(New Buffalo, MI) - Future basketball players in New Buffalo should prepare for more of a boot camp-style program following a 2-19 season.

 

In what was a major rebuilding year, the young and inexperienced crop of varsity players were mostly overmatched but also spectular and crowd-pleasing at times.

 

The pesky Bison ended their season March 6th with an opening round 59-21 loss in the District 4 tournament to a more veteran and talented Countryside Academy.

 

Head Coach Nate Tripp said the future looks promising because of the potential shown by his mostly undersized freshmen, sophomore and junior players who had no prior varsity experience.

 

Tripp said the players, who were solid on defense but lacking on offense, will improve as they physically mature and further develop their skills.

 

In two weeks, Tripp said he’s starting a year round off-season training program featuring things like weight lifting.  Basketball sessions will be included for players to learn and sharpen techniques in areas like foot work and rebounding.

 

Tripp said players will also be given skill set assignments to work on at home and must show enough improvement before moving on to the next skill set.  He wants to solve problems with too many players coming into the season behind where they should be in their fundamentals. 

 

Tripp said he can’t require participation but will expect players to attend.

 

He praised the effort of his younger players this season but felt a few of his more veteran players sometimes lacked commitment.

 

If necessary, Tripp said the varsity and junior varsity teams will be combined into one if too many players not liking the higher work ethic standard walk away.  

 

“We need to make sure the kids are buying into the program if they want us to buy into them.  That’s how life works,” he said.

 

Before this season, New Buffalo won three district titles in four years but returned none of the core players from the 2021-22 season when the Bison played for the regional championship.

 

Tripp said his current players have talent. They just need to work harder as their bodies grow to reach a similar level of his former players he described as “basketball junkies.”

 

“I care only about making the kids the best they can be and that’s not just in basketball.  It’s a life lesson,” he said.

 

Tripp said one of the bright spots of the season was the effort and, occasionally, spectacular play of his often fun yet frustrating to watch team.

 

There were too many stretches in games, though, where his players seemed overwhelmed by the size and athletic ability of their opponents.

 

“It was a good season.  Win, loss-wise it was terrible. They worked hard. They listened.  They gave the best effort they possibly could every single night. We need some changes.  We will not go through another season like this again,” he said. .