The Houston High School boys basketball team will kick of the 2024-2025 season with a home game Monday, Dec. 2, against Koshkonong.
On Tuesday of last week, the Tigers competed in a preseason Jamboree at Mountain Grove, also including Eminence and Plato. Each squad faced the others in three 8-minute quarters.
Houston began the night with a matchup against Plato.
“We started out slow trying to work out the nerves and trying to switch into the type of play we want this year of moving the ball, hard defense and running fast paced,” said HHS head coach Dan Narancich. “In the first game, we were not moving the ball, we were caught standing a lot and watching. We didn’t get into the press like I was hoping for. We talked about what we needed to do after the game and how we want our game play different than what it has been before.”
Narancich said things looked better in the second competition against Eminence and the third against Mountain Grove.
“The boys responded really well and came out ready to play,” he said. “Our offense looked better the last two games, and we were able to see what still needs to be worked on, but the team is looking well overall. Defense looked better the last two games also; we got right into the press and got good turnovers out of it and were able to score off the turnovers. We still need to work on man-to-man defense and really getting into the personal space to put the pressure on the ball and their offense, but overall, I’m happy with everything.”
The Tigers’ season begins with games on back-to-back nights, as they travel to Eminence on Tuesday (Dec. 3).
“The boys are working hard in the gym, getting in shape, handling the mental pressure of pushing past the hard, and focusing on the team dynamic,” Narancich said. “I am excited for this season and getting to work with this great group of young men.”
