and at every game. They support and push each other to improve. The more experienced players help and mentor the younger players. Leventhal says that this year’s Panthers are often the smaller team on the court; however, they make up for it with great determination and “heart.”

On Friday, January 12, the JV and varsity teams used that determination and both teams won their games against Weldon Valley.

The JV team won in a nail-biting game that went into overtime. With 50 seconds left in overtime, Landon Ritch was fouled and was sent to the free throw line. He sank one of two free throws and the score now had Nederland leading 28 - 27.

The Panthers had tight defense in the last minute and the Weldon Valley Warriors did not get the ball through the hoop.

With 20 seconds remaining on the clock, Panther Liam Robertson made a 2-point shot, making the score 30-27 in favor of Nederland. It was a hard fought game.

When the varsity teams took the court it soon became clear that the scoring would be fairly even. At halftime Walden Valley was in the lead 19-18.

With Leventhal’s encouragement to set up the plays and wait for the good shots, the Panthers slowly pulled ahead. The final score was Nederland 51, Weldon Valley 44. Dillon scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Fortunato scored 17 points and sophomore Mason Ivey added six points to the scoreboard.

This is a team sport. Nederland stresses working as a team. Every player on the team contributes. This goes beyond basketball for these coaches. They want these young men to learn how to collaborate with others. They want them to know how to be humble in the face of winning, and gracious when faced with loss. The coaches encourage the players to conduct themselves with dignity when they are on the court, in school, when they are in the community.

“When our kids support each other, play with great sportsmanship, and compete, we are successful,” said Leventhal.