Winter sports are in full effect this December and UHS Varsity Boys’ Basketball is looking to make an impact in the Pacific Coast League this season. Following a tournament win against a strong Santa Ana High School, boys’ basketball looks to improve on their previous season’s efforts and clinch a spot in the CIF Playoffs. Despite their slow start to this winter’s season, the team is looking to get back on track during their league play.

In league play, which begins on Jan. 8 in a matchup between UHS and Northwood, the team appears to focus on changing the program’s image and reputation. Junior shooting guard Shervin Moarrefian weighed in on this season’s early struggles and their expectations for the future.

“[We] haven’t put all the pieces together yet, but by league, we should be set to do some serious damage,” Moarrefian said. “We want to make a name for ourselves this season.”

Moarrefian’s teammates share this same drive to earn themselves a playoff spot and draw some attention to the program. Junior power forward, Elias Pretto added to his teammates’ remarks with a similar spirit. 

“Now that [our] returners have experience, we’re looking to change the narrative surrounding Uni’s basketball program,” Pretto said. 

With a highly motivated core of upperclassmen at the center of the team, UHS Varsity Boys’ Basketball should be in for a bounce-back season. The team has a new sense of identity and energy that players claim has not been present since the team reached the CIF Playoffs two years ago. The team is moving into the bulk of their season with something to prove and is an underdog pick to make the playoffs and succeed in the Pacific Coast League.

The next game is on Dec. 15 against Fountain Valley.