The players on the VHS boys basketball team are already working hard as they strive to defend or even exceed their state sectional championship title from last year.

“We have a lot of talent this year”, says Coach Eric McElroy. While McElroy believes that his team has the potential to go all the way, he says that the state championship title will not come without hard work from every single member of the team.

Captain Travis Jocelyn, who lead the team in points last year with a total of 410, hopes to lead his team in reaching their goal this season.

“Even though it’s early in the season, I feel like our team is really strong already. We know it won’t be easy getting back to where we were last year because we lost a couple of seniors, but I think that this year we have a chance of making it  even further in than state finals,” Jocelyn says. “Everything is starting to come together and I am really confident that we will be the champions again.

Another player who is as excited for the season as Jocelyn is is Captain Jack Farrell. He, too, believes that if each player gives 100 percent, success is inevitable. Farrell stresses the importance of playing as a team, not just as individuals, as he thinks this is the key to winning games.

“Once our team builds up our camaraderie and really learns each other’s strengths and weaknesses, we will be able to play as best we can and start to win consistently.”

The team’s post-season run last year featured tournament wins over Saddle Brook, Palisades Park, Park Ridge, and Paterson Charter to capture the North 1, Group 1 sectional title.  Because basketball plays to a single state champion, the team played on past this title but lost to University in the state’s Group 1 semifinal.

The Hillbillies are off to a good start and plan to defend their sectional championship, and perhaps take the ride even further this year.