At this week’s basketball tryouts, the coaches watched and observed as the athletes put their hearts out on the court.

There were 21 girls trying out for basketball this year, and altogether, 71 boys tried out for this year’s season. 

On both Monday and Tuesday, the boys tryouts were from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the girls tryouts were from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“Tryouts are always set up to try and get the best picture possible of every player and the fundamentals and where they’re at in their abilities,” said Coach Sean Kelly, the head boys basketball coach. “That’s it really, to give everyone the best and the fairest shot of making one of the teams.” 

Coach Kelly said that the big goal is to win conference, make it to the state playoffs, then advance into the final eight, and possibly beyond. “That’s kind of the big goal,” he said.

Coach Kelly is looking forward to coaching this year. “It’s a new group of guys,” he said. “It’s a lot of new, fresh energy.”

As for the girls basketball team, Coach Lucas Fiorante’s goal is to not stop playing basketball until March, and that the team continues building a strong and inclusive community. However, his biggest goal “is to make it to the state tournament,” he said.

“I think we have a long history of success here at La Salle on the girls side,” Coach Fiorante said. “I’m excited to kind of start writing the next chapter for that and continuing it.”