Gary Teasley coaches the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team. Last season the team finished with an overall record of 11-9. Here’s what Teasley has to say about the team:
Q: What are you doing to put the team over the edge?
A: My goal is not to lose one player. Our boys are exposed to a variety of things in life – some good, some bad – which can affect their actions on and off the court. When I say losing a player, I mean losing them to death, drugs, teen pregnancy and ineligibity. I want to keep everybody on my team from start to end. On the court we are extremely focused on being committed to the game. We practice two hours for six days a week. We attempt to be 100 percent mental and physical when we’re on the court. If we are focused at practice, then we will be completely focused at game time.
Q: Who do you look to for senior leadership?
A: Dominique Barnes is one of the most mentally tough student athletes in Oakland County. He’s human, just like the rest of us, but he is focused on the court. I believe that he would agree that athletics has had a major impact in his life. Not only is he starting guard, he is also the quarterback for the football team, and that shows that he can be dominant in not one, but two sports. I believe we would both agree that he has learned from the challenges presented in his life and is committed to finishing strong, not only on the court, but in the classroom as well.
Q: Do you think this team has more talent than last year?
A: I believe that this team has more potential then last year. ..this year’s team is more familiar with the teachings and philosophy of my coaching. I believe that a team has to sacrifice individual needs to reap the benefit of being one on the court. I believe that this year’s team will excite the parents and students of our school in ways never done before.