Coming off of a 22-8 year and a disappointing 1-1 state tournament ending, the varsity boys basketball team has all eyes on them and with a current record of 2-2, the boys have much to prove.

Going into the season the boys were ranked 4th according to the Omaha World Herald, but that was before loses to Omaha Central (57-59) and Papillion LaVista South (66-77). The boys have gained two wins though, defeating Omaha Burke (66-51) and Bellevue East (67-57).

The Bears will have the opportunity to prove themselves tonight at home as they take on who many consider to be the No. 1 team, Bellevue West.

“They [Bellevue West] just lost last week, so it will be two good teams that are coming off a loss that are considered two of the top teams in the state,” head coach Terrence O’Donnell said. “It’s a natural rivalry. It’s huge.”

The Dec. 8, loss to Papillion LaVista South has risen some concern and has given a clear idea of what they need to improve on.

“We need to do better against Bellevue West. We gave up a lot of points [to Papillion LaVista South],” O’Donnell said. “They scored 77 points in the game which is not our identity as a defensive minded team.”

Looking forward to tonight’s game the boys need to limit their easy baskets and transitions and not give the Thunderbirds easy looks according to O’Donnell. He and the rest of the coaching staff have been focusing on getting the team to sure up the defense. They have emphasized how important it is to shoot contested jump shots as opposed to letting their opponents break them down and get easy baskets.

Leading the charge against the Thunderbirds are six returning players from last year’s team: center Antione Curtis, forward Samuel Gregory, guard Javen Udofia, guard Jerome Wallace, guard Jonathan Montalvo and guard William Grixby. All of them have a hunger to settle their “unfinished business,” which is the team’s motto for the year.

“We as a team need to learn from our mistakes and grow together,” Curtis said. “Nothing is given, it’s earned.”

Much of their success on the court is due to their team chemistry. Because five out of the six have been teammates, playing by side with each other, since freshmen year, or in some cases since middle school, a solid level of trust and understanding has been made among them.

“I do think we have the potentially the best chemistry in the state,” O’Donnell said.

And while the seniors have chemistry built up, there are many new guys on the bench who are talented but unfamiliar with the other players. The coaching staff is relying on the current seniors to build up the younger players and get them to have the same level of commitment and talent, and they’re doing just that. Several underclassmen like sophomore Jai’Lyn Spears are quickly learning and adapting to the team’s chemistry.

“It’s going to be a year where we have to balance winning right now and bring on guys so the program doesn’t take a massive step back” O’Donnell said.

The team’s motto of “unfinished business” isn’t aimed at an overall record or even winning State, but more of clearing their distractions and working on daily preparation as well as keeping positive attitudes and to do that O’Donnell has been pushing the fundamentals.

“We need to work basic, simple things that I took for granted from last [year] and redial back a little,” O’Donnell said.

The team has all of the tools it needs to have a successful year and to get back to state. They have the experience, the skill and the chemistry, but that is not what O’Donnell is focusing on. He is taking it game by game.

“The only thing we can focus on is the game right in front of us,” O’Donnell said. “If you start staring off into some finish line, you’re going to trip over the step right in front of you and fall flat on your face. Gotta focus on the day to day process and being the best team we can be and not worry about what is going to happen a week in a week, two weeks or three weeks.”