(Photo by Harrison Macht)

The OPHS Basketball team huddling up before the game.

At the midpoint of the season, the Oak Park High School varsity boys basketball team has proven they can compete. With a mix of returning and new talent, the team has shown growth, resilience and steady improvement. 

The boys defeated the Moorpark Musketeers on Tuesday, Jan. 13 with a 63-57 victory. The game proved how well the OPHS boys basketball team communicates with each other and is able to execute plays under pressure.

“We had a very strong start and then had a few points of struggle that we worked through as a team,” junior and small forward Ryan Niazi said.

This year’s varsity team includes a large number of new varsity players, which made teamwork a key focus. 

“This year’s team has a large portion of new varsity players therefore we had to learn to trust each other as teammates as the season progressed,” Niazi said. 

Building a strong sense of trust has been essential, especially in close games when communication and confidence can determine the outcome. 

Despite all the changes and challenges, the team has remained focused on their goals.

“The main goal of our team is always to win league and make a run in playoffs,” Niazi said. 

With their current record, the Eagles have a promising future in playoffs especially if they can finish off the season strong.