(New Buffalo, MI) - It’s almost a total rebuilding year for the New Buffalo High School boys’ varsity basketball team but head coach Nate Tripp has his sights set on another district title.
With no returning starters from last year’s highly successful team, Tripp said he expects the road to be bumpy at least early on. His focus, though, is more on the team improving enough to compete in the post season. Already, he’s encouraged by wins in all three recent scrimmage games against Gobles, Delton and Bloomingdale.
“It’s just going to be a matter of maturity and going through those growing pains,” he said.
In a near story book season, last year’s squad made it to
the regional championship game and entered the post season ranked No. 1 in Class D.
The 2021-22 team averaged more than 80 points a game during the regular season with a fast paced offense and solid three point shooting to go with a pressing defense forcing a lot of turnovers.
Tripp said the current squad will likely play a patient half court style offense and move quickly with the ball when opportunity arises. 
He feels the success of this year’s team will depend largely on how quickly his young players grasp what needs to be done on the court and the performance of junior Cameron Forker. Forker is expected to be a scoring and rebounding threat underneath the rim and a presence setting screens with his solid 6’3”, 280 pound frame. Tripp said he wants to keep Forker in games for as many minutes as possible.
“We got to keep him out of foul trouble,” Tripp said.
Tripp said another key player will be Andres Beccera, a slender 5’10” junior expected to begin playing after Christmas break.
“He’s a phenomenal talent,” he said.
The program has won three district titles in the last four seasons. Tripp said whatever his players might be lacking in talent and experience to repeat as district champions will be made up by effort no matter what the score.
“You can expect to see a scrappy team that’s extremely hard working. Very, very young but also very hungry,” he said.
