With the state placing performance of the 2022-2023 boys varsity basketball team, Buena Boys Basketball has made quite a name for itself. The basketball team has no plans on slowing down; the 2022-2023 team had an outstanding overall record of 31-6 finishing second in the state. As a result, Buena is now ranked second in the 3AA high school division.
Head coach, Matthew Colton, understands that last year was unique in that his team was practically unstoppable. Colton has no doubts that this year’s team will perform extremely well and feels good about what the 2023-2024 season has in store.
“I think we will be successful… but if our bar is another state championship, it’s what we’d like of course, it’s kind of an unrealistic goal to get that every year,” Colton said.
Last year was the first time that a public school had advanced that far into playoffs and therefore that’s not necessarily their bar for success. This year, he has five returning players who are more than ready to compete
“[They’ve] got the ability to learn what it takes to be successful, and they’ve learned to be a family,” Colton said. “A lot of times they [say] ‘Family’ on three instead of ‘dogs’ on three.”
The community of this team is what makes them so unique. Keeping such a good bond between the teammates will be crucial as the season plays out.
“We hang out basically every week outside of practices and do a lot of good team bonding things,” senior and returning varsity player Evan Kuske said.
[They’ve] got the ability to learn what it takes to be successful, and they’ve learned to be a family.”
— Coach Matthew Colton
The 23/24 team has something special. They have been performing extremely well at their preseason tournaments, and have been competing in Las Vegas, as well as in Irvine and farther into Los Angeles. In the majority of their games, they’ve won handily.
“I think we got a really good shot at winning league this year and making a good playoff run once again,” Kuske said.
Although last year’s league champion was Oxnard High School, it seems that this year’s top team is shifting. With Buena being just in their second full year of being in the Pacific View League it’s hardly set in stone which team is the best.
“I don’t think there’s a team as good as us this year,” Kuske said.
The mentality of no “team is as good as us” will be crucial going forward into the season and set them up well for the league.
